By David Parsons
Luke Williams insists Swansea City are not sleep-walking back towards a relegation scrap.
The Swans head coach saw his team lose 1-0 at Bristol City on Sunday, to bring a three-game unbeaten streak to an end.
The result leaves Williams’ side 15th in the table but only five points above the relegation zone in a congested lower half of the Championship.
THE FINAL WHISTLE GOES.
GET IN THERE!!!! pic.twitter.com/TrIBImBBwQ
— Bristol City FC (@BristolCity) March 10, 2024
But with a Welsh derby clash at home to Cardiff City to come this weekend, the man who succeeded sacked Michael Duff says he is certain the clubs is not sliding back towards trouble.
“I didn’t see a team out there who are drifting or in any way dropping into trouble,” said Williams.
“I saw a side who controlled the game for much of the time and if the players can add better decision-making and greater coolness in front of goal we can finish the season really strongly.
“We paid for switching off at a set-piece and it was one of a few key moments in the game that cost us.
“Przemyslaw Placheta needed to show more composure with his chance and get the shot on target. If we had scored then, I’m sure the least we would have come away with was a point.
“We dominated possession because Bristol City dropped deep when we had the ball. That made them difficult to unlock at the back and we needed to be better with our final ball.”
Full time in Bristol. #BRCvSWA | @SkyBetChamp pic.twitter.com/EZmwQ5AsFj
— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) March 10, 2024
Centre-back Rob Dickie headed his fifth Championship goal of the season to give Bristol City a precious victory at Ashton Gate.
The tall defender glanced home Joe Williams’ chip into a crowded penalty area on 73 minutes to give the Robins bragging rights over the Swans in a forgettable game of few chances.
Swansea dominated possession for long periods without forcing a save from home goalkeeper Max O’Leary and could have no complaints.
Bristol City head coach Liam Manning said: “I was pleased enough with our patience after a cagey first half and from then on it was a really solid team performance.
“Rob Dickie is a huge player for us in both boxes. He is like a magnet for the ball when crosses come in.
“Being massive helps, but he also has the ability to hold off his marker and take up dangerous positions in front of goal.
“The message to the players before the game was to live in the present and not worry about past results or the future.
“But, of course, four successive defeats leave a mark and it was important to get a result to boost confidence again.
“I’m pleased with the clean sheet, particularly after a game at Ipswich in midweek in which we did most things right only to concede twice in the closing stages.”
https://twitter.com/SwansOfficial/status/1766854503385403764?s=20
Bristol City now have a nine-point cushion to the bottom three.
The vast number of empty seats spoke volumes for the damage done to home fan morale by Bristol City’s recent run and the first half saw Manning’s men fail register a single attempt on goal.
They were booed off at the interval, having lacked any conviction in their attacking play and been largely outplayed by a Swansea team who went into the game a point behind them in the table.
The visitors themselves failed to get an effort on target but looked the more threatening side.
Jamie Paterson had a seventh-minute shot blocked for a corner by Zak Vyner while Liam Cullen was wide with a 29th-minute header and fired over from distance 10 minutes later.
By the 55th minute Manning had seen enough and sent on winger Mark Sykes for Harry Cornick.
Still, it was Swansea who looked the more likely scorers and Placheta wasted a glorious chance on 57 minutes, shooting wildly wide when unmarked from a right-wing cross.
https://twitter.com/SwansOfficial/status/1766822646224756778?s=20
Dickie sent an effort wide from a free-kick into the box as the hosts at last put an effort in on goal on 64 minutes.
They had a much better chance five minutes later but Ross McCrorie fired wide of the near post, with Conway waiting in the middle for a cross.
Dickie’s goal rewarded the first real spell of pressure from Manning’s side, who improved for Sykes taking over on the right flank.
It should have been 2-0 on 79 minutes when Jason Knight headed wide from a Conway cross, but one goal proved sufficient.
https://twitter.com/BristolCity/status/1766854526475080142?s=20
