Paul Clement admits defensive errors cost Swansea at Hull
Saturday 11 March 2017 18:56, UK
Swansea manager Paul Clement was disappointed with his side's defensive performance against relegation rivals Hull.
Alfie Mawson's injury-time header was not enough to prevent the Swans slipping to a 2-1 defeat at the KCOM Stadium, after Oumar Niasse's double had put the hosts firmly in control of the match.
Wayne Routledge was guilty of wasting two clear-cut chances on a frustrating afternoon for the visitors, but Clement was more concerned with his side's defensive mistakes, rather than their lack of composure up front.
"I think that's one game that's got away from us," he said. "We had two big opportunities. We've been very clinical with our finishing in recent games, we weren't so today.
"I was more disappointed with our defending. Our shape has been very good, we've been very compact and in the first-half, for the first 20 to 25 minutes, we did frustrate them with our solid defensive shape [but] for the two goals we were much too open."
Swansea dominated possession throughout the match but were unable to capitalise - particularly after Fernando Llorente was forced off with an injury shortly before the half-time break.
Clement was forced to make two changes during the opening period, with Angel Rangel also sustaining an injury, and the Swans boss believes the substitutions hampered his side.
"I think the injuries did hurt us in the first-half," he said. "Not necessarily because of who came off and who came on but more that when you go into the second-half and you want those options available to you, to make offensive changes or defensive changes, two of them are already gone."
Hull are now just two points behind Swansea in the Premier League table and Clement admits his side still face a real battle to avoid relegation this season.
"You have to say congratulations to Hull because I think that was a must-win game for them," he said.
"The pressure was on them, we wanted to come here and win. A draw wouldn't have been a bad result but it does tighten things up again."
