Middlesbrough 1-0 Swansea City: Swans begin new campaign with flat defeat

Swansea City began the new Championship campaign with a disappointing defeat to Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.

Emmanuel Latte Lath's first-half spot-kick proved enough to separate the two sides, with Eom Ji-Sung coming closest for the visitors by curling a free-kick just wide midway inside the second half.

Swansea had previously lost just one of their last 10 opening-day encounters before the trip to the Riverside, but they barely laid a glove on their hosts for much of the afternoon, despite a late flourish yielding chances for Eom and Liam Cullen.

Williams, perhaps unsurprisingly, stuck with the same side that beat Rio Ave 3-0 in their final pre-season friendly, with Zan Vipotnik, the club's new number nine, starting from the bench.

Judging by the manner of this performance, a few new bodies will be needed before the close of the window, with Swansea second best for much of the afternoon.

Williams isn't often one to lose his temper, but he was left fuming at his side when they came here back in April. It was a performance he labelled 'unacceptable', and lacking in any real energy or conviction.

He might well have had a few similar thoughts during the opening 45 minutes here, as the Swans waddled their way out the blocks in the Teesside sunshine.

Isaiah Jones nearly handed the hosts the lead following a sweeping counter-attack after just 10 minutes, bouncing an audacious lob from distance after Lawrence Vigouroux, one of four signings to make their competitive Swans debut, was caught off his line.

Cullen had to be alert to turn Finn Azaz's near-post free-kick round the post moments later, before Riley McGree powered a header over the bar.

An undesirable cocktail of sloppy possession, defensive lapses and