McLeish concerned over ´frightening´ loss

Alex McLeish was left to rue Aston Villa’s ‘frightening’ performance in the 2-0 home loss to Swansea City on Monday.

Two days after beating Chelsea away in the league, Villa offered very little against the newly-promoted side in a dismal display, and the Scottish boss had trouble reconciling the result, his side’s fourth loss in a row at home.

“It’s frightening after such a good performance at the weekend and then we shoot ourselves in the foot,” McLeish told reporters.

“It was important that we started really well but to many passes went back and without getting at them early.”

“So disappointing to see us taking three positive steps forward and then take steps back tonight.”

Villa conceded early in each half and never really threatened Swansea despite some decent spells of possession throughout, with the former Birmingham City boss admitting the timing of the goals could not have been worse.

“You can’t give goals like that away first and foremost. We never had that motivation that we had at the weekend,” he said.

“The second goal seemed to drain one or two of the players and without doubt I did contemplate changes but we don’t have too many options to change the team and I really did feel the morale and feel-good factor from the weekend would get them through it.”

“Not finding too many claret and blue jerseys with a pass was a problem for us. We’re better than that but at the same time, t[that’s what happens] when you lose goals that we lost.”

“I don’t see anyone else giving us gifts so this is where we look for the consistency, not two or three performances, we want 10 good games from everybody without any real mistakes.”

The West Midlands outfit were roundly jeered by the home crowd after the game, and McLeish conceded his team fully deserved such a reaction after the defeat.

“You can’t fault the fans, their emotions and their enthusiastic support of the club,” he said.

“They all want the club to be winning and to lose at home is a kick in the teeth for them it is for me as well. Tonight was a huge disappointment.”

Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers was pleased to reward the Welsh club’s loyal fans.

“It was a wonderful performance and result for us,” Rodgers said.

“To come to a place like Aston Villa, I don’t think Swansea have actually ever won here, and see you can see why because they’ve got some fantastic players.”

“But I thought my players were brilliant today, they scored two goals and could have scored a lot more, and everything that is good about our game was evident.”

“The intelligence of our pressure and some of our passing and interchange was exceptional.”

“So I’m delighted for the players and I’m just as delighted for the supporters because they’re so loyal, and they travel more than any other club to follow us up and down the country in this great league.”

“So it’s nice for them to go home with three points and enjoy a great performance.”