The result yesterday afternoon against former head-coach Russell Martin’s new side outlined firmly the challenge that the next management team has on their hands in South Wales.
Despite seven points being taken from the previous four games by Sheehan holding the fort, clarity and a direct vision is now clearly needed to avoid being pulled into a relegation scrap.
On the day the Swans would be second best against their former Premier League rivals, they would start brightly but chances presented to Jerry Yates and Jamal Lowe would be both squandered.
That would be as good as it got for Sheehan’s men and as the Saints started to dominate possession, they would take the lead after poor defending from the away side would allow Adam Armstrong to tee up Joe Aribo to fire in from inside the penalty area.
Flying wide man Sammy Edozie doubled the Saints advantage straight after the break to all but end the Swans hopes. A horrendous error from the usually dependable Carl Rushworth mis-controlling Nathan Wood’s back pass allowing the England under-20 international to tap in at the back post.
It would be a killer blow for the Swans as the Saints would pull all the Boxing Day punches adding a third to seal the game with fifteen minutes to go.
Substitute Ryan Fraser scoring a sumptuous first-time effort from the edge of the penalty area with Armstrong once again the provider after the Swans had been guilty of giving up possession cheaply in midfield.
Fraser picked up his second three minutes from time burying another smart finish after fellow replacement Sakou Mara had the Swans defence in a spin once more in the wide areas.
There would be still time for a fifth and a Boxing Day to forget on the South Coast. Forward Che Adams reacting first to poke home former Swan Ryan Manning’s cross deep into stoppage time to inflict the away side with their heaviest defeat of the season and leave their caretaker boss frustrated.
“We came here to go toe-to-toe with one of the top teams in the division and for the first-half we were in the game and created some chances,” said Sheehan.
“The second-half the manner of the goals conceded after the second goal I didn’t like a whole lot.
“I made changes to try and freshen up, be brave and get on the front-foot but it didn’t work, and I’ll take responsibility for that.
“We faced an uphill battle [after the second goal] and then the third goal was down to us not being fluent in possession in our own half. That’s where the game was lost.
“You have to stay in it and be professional, to concede two or three goals in the last 15 minutes was really disappointing.”
There would be a couple of positives for a somber Sheehan with the return to action of Joe Allen, Nathan Wood and Mykola Kukharevych from long-term injuries in the second period. However, Sheehan disclosed that the Swans are likely to be without Josh Key for the remainder of the festive period.
“Joe [Allen] is a wonderful character around Swansea City and we’re delighted to have him back,” continued Sheehan.
“We also had a first start for Woody [Nathan Wood] and Myko [Mykola Kukharevych] was back on the pitch.
“There’s going to have to be decisions to be made after losing one or two. It’s a difficult period and we have to bounce back and be ready to go again.
“Josh [Key] has picked up a muscle injury so we need to assess that. It is not good for us because he is different to what we have, and we missed him in the game.
“It’s my job [to pick the players up against Coventry], we know that is not acceptable for the club and I apologise to fans for that. I take full responsibility.
“We need to learn from it and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
[Lead image: Swansea City FC]
