Monk rues missed chances

3rd May

Garry Monk rued missed chances after an injury time goal saw the Swans beaten 1-0 by Southampton at the Liberty.

In the final home game of the season, opportunities were few and far between for both sides, but a freak 93rd minute goal by Rickie Lambert saw the Saints steal all three points.

With both clubs assured of their Premier League safety for next season, it looked as though the game would finish goalless after Wilfried Bony, Jonathan de Guzman and Sam Gallagher all missed chances to put their respective side's in front.

But deep into injury time, Ashley Williams' attempted clearance looped over the top of Michel Vorm before being bundled over the line by Lambert.

The late winner for the Saints meant the Swans drop one position down to 13th place after West Ham's 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

But Monk felt his side had enough chances to take something from the game.


"It's hard to take losing the final home game of the season in the last minute," said the Swans head coach.

"We suffered first-half possession-wise against a very good team.

"But funnily enough in football, we had three really clear-cut chances that we should have scored from, and I can't remember Michel [Vorm] making a save all game.

"In terms of possession, yes we suffered, but how we have come away from that game with nothing is hard to take. We had the best chances.

"We defended very well for 90 minutes, but let ourselves down with some schoolboy defending at the end.

"To defend the box as well as we did for 90 minutes takes intensity and concentration, but we lost it at the end. 

"We lost concentration, got sucked out of position and left Lambert with too much space. 

"It was a very poor goal - one that we didn't deserve to go against us, but that has probably been the story of our season.

"The whole situation should have been dealt with much better."

Meanwhile, Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino felt his side did enough throughout the game to warrant all three points this afternoon.

"Overall, we did well today and I am happy with the team's performance and the result," said the Argentine manager.

"It was a difficult game because both teams have already achieved their goals for this season, but I thought we played in the manner we wanted to play.

"It wasn't a spectacular game, but I felt we did enough to get the win."