Wednesday, 11 December 2019

Swansea's unbeaten away record ends in dismal fashion. What next?

Before last weekend, Swansea were the only side in the Championship boasting a 100% away record. Fast forward to Sunday evening and the Swans were licking their wounds after promotion-favourites West Brom heaped more misery on the Welsh side with a 5-1 drubbing.

Swansea have won just twice in ten games, falling out of the play-off spots and down to 11th in the process.

The contrast between the two sides could not have been starker as the Baggies taught Swansea a footballing lesson.

A Sam Surridge goal six minutes before half-time made it 2-1 before a Hal Robson-Kanu goal on 44 minutes restored West Brom's two-goal lead. Two further goals from the home side in the second-half, aided with some horrendous defensive lapses from the Swans, restored the Baggies' place at the top of the Championship.

That position could have been filled by Swansea a few months ago, but, after going on an eight-match winning run at the start of the season, Steve Cooper's men have failed to win in five games and with just three wins in 15 games, the pressure is on at the Liberty Stadium to pick up performances or risk dropping further down the table.

Of course, the injury to Joe Rodon hasn't helped at the back and that frailty was all too apparent at the Hawthorns with Ben Wilmot and Mike van der Hoorn experiencing horror shows. In fact, only Sam Surridge appeared to cause West Brom any trouble - a feature which Cooper will want to address ahead of the busy Christmas schedule.

Livewire Bersant Celina hasn't played in recent weeks with George Byers preferred to support lone striker Sam Surridge, but recent results may influence Cooper to change things.

Swansea host Blackburn Rovers tonight and it will be interesting to see if Cooper changes things or sticks with the same side that was battered by West Brom. Plus, with the January transfer window just round the corner, there may well be some new blood required.

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