Luke Williams | We need to believe in ourselves more

Head coach Luke Williams has urged his players to believe in themselves after seeing a second-half fightback come up short at West Bromwich Albion.

The Swans suffered a 1-0 defeat at The Hawthorns as Jayson Molumby netted the only goal of the game in first-half stoppage time.

That came at the end of an opening period where the Swans had been on the backfoot, with Lawrence Vigouroux making some important saves.

But there was far more energy and vigour about the away side’s display after the break, with Žan Vipotnik, Gonçalo Franco and Jisung Eom all unable to convert good chances, while the Korean also had appeals for a penalty waved away as he tumbled when keeper Alex Palmer rushed out.

And while Williams was disappointed by a timidity in Swansea’s first-half showing, he felt there were reasons for encouragement from the manner of the second-half showing against a Baggies team who reached the play-offs last term and are among the teams fancied for promotion this season.

“I thought we were outclassed in the first half completely,” said the Swans boss.

“We were probably the stronger side in the second half, but by then we are chasing the game, chasing the deficit, and we left ourselves with too much to do.

“We let ourselves down a bit in that first half. I thought the guys defended the box incredibly well when we were under a lot of pressure, until we conceded so close to half-time, which was disappointing.

“But, overall, I think we can be pleased with that second-half performance, even though we left it too late.

“We had chances, there was a penalty shout, but the big disappointment was that we played within ourselves in the first half.

“We did not have the correct energy but if the players can believe in themselves more in these types of atmospheres then it will release them more to come to places and get good results.

“We have to make that a reality though.”

Williams also confirmed that striker Liam Cullen missed out with a minor ankle injury, but should be available again after the international break.

“It’s nothing too serious, I think it will only keep him out for a few days,” added Williams.

“He picked something up in the last game, he has had a scan and we have a good idea on the extent of the injury and he should be fine for after the international break.”