Kristoffer Peterson insists Swansea City are not suffering stage fright in front of their own fans – but admits he’s at a loss to explain their declining home form.
The Swedish winger was one of the few successes when he came on as substitute in the 1-0 defeat at home to Millwall at the weekend.
The 24-year-old carved out the Swans’ best opening of the match with a superb turn and shot, but otherwise there was not much for the home fans to savour as their team lost at the Liberty Stadium for the fourth time this season.
By contrast, Steve Cooper’s side are yet to lose away from home but Peterson said: “It’s not nerves – no-one has spoken about that.
“If it was nerves, then we would have been nervous against Cardiff, which was our biggest home game of the season so far, but we played some good football that day.
“I don’t have the answer. I wish I had. But if we can turn things around at home, then we will be in a really good position in the table.
“We didn’t well through the whole game. At home, against any team, we should going for the win. Everyone is very disappointed.
“I can understand the frustration of the crowd because we haven’t played as well at home as we have been away from home. We need to show the home fans what we can do.”
Peterson has only been picked for just one Championship start so far this season, and made three further appearances off the bench.
But his impact on an otherwise blunted Swans attacking force against the Lions suggests he could well get a further opportunity at home to Fulham on Friday.
He added: “I’ve been doing well in training, but you need to be playing in games to get the momentum going.”
Millwall were the dominant side throughout and even though they mostly defended, they were far sharper on the counter than the Swans were with all their pointless possession.
That points to the influence of new Millwall manager Gary Rowett who has now won three times in his four matches in charge.
But’s it’s been tweaks of the dial and subtle adjustments, following the departure of Neil Harris, according to their goalscorer Jed Wallace.
“We weren’t doing much wrong under Neil,” added the former Portsmouth player, who was the most dangerous player on the field even before his curling winner.
“He was very popular in the dressing room and the players loved him. It’s been refreshing to hear the new manager say that what we were doing before was not far wrong.
“But he’s given us his own ideas. He wants us to have more control in spells and we have shown that. It will take time, but we have shown what a dangerous team we can be at this level.”