By Gareth James
Swansea City’s skipper Matt Grimes and head coach Luke Williams have both admitted the club’s fading form needs to be urgently reversed.
Both were united in their criticism – and admitted they had let down fans – after the team’s lethargic 2-1 defeat to Hull City, which snapped the Tigers’ 13-match winless streak.
Goals from Joao Pedro and Mason Burstow secured Hull’s first league victory since Ruben Selles took charge, leaving Swansea reflecting on a performance far below their usual standards.
It also leaves them in 12th place in the Championship table, eight points adrift of the play-off places.
Grimes pulled no punches in his post-match assessment and confessed: “We were not good enough, it’s as simple as that.
“Our intensity dropped way below the levels it has been at, there are no excuses for it and we have to take responsibility for that. We deserved to lose; we were sloppy and their chances were coming from our mistakes.”
Swansea’s struggles were evident throughout the match. Joao Pedro capitalized on poor defending to open the scoring for Hull after 34 minutes, though Harry Darling briefly restored parity with a free header eight minutes later.
Defeat in Hull. pic.twitter.com/axNl79uI2k
— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) December 21, 2024
Despite Ben Cabango hitting the post in the second half, Swansea failed to muster the energy or precision to match Hull’s intensity, and Mason Burstow’s decisive strike in the 80th minute sealed the result.
Grimes lamented the team’s inability to build on a recent run of solid performances.
“We let the supporters down,” he said.
“It’s such a long way to come anyway, and then you throw in it being a 12.30pm kick-off, and we just have not performed to the levels we have shown for much of the season. We now have to make sure we recover and get ourselves ready for Boxing Day.”
Williams echoed his captain’s sentiments, describing the match as a “dreadful performance” and admitting Swansea got what they deserved.
“I couldn’t tell you why we played like this, but we were certainly very, very poor,” he said.
“They were better than us. I was hoping there would be a reaction [from the Sunderland game], but I don’t think we’re in that place as a group just yet.”
For Hull, the victory was a much-needed boost, lifting them off the bottom of the Sky Bet Championship table.
️ The gaffer reflects on this afternoon’s defeat at Hull pic.twitter.com/m1x0qT0j3A
— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) December 21, 2024
New head coach Selles praised his side for sticking to the game plan and showing resilience in a high-pressure situation.
“I think we played a really good game. We were clear in what we wanted, and we minimised our opponents,” Selles said.
“The only problem we had was when we conceded and lost control of the game.
“When we were 2-1, you saw a team that kept doing what they knew they were doing. They did not retreat, and when you retreat, you will concede goals.
“I think it was a powerful feeling at full-time. The club, the fans, the players, and the staff have been looking for this feeling for long enough.”
You Lot Make Me Feel Sad, Swansea City Boss Luke Williams Tells His Players
Hull’s opener came after sustained pressure, with Pedro’s deflected strike beating Carl Rushworth.
While Darling’s equaliser briefly gave Swansea hope, the visitors’ lack of sharpness and Hull’s determination proved decisive.
Burstow’s late goal, a well-placed shot from distance, capped off a confident display from the hosts.
Williams, meanwhile, didn’t hold back his frustration at his team’s regression, particularly after what he considered a promising 45 minutes against Sunderland in the previous match.
“I didn’t even celebrate our goal, as from a performance point of view, it was not good enough,” he admitted.
“I didn’t think either side played particularly well, but I wasn’t expecting that – it was very, very disappointing.”
With Swansea now facing back-to-back home games against Queens Park Rangers and Luton Town to close out the year, Grimes and Williams both emphasised the need for a swift turnaround.
Meanwhile, Hull will look to build on this vital victory as Selles seeks to guide them out of the relegation zone and into safer territory.
