Alan Sheehan | We paid for failing to take our chances

Caretaker head coach Alan Sheehan felt his side paid for failing to take their chances despite an improved performance in the 2-1 defeat to Middlesbrough.

Sheehan saw the hosts have the better of the opening half, with Bashir Humphreys, Jay Fulton, Liam Walsh and Josh Key all having good chances, but the hosts took the lead just before the interval through Sam Greenwood.

The Swans responded through a Jamal Lowe header from Josh Tymon’s cross to level matters, only for Sammy Silvera to net the winner from an indirect free-kick 12 minutes from time.

And, while Sheehan felt Swansea’s showing had been an improvement on that in the draw at Stoke in midweek, he acknowledged his side had spurned some great chances to take control of the contest.

“There is frustration, but on another day I think we win that game,” he said.

“We wanted a performance, and the effort, and the intensity was there for large amounts of the game.

“The only thing to be critical of is that we had chances to put the game to bed, particularly in the first half.

“I thought our structure caused them problems at times, we wanted to win the game and we wanted to be brave.

“We wanted to press high and get after them, we attacked fast and with numbers in the first half.

“I know we have not come away with the result, but I am a lot more satisfied with the performance than I was at Stoke.

“The players gave everything I think we showed signs of progression towards the side we want to be.”