In a game where the Swans dominated the statistics, amassing 19 shots and 71% possession, it would be a solitary first-half strike from ex-Swan Morgan Whittaker that would prove the difference.
The visitors would come into the match on a decent run of form, eight games unbeaten and five under new head-coach Ian Foster. However, the Pilgrims away form had been woeful, with not one win away from Home Park all season. One of only two sides waiting for a victory on their travels in the division.
That would all change on a drizzly afternoon where the Swans would be wasteful in the final third. Jerry Yates, Jamie Paterson, Charlie Patino and Ben Cabango all spawning several guilt-edged chances often created by the excellent Brazilian Ronald when in good positions, whilst substitute Liam Cullen would clatter the Plymouth crossbar in the second-half.
Ronald on his home debut would be the one shining light of what seems like a very dark tunnel for Swans fans as results elsewhere has left them just five points outside the relegation placings after a run of just three league wins in 16 games.
The Brazilian would be the best player on the pitch by a country mile showing everything Williams has asked for in recent weeks – pace, power, tenacity and energy as he tormented Plymouth left wing-back Bali Mumba all afternoon.
Williams certainly agreed, believing the 22-year-old deserved at least one or two assists and thought his side should have won the game.
“I’m frustrated that we didn’t convert really good actions into goals,” said Williams.
“We should get more from the game because the overall performance was good enough.
“When you create 19 and at least four of them are in the six-yard box, there’s no excuse to not have won the game.
“There’s nothing wrong with the chances they are not difficult to convert. It’s concentration to finish the action correctly and then you win a game of football. If you don’t do that, then you can’t expect much in return.
“We lost concentration [for the goal] with a long ball forward. The line is not correct, so we allow Whittaker to be behind Tymon, we don’t concentrate and then he hits the shot which leads to the corner.
“I think we went into the corner anxious because of the action. We switched off, the player gets blocked, and we allow a free shot from the edge of the box.
“It is a good strike because we had every single player pretty much inside the box. It is a difficult chance to convert, and he buries it in the corner with one touch. It is though a combination of errors that lead to the goal.
“It seems unfair that he [Ronald] doesn’t have at least one assist.
“He had so much energy and relentlessly ran in behind the lines. So many players don’t want to do that because it is hard. You have to keep sprinting and recover and go again.
“When you have the opportunity then, you have to provide for someone else. I want him to feed the striker and he tried his best to do that so I’m happy with him.
“I don’t like that [being five points off the bottom three]. We need to concentrate on playing really well.
“If we can create 19 chances every week and create openings in the six-yard box then we would have to be an unlucky team to suffer more.
“If we can do that then we can get to where we want to be.”
[Lead image: Swansea City]
