Williams joined Swansea City from Stockport County in 2008

Ashley Williams has warned Swansea City that they cannot afford to slip up after suffering last-minute heartache at the hands of rivals Cardiff City.

The Swans are on their worst run of the season and have not won in six, but remain fifth in the play-offs, two points ahead of Blackpool in seventh.

They face Scunthorpe at the Liberty Stadium on Monday in what is a must-win game to ease the pressure.

"I think the boys know there's no messing about," said defender Williams.

"We've got to win, we need the three points.

"This is a time when things aren't going right for us and we are going to have to show everyone what we've got about us.

"It's should be a good reaction on Monday, no ifs or buts."

Saturday's 2-1 defeat was the first derby loss for 13 years, but perhaps more importantly for the Swans, it extended their poor run of form to just one win in eight.

A win over relegation-threatened Scunthorpe will provide a much-needed morale boost, and while the Swans destiny is still in their own hands, Doncaster could do them a favour by beating Blackpool on Monday.

Swansea do also have the cushion that it is Leicester who occupy the last play-off spot and are a point behind them with a run of four straight defeats.

After Scunthorpe, the Swans face a trip to Bristol City before entertaining Barnsley, then they visit Sheffield United, with Doncaster arriving at the Liberty Stadium on the final day of the regular season.

What could be crucial in the run-in in is that the Swans have the added worry of the worst goal difference of all those teams challenging for the play-offs.

Ironically the Swans have the second best defence in the Championship, conceding 33, but have scored the least goals - 34 in 41 games.

"If you can criticise us for anything, maybe we don't take enough chances and we don't kill the game off," said Wales international Williams, who has three goals this season.

"It's disappointing because earlier in the season we were killing the game off winning 1-0 and for some reason we're not doing that at the moment.

"All season we've not taken enough chances."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version