Luke Williams rues Swansea City's missed opportunity as he gives Liam Cullen update
Luke Williams admits Sunday's draw with Bristol City feels like a missed opportunity - but has batted away suggestions that a lack of depth is holding back his Swansea City side.
The Swans took an early lead through Ben Cabango during an entertaining clash with the Robins, but were pegged back when Jason Knight powered home a header deep into the second half.
The result pushes Swansea up to ninth, two points adrift of the play-offs, but Williams believes it was an opportunity missed.
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"The first half we looked a pretty good side and made the breakthrough, which is important," he said. "But in the second half we were by far the worst team on the pitch.
“I think when you’re 1-0 down it’s easier to throw caution to the wind and Bristol City did that really well. We missed the moments to smooth the game out, to regain control and take control, so we suffered.”
Williams wouldn't elaborate further, but insists he has already identified what tipped the contest in favour of the visitors in the second half, adding that his side were, in the end, lucky to escape with a point.
“I’d have to invite you into the team meeting to demonstrate to you exactly, but I’ve got a very, very clear idea about what shifted the momentum, and it’s moments.
"It’s key moments where we made the wrong choice and, in this way, we’re not such a good team. We suffered and, in the end, we’re only just about value for a point.”
Swansea's drop in intensity in the second half coincided with Williams making several changes from the bench, with Myles Peart-Harris coming on to replace Zan Vipotnik up front.
A lack of depth in certain areas, particularly up front, remains a big concern, but Williams has dismissed suggestions a lack of options might have cost his side here.
“We’ve had games where we’ve been poor in the first half and then excellent in the second, so we can’t look at that," he added. "It’s about coping with spells in the game when either the opposition are dominant and we have to find the way to get a foothold or the other way round – we’re the team with the foothold and have to maintain that for longer period.
"There isn’t one pattern unfortunately. We have to try and prove to the players what can prevent them from losing their grip on a game.”
Vipotnik started this encounter due to Liam Cullen pulling out of the squad with illness, although Williams is hopeful the Welshman might well be fit to face Sheffield United on Wednesday.
“He was ill," he added. "He missed a couple of days but then trained for two but unfortunately yesterday evening he felt very poorly again so was unable to be in the squad today.
“He’s got a really good chance [of facing Sheffield United] but we have to be careful because he did lose some weight. That’s a concern because he’s not fully fighting fit, so we’ll have to see how he is over the next few days.
“It’s a shame, that, because he’s been in really good form.”