Williams' determination to raise the bar should be admired

Luke Williams ignored the page in the football manager's handbook which says it can be unwise to criticise your players in the media after Saturday's painful defeat to Sunderland.

But then Williams has proved in 11 months as Swansea City's head coach that he is willing to break from the norm.

He is not a coach who, when faced by microphones, attempts to pull wool over eyes.

Rarely, if ever, do you come away from one of Williams' post-match press conferences questioning his assessment of a game - and that is fairly unusual.

If Swansea have not performed, he says so. If they have been fortunate to get a result, he admits as much.

There are some managers who set out to show little emotion when dealing with the press, who try to remain consistent whether their team have triumphed or been defeated.

Not Willliams.

He is passionate, a little fiery at times, and is unwilling - or unable - to mask his feelings after a difficult day in the dugout.

There was an emphatic reminder of that after Sunderland, when Swansea established a two-goal lead inside 17 minutes and competed admirably in the first half, even after Dan Ballard pulled a goal back for the Black Cats.

Yet the Swans collapsed after the break, succumbing to yet another defeat against one of the Championship's top clubs this season.

Williams said his side's second-half performance "stank of doubt", adding that his players have "a fear of achieving their potential".

It was strong stuff, particularly when you consider that despite the Sunderland reverse, most would agree that Swansea are having a decent season.

Williams could have put a different spin on what was a narrow defeat against one of the Championship's leading sides at the end of an arduous week, but that is not his style.

His obvious determination to raise the bar is to be admired.

Williams must now hope that his players respond in the right way.