Swansea City were left licking wounds after defeat at Hull City, though it would be wrong to suggest they were mauled by the Tigers. Swansea were beaten narrowly on Humberside despite doing enough to take something from an entertaining game against Sergej Jakirovic's in-form side. Vitor Matos' team were undone by uncharacteristic errors, with Ben Cabango's handball presenting Hull with the opening goal and Zan Vipotnik – who has been lethal this season – missing not one but two golden opportunities to score.
Swansea City were left licking wounds after defeat at Hull City, though it would be wrong to suggest they were mauled by the Tigers.
Swansea were beaten narrowly on Humberside despite doing enough to take something from an entertaining game against Sergej Jakirovic's in-form side.
Vitor Matos' team were undone by uncharacteristic errors, with Ben Cabango's handball presenting Hull with the opening goal and Zan Vipotnik – who has been lethal this season – missing not one but two golden opportunities to score.
Matos will feel confident that Cabango will not give away another penalty like that for a while, and that Vipotnik will get back to taking any big chances that come his way.
It is now five defeats in six away matches for Swansea under Matos, a run of results which contrasts sharply with their excellent home form.
The good news for the Swans is that there are some encouraging signs.
Matos' players came away from Hull feeling they should not have been beaten, as was the case after last month's losses at Coventry and Stoke.
Whilst there are no points handed out for decent performances, the statistics suggest Swansea are at least making progress on the road.
In four of their six away games since Matos took charge – at Hull, Oxford, Coventry and Stoke - Swansea's xG has been higher than that of their hosts.
In the eight away fixtures this season prior to Matos' appointment, Swansea's xG was higher than that of their opponent only once, at Sheffield Wednesday in August.
Matos' Swansea's average xG on their travels is just under 1.1, up from 0.7 when he arrived.
The next challenge, of course, is to convert that progress into more positive results away from the Swansea.com Stadium, with the next opportunity coming at Watford next weekend.
Category: General Sports
