Russell Martin admits Swansea City paid the price for not taking their chances as they were beaten at the death by Sheffield United.
Joel Piroe spurned a number of good openings for the hosts in what was an even contest at the Swansea.com Stadium. But they were emphatically punished as substitute Reda Khadra lashed home at the death to earn the Blades all three points.
"It was a really good game. We didn't start very well, but I was really pleased with our reaction, we looked really dangerous, on the counter in particular," said head coach Martin. "We didn't make the most of the opportunities we had. Everything we asked them to do at half-time they did. They were much braver in possession.
"We have to make the most of the big chances we had. We should score tonight, we should score more against Stoke, we should score more against QPR, we should score tonight, we don't and we pay the price for that.
"We're 45 seconds away from everyone feeling positive against a team who are top of the league and free-scoring. Steven [Benda] had one save to make in the first half, apart from that we've not been tested at all.
"We went toe-to-toe with the team at the top of the league, the players were great for so long and we end up getting beat. It's really difficult to see here and be really positive when it ends in that way."
The Swansea coaching staff were less than impressed with Sheffield United's match-winner as former Swan Rhian Brewster outmuscled Kyle Naughton before teeing up Khadra to fire home in the fourth minute of injury time.
And Martin says he fully trusts defender Naughton who insists he was brought down by Brewster in the build-up to the late goal.
"I trust Kyle. He's clipped his heels. The boy’s not meant to but Kyle has run across him," added the head coach.
“Even before that we had a chance - it just shouldn't get to that point. They clear, they have one guy with three or four of ours, and just a bit of hesitation, then we allow the pass back inside.
“It is a foul. It's the easiest decision the referee has got to make all night. It’s the 94th minute, the guy’s running back towards his own goal, he clips his heels, just give the free-kick. It's really not difficult.
“But he hasn’t given it. We should still deal with the aftermath of it. We don’t and everyone feels completely different about the performance than they did 30 seconds previously.”
Addressing the incident, Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom said: “I didn’t think it was a foul. I think Kyle realised he was in a foot race and he was going to get beaten.
"He tried to step across Rhian. What Rhian’s done well, he put the brakes on and jumped so there was no contact. But I would have complained if I was Russ, course I would, but it’s not a foul.”
Swansea host Hull City on Saturday afternoon in what will be the final fixture before the international break. Kick-off is at 12:30pm.
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