Potter proud after 'step forward'

21st August
First team

Proud Graham Potter reckons Swansea City have taken another step forward after they extended their unbeaten start to the season with a 2-2 draw against Leeds.

The Swans became the first team this season to stop Leeds from winning.

But the frustration for Potter’s team was that they took one point rather than three.

The Swans twice led thanks to Oli McBurnie goals, but they were pegged back by strikes from Kemar Roofe and Liberty old boy Pablo Hernandez.

Potter’s men were the better side for long periods and created more chances, with Bersant Celina missing a golden opportunity to win it late on when his shot was saved by Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

Nevertheless, Potter’s pleasure over his side’s display outweighed any disappointment about the result.

“We focus on the overall performance – what we brought to the game in terms of character, attitude, quality and courage,” he said.

“We played against a good team tonight and we showed a really good level.

“I am proud of the players and I am proud of the environment and the atmosphere in the stadium.

“We played with good intensity and we had a good idea of what we wanted to do. We also showed courage.

“Overall I am really proud of the players and happy that we have taken another step forward. Now we have to recover and realise that we can improve again.”

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa admitted his team had more problems this evening than in any of their four previous games this season.

The Swans controlled the first half, with Celina twice coming close.

But it was former Leeds youngster McBurnie who put the hosts ahead on 24 minutes when he finished a sweet Swans counter.

Roofe levelled five minutes before the break, but the Swans were back in front six minutes into the second period when McBurnie headed home superbly from Martin Olsson’s cross.

McBurnie saw another effort pushed round the post before Hernandez finished a sharp Leeds counter with 11 minutes remaining.

Celina’s big chance came on 88 minutes, when he burst into the penalty area only to be denied by Peacock-Farrell.

“Leeds play man for man defensively and they attack with real movement,” Potter added.

“They have scored a lot of goals and created a lot of chances already this season, but we restricted them to not too much.

“We were a bit unlucky to go in at half-time at 1-1. There was a little mistake from us or the goal, but I was really happy with our overall performance.

“You have to show a bit of everything in games. Oli scored a fantastic header, then they came into it a little bit but we had the best chance to win it at the end.

“In the Championship it’s always difficult to try to be yourselves, but that’s what we’ll always fight to do.

“We are at the start of the process and we are not quite perfect, but the courage and attitude the players showed tonight was of a real high level and that’s pleasing.”