Swansea manager Russell Martin says the better team lost after Sam Bell's extra-time winner secured Bristol City's passage into the FA Cup fourth round.
The Championship rivals couldn't be separated following 180 minutes of football across the borders with both tightly-fought contests finishing 1-1 in normal time. With the prospect of penalties looming, Bell latched onto Andy King's pass to surge into the area and set up a home tie with West Brom in the next round.
The first-half of Tuesday's replay had little goalmouth action for both sides as City played a patient game by sitting back and waiting for the hosts to attack. Swansea dominated the ball with 65 per cent of the possession but rarely threatened to test Max O'Leary with any meaningful efforts on goal.
City had to wait until the second half for their first shot on target which resulted in Mark Sykes' third in two games. Joe Williams pounced on an error in midfield to collect the ball and feed Bell who slotted it into the path of his onrushing team-mate.
It took 11 minutes for the hosts to equalise through Oliver Cooper to set up the extra-time period as the snow started to fall in Wales. A look at the stats may indicate a dominant Swansea performance but in reality, City will feel they had the best chances of the game.
Martin's side registered 18 efforts on goal, six of those on target in comparison to City's six chances with two on target. Williams could have doubled the lead when he was played through on goal while Bell came agonisingly close to tapping in Antoine Semenyo's effort at the back post.
After the game, a disappointed Martin said: "I feel we were the better side over the two games but that's football. I'm really frustrated we haven't won it, to be honest.
"I feel like it's the same sort of answer I've given you a lot of times. Even more in the final third, they had so little until they scored and so little in the game. I'm very pleased with the performance.
"We made seven changes and changed the shape a little bit to suit the players we have on the pitch. The game didn't look any different, we were so dominant. We need to show more for our dominance.
"We gave away a poor goal at the other end of the pitch and I think their game plan has probably worked really well is what Nigel will say. They've come here to pounce on a mistake and counter-attack and they've got two goals in that fashion which is so disappointing for us.
"It's where we're at. I'm so pleased for the players they gave everything. They dominated for so long but we need to make more of that. To only score one goal with the number of entries in the box, with the amount of touches in the box. We just couldn't convert them which is so frustrating."
Although Pearson may not agree with those sentiments, the City manager would be able to relate to Martin's difficulties in signing new places during the January transfer window. Like the Robins, Swansea were keen to do business early but are having to remain patient.
Martin added: "January sometimes a lot kicks off very late so we'll have to wait and see. I'd have loved a new face in by now just to help the guys that give everyone a boost but I think every manager would say the same thing.
"We'd like to do business early but it never quite works out like that in January."
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