Russell Martin | We must learn to manage games better

Russell Martin says Swansea City must learn to manage moments in games better after falling to a 3-1 defeat against Middlesbrough.

The Swans had taken the lead inside 15 minutes with Joel Piroe bagging his 14th of the season and had performed well throughout the first period limiting Boro to half-chances.

The second half started strongly too with Jay Fulton finding the back of the net only to be thwarted by the assistant’s flag. But within minutes of that setback, the visitors had levelled the score through Aaron Ramsey.

Three minutes later, Boro had scored a second to take the lead. The Swans were still causing problems for the league’s form team until a rash challenge in the 77th minute allowed Chuba Akpom to make it 3-1 from the penalty spot.

“The crowd were great today, but that third goal took the atmosphere and energy out of the players and the crowd and that was the game done,” Martin admitted.

“We actually started the second-half better than we played in the first-half – that’s the most frustrating bit.

“We score a goal which I'm still not convinced is offside, it's such a tight call. I'm sure someone will have a better angle than what I've seen.

"At 2-0 it's a completely different game. But we don't manage the game well enough after that, we conceded from a counter attack from our corner and a second phase from their corner which kind of sums up where we're at really.

“Middlesbrough posed a real threat on the counter attack in the second half, but then we go to ground in the box and give a penalty away and it took the whole energy out of the game.

“We have to learn to manage disappointments better in the game.”

Despite second-half frustrations, Martin was pleased with much of what the Swans produced as they went toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the league.

"Middlesbrough had a lot of the ball in the first-half, they're a good team with a lot of athleticism and good players especially at the top end of the pitch," he added.

"We knew it'd be a tough game and that there'd be times we'd have to suffer without the ball and work really hard, which the lads did.

"I was really pleased with so much of it. We looked dangerous on the turnover and scored a goal with really high quality in the build-up.

“There were a few moments in the first half where they played through and looked good. But we asked the players to be on the front foot and go toe-to-toe with the best team in the league.

"At 2-1, we were so in it. The lads were brave and aggressive, we were winning the ball back relentlessly. I thought we were really good.

“But I'm pleased with so much of what I saw. Performances against Luton Town and Middlesbrough have felt a lot better, albeit we’ve lost but it was more positive than the performance against Rotherham.

“Frustrating. Really frustrating.”