These are the talking points from another frustrating night at the Swansea.com Stadium following the 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United in injury time.
The good stuff
First, the good stuff. We could all do with focusing on the positives right now.
There was plenty to like about that performance last night. Against high-calibre opponents, Swansea fashioned the more chances, the better chances and could, on another day, have scored three or four. Joel Piroe had a couple of gilt-edged opportunities that you know in future games he will bury.
Ollie Cooper showed once again why Russell Martin’s faith in him is justified, although one suspects he will have been replaying his decision to square to Piroe, when he was well placed himself, over in his head last night. Still, those things happen, and his emergence has been a real boon for the head coach at this early stage of the season.
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Also, Joe Allen is really starting to make himself at home again. Everyone knew it would happen eventually, when his match fitness was improved, but it is heartening to see him buzzing about a midfield which complete control of matters.
This was a Sheffield United side top of the league boasting a number of players with Premier League experience and hefty price tags. A point was the least Swansea deserved and arguably it should have been all three.
The bad
But obviously it wasn't.
My word, this throwing away of points is getting tiresome. It’s a broken record that needs fixing. It's clear there are improvements on show but there is naivety across the whole pitch at present, which has been evident for a while now.
From a senior player throwing the ball back to his Millwall opponent a few weeks ago to Kyle Naughton trying to draw a foul against the Blades in the dying embers of the match last night when the ball should have been booted over to Rossi’s. How does this keep happening?
These fine margins are going against Swansea right now, with some being self-inflicted. Human nature suggests these will be ironed out with experience but they are hard to swallow regardless.
Oxford United, Millwall, Stoke City and now against the Blades, it's a script that's getting rather boring.
An unhappy Martin
It is safe to say Swansea’s bench wasn't happy with the winner. Of course they weren’t, especially in light of the 90 minutes of endeavour they had shown against the league's cream. Martin marched to remonstrate with the officials at full time to make his point to referee Darren Bond, having already bent the ear of fourth official Tim Robinson, and he hammered home his frustrations post-match.
He said: "I trust Kyle. He's clipped his heels. The boy’s not meant to but Kyle has run across him. Even before that we had a chance - it just shouldn't get to that point. They clear, they have one guy with three or four of ours, and just a bit of hesitation, then we allow the pass back inside.
“It is a foul. It's the easiest decision the referee has got to make all night. It’s the 94th minute, the guy’s running back towards his own goal, he clips his heels, just give the free-kick. It's really not difficult.
“But he hasn’t given it. We should still deal with the aftermath of it. We don’t and everyone feels completely different about the performance than they did 30 seconds previously.”
Leon Britton, on co-commentary duty for SwansTV, said Martin was "absolutely fuming" - and few could can blame him. There are certain things he cannot legislate over.
Tale of two benches
The visitors were missing 10 players last night but were still able to introduce Rhian Brewster and James McAtee from the bench.
Such strength at this level is hugely significant. Swansea were able to call on Jamie Paterson and Olivier Ntcham themselves, two quality operators on their day, but at present neither are pulling up any trees.
More is needed from those two in particular, as Swansea cannot rely on two rookies like Cooper and Cameron Congreve to provide them with attacking spark across the course of a full campaign.
Obafemi needed
Whatever your feelings towards striker Michael Obafemi right now, there is no doubt he is needed going forward.
The saga with Burnley is over - at least for the time being - and it needs to be put to bed, especially in light of Liam Cullen's shoulder injury. The Republic of Ireland forward isn't displacing Piroe from the starting XI any time soon but strength on the bench - as highlighted above - can be the difference in tight encounters.
In this writer's opinion Martin has handled the situation perfectly. In the build-up to the match Martin said : "I don’t think he’s unhappy to still be here. He was told the move was a lot closer than it actually was at one point. When you think something’s there that’s beneficial in ways outside of football, then there’s going to be some disappointment.
"But he’s not unhappy to be here still. He understands how important the club has been for his development. We’re not dealing with 25 robots, they all have different characteristics and personalities.
"We just have to help Michael through this period. I’ve got no doubt we will."
Swansea face Hull City at home on Saturday lunchtime, their last fixture before the international break. It would be beneficial for all parties if this situation is resolved by then.
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