Despite a promising start where several openings were created, the Swans would be sloppy at the back with Portsmouth scoring twice against the run of play.
Former Newcastle winger Matt Ritchie reacting first to score his first goal for the club to silence a stunned SA1, whilst Josh Murphy finished sharply from a tight angle to double Pompey’s advantage.
The Swans immediately struck back just before the break when Connor Ogilvie put through his own net and levelled shortly after with Liam Cullen firing home to continue his hot streak for club and country.
Despite a much stronger second 45 which saw the Swans finish with more than 70 percent possession, 23 shots at goal and the woodwork struck on multiple occasions, they would not be able to break Portsmouth’s stubborn rearguard to earn a fourth win in six matches.
Glaring misses from Eom Ji-Sung and Florian Bianchini, plus a save of the season contender from Portsmouth goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid leaving Swans boss Williams wondering how his side had not won the match.
“I’m annoyed more than frustrated to be honest because we didn’t start the game correctly,” said Williams after the match.
“If we had played well for 90 minutes and somehow the ball hit the woodwork and the keeper made a save and someone made a block I would be frustrated.
“We gave ourselves a mountain to climb because we didn’t approach the game correctly.
“Portsmouth were excellent with the way they pressed us, but we could have coped better.
“We made some bad decisions. Too many times, we made the wrong decision under a lot of pressure.
“They didn’t check people’s runs and block them from running in the cover and that’s what happens.
“We did neither kick it into row Z and we didn’t properly recover the ball so then we dolly the ball up. An assertive player then takes the ball, makes an action and then scores.
“I want my team to control the game as much as any manager, but I want them to commit and really be brave enough.
“We take that into the game a lot and today we didn’t. Now they get to watch that back and get me to say things I have said a thousand times.
“I love the players. I care about them enough to let them know that that’s wrong, the way they approached the first half.
“They did come roaring back into it. They got forward in numbers and made a lot of box entries.
“The moral of the story is don’t be two goals down. Today we should have scored four goals, we scored two.
“Then you should come in and say, ‘we are a bit frustrated we didn’t score four, but we scored two and we won the game and didn’t concede a sloppy goal so it’s okay’.
“Ok the goalkeeper made a wonderful save and we missed by this and that much, but I should be happily frustrated.
“Instead, I have to come and say I am annoyed [because of the first-half performance].”
[Lead image: Swansea City FC]
