Luke Williams | We were too timid, but the second half was much better

Head coach Luke Williams felt his Swansea City side paid the price for a timid first-half display against Southampton, but saw plenty to take from a much-improved second-half showing.

Facing an in-form Saints side stacked with Premier League experience, the Swans trailed to goals from Che Adams and Will Smallbone early.

Jamie Paterson pulled a goal back, but Flynn Downes immediately responded to make it 3-1 at the interval.

That would be the score at full-time, but only after a late Swansea onslaught that saw Jerry Yates and Paterson hit the woodwork, while Charlie Patino, Joe Allen and Yannick Bolasie were all unable to finish clear chances.

While Williams did not pull any punches in his assessment of the opening half, he did see positives to take forward.

“In the first half we were too deep and we were too timid, and when you play against an opposition with confidence and quality then they exploit all the spaces you leave them,” he said.

“It looked like it could have been a long afternoon, but the second-half performance was completely different.

“We were a lot higher up the pitch, we were a lot braver to go and press the ball and we made good actions to create chances.

“There’re some positives to take away from the performances.

“We did not play well enough to deserve anything in the first half, but we made a lot of changes in the second half and we gave ourselves a better chance.

“We needed to show some character to make sure we stayed in the game, and the players did, and there were some really bright performances in the second half and we were more resilient.

“We had some of the best chances in the game, and it could have been different.

“If we can play in that manner for longer periods we are going to be a good side in the division, but we cannot play like we did in that first half.”