We may only be six games into the new season but the pressure could just be starting to mount on Swansea City manager, Brian Laudrup.
After a superb start to the Premier League this term, which saw the Swans reach the dizzy heights of second, a succession of defeats has somewhat deflated the buoy floated by former boss, Brendan Rodgers.
Laudrup’s job has now begun. The Rodgers structures that supported Swansea up two divisions may still be standing, but a new man is in control now and must prove it soon.
On Saturday, Swansea welcome newly-promoted Reading to the Liberty Stadium, hoping to stop the gap in their leaky defence. The Swans are 99/100 on Betfair to do just that.
Conceding seven goals in their last three league games has come as a shock for Swans fans, who have become accustomed to the ‘you may score but we’ll score more’ mantra under Rodgers.
Without a goal in these three games, reality of life in England’s top flight has come crashing down on Laudrup’s men and a relegation scrap is on the cards unless the Dane can inspire his men back to winning ways this month.
In Reading, Laudrup faces a side wounded from the Premier League’s opening bouts. Without a league win this season and just two points on the board, Brian McDermott’s squad will be looking to take all three points away from the Liberty and no doubt sense Swansea’s weaknesses.
Saturday’s game, although hardly likely to create much discussion in the weekend football betting predictions, will pit two teams desperate for victory against each other. Swansea could be about to suffer ‘second-season syndrome’, much like Ipswich Town and Reading themselves have experienced over the past decade.
