The loss was the Swans fourth on home soil in eleven fixtures in SA1, meaning that it is no win in front of their own fans in six games, with just two seen by the Jack Army all season.
The Swans would look much improved in parts and had the better of the first-half but would lack a cutting edge in their play and would be punished on the stroke of half-time with Sam Greenwood’s close-range strike.
In an even contest, the home side would strike next equalising through Jamal Lowe’s diving header in a rare moment of quality in the final third.
The visitors would be the more clinical of the two sides however, and would snatch all three points through substitute Samuel Silvera’s free kick. The result ending Middlesbrough’s poor run of form and leaving the Swans just five points outside of the relegation zone.
Having rescued a valuable point at the Bet365 Stadium in the 1-1 draw with Stoke City through Harry Darling’s late header on Tuesday night, the Swans focus would be back to home action looking to improve on a run of just two wins in ten games in SA1 this season.
In their way stood an out-of-sorts Middlesbrough side looking to end a run of four defeats in their last five Championship outings.
Caretaker head-coach Alan Sheehan chose to make two changes to his side from the long trip to Staffordshire with a change of shape into a 3-5-2. On-loan Chelsea defender Bashir Humphries coming back into the heart of the defence, whilst there was a rare start for Liam Walsh with Charlie Patino and Jerry Yates having to make do with a place on a bench including Nathan Wood.
Despite taking the lead against Hull City in midweek it would be another defeat for Michael Carrick’s visiting Boro side in a 2-1 loss. With just eight wins in his 26 Championship matches, including a six-match winning run earlier in the season, the under-pressure manager would be desperate for a result against the Swans.
Looking to get back to winning ways the former Manchester United midfielder would bring in Sierra Leone left-back Alex Bangura into his backline in Middlesbrough’s only change.
Boro had won both meetings between the two sides last season, but after an even opening period where both sides looked to assert themselves in possession, it would be the home side who would create the first opening.
A swift Swans breakaway seeing Josh Key head over the bar Walsh’s neat cross from the right-hand side after the former Exeter wing-back would arrive late into the penalty area.
Sheehan’s side would continue their neat build-up play and be presented with a good opportunity to take the lead as the Swans started to build rhythm on the quarter-hour mark.
Walsh again the supplier sending in a free-kick from the same side into the box. This time finding Humphries up from the back to connect with a flicked header which would beat visiting keeper Seny Dieng, but agonisingly for the defender would drift inches past the far post.
In the thick of the action, 26-year-old Walsh would then nearly find his first goal for the club. Lowe finding space on the left after indecision in the Boro defence, before teeing up the Swans midfielder on the edge of the penalty area. His shot low and firm looking for the left-hand corner but off target.
Carrick’s visitors would be dangerous on the counter attack and would test home goalkeeper Carl Rushworth for the first time at the midpoint of the half.
On-loan Leeds forward Greenwood finding space and a sight at goal for the first time to drive an effort from an acute angle at the Swans number one who would divert around his near post.
The home side would have the best of the halves build-up play around the opposition penalty area but would lack a cutting edge. Jay Fulton the latest to come close with a cross-come shot with the outside of his boot flashing an effort across the face of goal but not finding a white shirt.
The Swans, however, would not make their dominance count as it would be Middlesbrough who would score on the stroke of half-time. An incisive break catching the home side cold with Matt Crooks playing through Greenwood to slot neatly past Rushworth for his fifth goal of the season.
With their heads up the visitors came out for the second-half with intent, searching for the second goal, but it would be the Swans who would strike first to get back on level terms with the halves first moment of quality.
Matt Grimes finding wing-back Josh Tymon’s neatly timed run on the left-hand side before the former Stoke City man would deliver a pinpoint cross into the path of Lowe to spectacularly plant a powerful diving header past Dieng.
The Jamaican international’s fifth goal of the season would bring the subdued home support to life and lift the home side who would look to push for a second goal.
As the game would become open and stretched, both sides would have chances. Rushworth reacting quickly to neatly smother Isaiah Jones’ effort, whilst Jamie Paterson would drive wide whilst well placed for the Swans.
After a stop-started period of changes, it would be Middlesbrough who would retake the lead. Substitute Silvera smashing in a quickly taken free-kick after goalkeeper Rushworth had been punished for picking up an alleged back-pass.
The visitors then should and could have put the game to bed if Latte-Lah had finished Daniel Barlaser’s put-in from the right-hand side. The in-form Ivorian uncharacteristically miscuing his close-range effort wide.
It proved to be insignificant to the outcome however, as Middlesbrough would hang on to gain all three points, whilst the Swans poor home record would continue.
Swansea City X1
Carl Rushworth, Josh Key, Josh Tymon, Ben Cabango, Bashir Humphreys (Jerry Yates 80), Harry Darling, Matt Grimes (captain), Jay Fulton (Charlie Patino 87), Liam Walsh (Ollie Cooper 64), Jamal Lowe (Liam Cullen 87), Jamie Paterson (Yannick Bolasie 80).
Middlesbrough X1
Seny Dieng, Anfernee Dijksteel, Alex Bangura (Lukas Engel 70), Dael Fry, Rav van den Berg, Jonny Howson (captain), Daniel Barlaser, Isaiah Jones, Matt Crooks (Morgan Rogers 70), Sam Greenwood (Samuel Silvera 70), Emmanuel Latte-Lath.
[Lead image: Swansea City]
