‘Physical, long balls, too extreme’: Swansea City boss’ Portsmouth verdict as high-fliers fall at Fratton
Swansea City head coach Vitor Matos gives his verdict on the 3-1 Championship loss for his side at Fratton Park last night.
Vito Matos branded Pompey ‘too extreme’ as his team missed out on the chance to go top of the Championship.
And the Swansea City head coach tagged John Mousinho’s side as a ‘really physical’ and ‘really direct’ outfit, as he acknowledged the challenge of coming to Fratton Park.
Matos on Pompey: ‘Really physical, really direct and really vertical - sometimes too extreme’
Matos’ side fell to a late 3-1 reverse last night, as two stoppage-time goals made the difference under the lights at PO4.
Pompey made it six games unbeaten and just a single loss in 10, as they continue to deliver impressive form under Mousinho.
Matos felt Pompey’s high-tempo approach and physicality went too far at times, however, and referee Matt Corlett didn’t control the game as he should.
Matos told Swansea’s X account: ‘It’s a hard place to come. They are really physical, really direct and really vertical - sometimes too extreme.
‘Unfortunately the ref wasn’t clear on which situations he should handle.
‘But we tried to compete in the first half, it was much more divided and hard for us to put Portsmouth deep.
‘They are physical, long balls and vertical. So we concede a goal and that made us try to chase the game.
‘In the second half we did really well, create chances and score from a penalty.
‘After that the game could’ve turned to us, I think until even after that moment we were really good in the game.
‘Then unfortunately we suffer from a set-piece and that is something we need to improve. That’s the story of the game.
‘That’s the Championship. When you want to grow as team we need to handle these situations. That’s what we have to do and what we need to do better.
‘We need to stay balanced, stay in control and stay more focussed on what we can do and what we can control.
‘It’s not easy because we’re all human beings and we had a tough game two days ago.
‘So that’s how it was, now we need to analyse and improve.’
Swansea loss defender Stephen Welsh in the first half, as he was forced off following a challenge from Ebou Adams with the Pompey man booked.
The Welsh side are waiting to hear the extent of that issue, as they bid to improve an impressive start to the season which has now become three losses in four with Birmingham City up next.
Matos added: ‘It (Welsh’s injury) is something on the knee, but we need to assess to see the extent and the gravity of the situation. Until we have a clear answer that’s how it is.
‘We move forward, we control what we can control. The group have already given answers in hard moments.
‘They know what we need to do to win games and that’s what we’re going to try to do against Birmingham.
‘We are going to try to show ourselves in the best way possible and try to impose ourselves on the game, like every game try to attack and be something.’