Martin disappointed as Swansea drop into the relegation zone with defeat against Middlesbrough

Russell Martin admitted he was disappointed after Swansea left themselves too much to do to get something from the trip to Middlesbrough.

Boro dominated the first hour of the game, thanks to goals from Riley McGree and Matt Crooks.

Joel Piroe’s late penalty handed the Swans a lifeline but a late red card for Ben Cabango left the away side with too much to do to as they lost 2-1.

“We started the game really well, loads of purpose and control,” Martin said. “We make a mistake and don’t react well enough to it.

“That’s a sign of where we’re at the minute, we’re really getting punished for those mistakes.

“It’s probably a sign of having a young team. We had a wobble for 10 minutes which leads to the second goal. After that, the boys couldn’t give us any more in the second half.

“It felt like it was coming, and it did, we got the goal, but Ben makes a mad decision. It’s not the reason we don’t go on to get something because we were still so dominant, we looked like we were really dangerous, but that decision and getting sent off is probably a sign of where we’re at.

“We played brilliantly until we got to their final third, and that was because of a lack of intensity on the top line.”

Swansea have taken just five points from the opening six games and are currently 22nd in the Championship.

Challenge

Middlesbrough manager Chris Wilder was pleased with the way his side overcame the difficult challenge of Swansea to record their first victory of the campaign.

“It was a right difficult game,” he said.

“Swansea is probably the hardest game in a lot of ways. The way they play is obviously how Russell (Martin) wants his team to play. That’s really difficult to play against.

“We had to show a really disciplined side to us because when we get beat at Reading, everyone in the ground wants to go ‘come on, let’s press and get after them’. That is part of the game.

“I think we are quite good at pressing but Swansea is possibly the hardest game to play. When you’re looking at who you want to play after you have not got a result after five games, it certainly isn’t Swansea.

“I’ve said to the players it was always going to be one of those games. Whoever it was we were playing against, it was always going to be a comfortable afternoon or something happens with a penalty which I still don’t understand.”