Head coach Luke Williams admitted Swansea City were given a clear reminder of the standards required to compete at the top of the Championship after a 3-2 home defeat to Sunderland.
The Swans had raced into a 2-0 lead within 17 minutes at the Swansea.com Stadium. Žan Vipotnik opened the scoring with a close-range finish, and Liam Cullen followed up with a spectacular free-kick to double the advantage.
However, Sunderland pulled one back before halftime through Dan Ballard’s header and dominated the second half. Dan Neil smashed in an equaliser, and Jobe Bellingham completed the comeback by turning in a cross from the right.
The defeat ended Swansea’s four-match unbeaten run, and Williams acknowledged his side’s response to going 2-0 up showed they still have work to do to challenge for promotion.
He emphasized that maintaining composure and intensity across 90 minutes is crucial if Swansea are to match the Championship’s top teams.
“We had some success in the first half, really trying to establish ourselves on the game, and we managed to do that well enough,” he said.
“But then there was a mentality that we had done enough. We tried to coast across the line for 55 minutes or something.
“That’s a ridiculous thing to do in a game, but there is a reason for that, in the traits of a top side you do not see that.
“You have to be relentless, the opposition were fighting blow for blow with us in the second half, but in the second 45 minutes they continued and we stopped.
“In that situation, the gap becomes very, very obvious. To be clear, I am talking about the difference between the top sides and the rest of us, and that was what was on show.
“We know where we are, and if we think we think we are going to be a top-six side then we have to realise we have got a way to go.
“It’s a wake up call, without a doubt.”
Here is the full post-match reaction from Luke Williams:
Feature Image Credit: Swansea City Football Club