World News – UK – Yan Dhanda doesn’t strike enough when Duncan Watmore sinks the swans

Swansea City was beaten for the third time this season when Duncan Watmore’s brace fired Middlesbrough to victory at Riverside Stadium.

Watmore scored every half to get Neil Warnock’s men under control before substitute Yan Dhanda scored a tense ending late with his first goal in the campaign.

But Steve Cooper’s men failed to equalize as they lost for the first time since their 1-0 loss to Norwich City.

As hectic as the upcoming schedule is, Cooper made three changes to the side that kicked off Sunday’s 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest.

Ryan Manning, Ben Cabango and Kasey Palmer came in for Jake Bidwell, Kyle Naughton and Matt Grimes who all fell on the bench.

That meant that top scorer Andre Ayew commanded the visitors who had collected seven points out of nine offered since the international break.

Swansea entered the game with the best defensive record in the division, while the hosts had the second best combined record.

And the events that played out early on went according to the scripts of most of the fans and experts, as neither side was causing many problems in a very tight championship.

However, Swansea had two golden chances to hit the dead end in 19th. Minute after working his way up the right wing.

Jamal Lowe’s shot was saved well by Marcus Bettinelli before Connor Roberts blocked the hit after Marcus Tavernier ricocheted off.

And they were punished for failing to arch the net when Boro broke at the other end seven minutes later and moved on when Watmore’s 25-yard hit took Marc Guehi a huge distraction to fly over Freddie Woodman.

They were furious 10 minutes before half-time when referee Keith Stroud failed to point to the penalty spot after Ayew appeared to be in the penalty area.

Palmer then fired a shot in the back of Ayew before Jay Fulton launched an important last ditch attack to defeat Tavernier on the other end.

Warnock’s men nearly doubled their lead two minutes before half-time, though Woodman brilliantly blocked Sam Morsy’s shot to ensure Swansea were only one goal behind at the break.

Cooper clearly felt there was a way back into the game. In the second half he made three substitutions, with Viktor Gyokeres, Wayne Routledge and Grimes coming on for Cabango, Lowe and Fulton.

The changes should have paid off within a minute of the second half when Bettinelli was caught by a long ball forward, but Gyokeres’ shot was deflected, much to the frustration of Routledge, who was unmarked on the edge of the box as the Swedish attacker shot at the goal.

Boro had a powerful 24/7 spell and Woodman had to turn down Marvin Johnson before Guehi produced a stunning block on the line to keep Morsy’s tied attempt out of a corner.

Swansea replied, however, and the home team had Djed Spence to thank for throwing himself out of the corner of the six-yard box before Korey Smith’s shot.

Dhanda replaced Palmer for the final 25 minutes as the Swans continued to press for an equalizer.

But they were caught on recess shortly after when Watmore stormed through the gate after being left in an acre of space and he drilled beyond Woodman to score his second gate of the night and Warnock’s troops in to bring a command position.

Swansea struggled desperately in the final third, despite a glimmer of hope 12 minutes from time when Dhanda’s shot was deflected by Dael Fry.

The former Liverpool man then deflected a shot when Swansea threw the sink at Middlesbrough.

Dhanda’s great ball sent his substitute colleague Jordon Garrick in goal in the closing stages, despite the winger being offside before whipping over Bettinelli.

And Swansea couldn’t find a late equalizer as they lost for the second time in the league this season.

Middlesbrough: Bettinelli; Spence, Fry, McNair, Bola; Morsy (Coulson 80), Howson, Tavernier; Watmore (Saville 67), Akpom, Johnson (Wing 80).

Swansea City: Woodman; Cabango (Gyokeres 46), Bennett, Guehi; Roberts, Smith (Garrick 81), Fulton (Grimes 46), Manning; Palmer (Dhanda 65); Ayew (C), Lowe (Routledge 46).

Grimes calmly put Swansea out of danger when Boro drills a flank from the right.

Dhanda with two through balls within a minute, but neither of them find their target.

Grimes is fouled and Morsy is lucky enough not to get a card for punching Grimes in the face. .

Johnson may be lucky enough not to be booked again for an off-the-ball foul on Guehi.

Middlesbrough F. . C.. . , Swansea City A. . F.. . C.. . , Neil Warnock, EFL Championship, Duncan Watmore, Huddersfield Town A. . F.. . C.. .