Swansea were beaten at home for the first time this season by Leicester City on Saturday.
After falling behind to a spectacular long-range early goal from Jordan James, the Swans stayed in the contest and eventually levelled thanks to Adam Idah’s second-half penalty after Wout Faes had fouled substitute Ethan Galbraith.
Any hope of a late push for a home win was wiped out as winger Adbul Fatawu’s sparkling finish into the top corner from just out-side the penalty area showed off the Foxes quality to restore their advantage.
The Ghanaian international audiously nearly sealed the match with a chip from 50-yards hitting the swans woodwork, before towering centre half Jannik Vestergaard clinched the match heading in late to seal the Foxes victory.
Sheehan feels Leicester will be right up there for an immediate return to the Premier League this season following last year’s relegation from the top-flight.
But believes that his side have the quality and tools to trouble the Championship’s leading sides this season.
“I am disappointed. For 75, 80 minutes of the game we were well in it, said the Swans boss after the game.
“Two worldie goals and then a ricochet set-piece at the end [won the game]. After that we lose a small piece of discipline. That can change the perception.
“It’s a 90-minute game and I don’t want to be a nearly team, so we have to go for the whole period.
“I want us to have the belief that we can go toe to toe with everybody in the division. That’s got to be our mentality to keep progressing as a football club.
“I think this season, teams who have come here, we have gone after them. Today we have gone after Leicester and two moments of quality have won the game – We have to keep competing and be the best we can be.
“The next thing is can we have a bit more quality in the final third and be more of a killer team.”
While Sheehan acknowledged Leicester’s quality, he was left frustrated by Swansea’s failure to take any points.
“I don’t want be a nearly team, I really don’t,” he added.
“I know they have come down from the Premier League. I know most of their players have been in the Premier League and played there and have aspirations of going back there – and I’m sure they have got a massive chance with the squad alone.
“But when they come to our stadium, like every game, we want to be competitive.
“Ultimately there are large amounts of that game I feel quite positive about and it’s hard to be critical of the players because application, desire, togetherness, the fans getting behind us for large amounts of the game [were all there].
“But it’s just maybe that small bit of quality that they showed when they bend two into the top corner.”
The Swans drop to 11th place in the Championship table as the second international break of the season arrives. Sheehan’s side are next in action on Saturday 18th October where they face 16th place Southampton at St Mary’s (12.30pm k.o).
[Lead image: Swansea City FC]
