Alan Sheehan rues red card but praises application in defeat

Head coach Alan Sheehan praised the application of his 10-man Swansea City side in their 1-0 defeat to Queens Park Rangers, but admitted they had paid for a slow start at the Swansea.com Stadium.

The visitors scored the winner in the 18th minute when Rumarn Burrell cushioned a strike into the far corner of the net from a Isaac Hayden cross.

The Swans then found themselves down a man 17 minutes later when Malick Yalcouye and Steve Cook clashed after the former had appealed for a penalty, and the midfielder was dismissed.

Facing an uphill battle the hosts battled bravely and kept themselves in the contest, and came agonisingly close to levelling when Zan Vipotnik had two big chances in the final moments, but an equaliser wasn’t to be.

“We did not start the game well at all, and then they have been quite clinical with one of their first opportunities,” said Sheehan.

“We came back into it slightly and then we go down to 10 men. We regrouped at half-time and we stayed in the game. 

“We showed the effort and endeavour to attack together and defend together, we wanted to keep it tight for as long as possible and then have a go.

“We had opportunities at the end to maybe salvage something, but it wasn’t to be.

“The lads have put in a tireless effort, it’s a loss but they showed tremendous application to work hard for each other.”

The Swans boss described Yalcouye as “devastated” following his red card, but believes the teenager will learn a lot from a tough experience.

“It is an experienced player and a young player. I did not think there was loads in it but it is a learning for young Malick,” he said.

“He is devastated of course, but that’s the way it is, that is the learning you do as a young player.

“We suffered for it tonight but he will learn from it.”