By David Parsons
Swansea City boss Michael Duff says he is hopeful of signing free agent Yannick Bolasie on a short-term deal.
The former Everton and Crystal Palace winger, 34, has trained with the club this week and could join ahead of Wednesday’s trip to Leeds.
“Yannick’s been in the building for a week. Hopefully that’ll get done,” said Duff.
“He hasn’t got the pace and power he once had, but you don’t get bought for £25m (by Everton) if you don’t know how to handle a football. It’ll be a two-month deal and we’ll see how it goes from there.”
It comes after the Swans relinquished a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Hull City on Saturday afternoon, much to Duff’s frustration.
Michael Duff says he's hopeful Swansea will sign former Everton and Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie on a two-month deal this week.
"He hasn't got the pace and power he once had, but you don't get bought for £25m if you don't know how to handle a football." #Swans
— Ian Mitchelmore (@IanMitchelmore) November 25, 2023
Second-half strikes from Jaden Philogene and Tyler Morton cancelled out first-half efforts from Jamie Paterson and Jerry Yates as the Tigers fought back to clinch a point in south Wales.
And Swans boss Duff bemoaned his side’s inability to manage the second half.
“Frustration is the word,” said the former Burnley defender. “There was lots of good stuff in the first half, some good quality football, possession with purpose.
“We played through them and hurt them, I thought we were good value for the 2-0 lead. The second half, they score from the first attack which sucked the energy out of the team.
“Then we got stuck between a rock and a hard place, whether we get on the front foot as we did in the first half or we try to protect. In the end, we did neither.
“I think there’s a penalty in the first half at 2-0, Ben Cabango’s nearly had his shirt taken off him.
“There were lots of good bits, but we’ve given up two goals. They were two really poor goals – they’ve not had to do a lot to score.
“We ask the players not to go and press the goalkeeper when the ball is in open play and the first time the ball goes to the keeper in the second half, we go and press him. They played through us from there. That adds to the frustration.”
https://twitter.com/JordanWebber96/status/1728474023150153919?s=20
Liam Rosenior, meanwhile, feels Hull’s disappointment at not winning against Swansea having been two goals down proves how far his side have grown under his leadership.
Hull started on the front foot, and Swansea lost Harrison Ashby to injury in the 10th minute. But Duff’s men went ahead after a neat flick from Ollie Cooper found Paterson who cut inside Sean McLoughlin before drilling a low shot beyond Ryan Allsop in the 17th minute.
FT Swansea City 2 Hull City 2
Hull stage second-half comeback to salvage a point but in truth, it was a fair result.Just two wins in nine for the Swans at home so far this season. A difficult midweek trip to Elland Road awaits…
— Matthew Burgess (@1matthewburgess) November 25, 2023
Just six minutes later, Hull goalkeeper Allsop spilled Paterson’s drive which allowed Yates to prod home. The Tigers pulled a goal back through Philogene, whose rifled effort flew past Carl Rushworth three minutes after the restart.
Morton then volleyed home on 68 minutes to set up a tense finish, although neither side could find a late winner as the points were shared.
“The first 15 minutes we started really well and they score with their first shot,” the Tigers boss said. “When that happens, it rocks you a bit, especially when you’re that much in control.
“The second goal, Ryan (Allsop) has been magnificent, he is a massive part of our game, but he’s disappointed not to hold that one. To see the character, team spirit, resilience and quality the players played with after that, it gave the players confidence at half-time.
“It sums up where we are that we’re 2-0 down away from home and we’re disappointed not to win the game.”
EFL Skybet Championship, Swansea city v Hull city yesterday afternoon, pics by Andrew Orchard pic.twitter.com/NJZpHFE8X6
— Andrew Orchard (@sportsphotoAOSP) November 26, 2023
