NO LUCK AT BRIDGE, BUT SWANSEA’S REAL TESTS ARE AHEAD

IT seems strange to say it given they have just faced a Chelsea side seemingly destined to win the title, but Swansea City will face bigger tests than this. Because the Premier League fate of Paul Clement’s side will not be decided by this defeat at Stamford Bridge; it will be decided by how they perform over the next month.

Beating the big boys of this league will always create the headlines. Beating Liverpool up at Anfield last month created hope.

Now, having been unable to truly come close to beating the champions-elect, it will be beating the lesser lights that will create the difference between revival and relegation.

It is not stretching it to say Swansea have the chance of all but securing their safety over the next five weeks and four games against teams in the bottom half of the table. They will be bigger and more significant tests than this, as far as Swansea’s bid to stay up are concerned.

It is clearly on Clement’s mind given he brought it up in his press conference within an hour of the final whistle, reeling off the fixture list as to spell out the significance. Burnley home, Hull and Bournemouth away, Middlesbrough home. “It is vital,” admitted the man denied on his return to Chelsea.

Yes, there was the – correct – feeling of injustice from the Swans boss as he discussed a – wrongly – ignored penalty claim when the scores were still level and just 20 minutes to go.

But if Swansea deserved the chance from 12 yards to create more headlines, they didn’t deserve this win. The headlines belonged to Chelsea and their 12th successive win at home that took them 11 points clear at the top of the table.

The visitors hardly disgraced themselves. At the opposite corner of England’s capital a little under three months ago, Tottenham systematically took Swansea apart and left them wondering how on earth the players would be able to get up the next morning let alone find the belief to avoid relegation.

Here, while they still lost, they should not lose any confidence having competed and given Chelsea a tougher test and a bigger scare than many have this term.

Indeed, after surviving that penalty shout, it still needed an error from Lukasz Fabianski for Antonio Conte’s men to edge towards victory as the Pole’s palms were unable to stop Pedro’s shot 18 minutes from time.

But Swansea had called upon Fabianski – and their woodwork – to keep Chelsea at bay as the power and precision of their front play made it tough, Cesc Fabregas’ opener looking like it would be added to sooner rather than later. The Pole saved well several times.

Swansea were stubborn and the fact they remained only a goal behind going towards the break was credit to both their resolve and their scramble defending when they did get pulled out of shape.

Because one goal always provides hope – which Fernando Llorente duly grasped with both hands. A floated Gylfi Sigurdsson free-kick was aimed at the Spaniard and the striker did what he does so well, guiding it past the cold gloves of Thibaut Courtois in first-half injury time.

But Clement’s men had not been at their best, a little inaccurate, not quite as intense as they can be. Part of it was down to Chelsea’s incessant energy, but part of it was down to themselves as possession was either laboured or wasted and the likes of Tom Carroll having his poorest game to date.

Still, the organisation was there and there was a bit of greater attacking momentum after the break, Llorente causing David Luiz problems and all leading up to that key moment when Swarbrick opted against making the tough and correct decision.

Chelsea, as if knowing they got away with it, found their way to win, as champions so often do. Pedro’s shot should have been saved but wasn’t, Eden Hazard then allowing Diego Costa to get his customary goal against Swansea – it is now eight goals in five games against this side for a player who, love him or hate him, is a superb striker.

Indeed, Chelsea are full of superb players – N’Golo Kante was excellent, so too Pedro while Fabregas showed there is plenty of silverware-winning life in him yet – and the fact Swansea showed they could stand up for so long should not see them lose any confidence.

Which they will need for the battles ahead, ones far more significant than headline grabbing games. Ones they have shown they have the quality for, but need to handle the pressure of it all when victory is not an outside shot.

It’s not about the big boys next month, it’s about Swansea showing they are man enough for the challenge.