When the new broom arrives, there’s going to be just a little less mess to clean up. A pigsty, yes, but not quite as filthy as it was.
A draw at home against Crystal Palace might not seem like a great deal because it isn’t. But when you are falling towards the Championship at such a mind-scrambling pace, anything other than defeat feels like a gift wrapped in a bow.
The fact that this point came courtesy a late equaliser, and a screamer from Jordan Ayew to boot, means there might also be some semblance of morale in the squad over Christmas now. For that, the new manager, whoever he may be, ought to be grateful.
Jordan Ayew (right) celebrates after netting a sublime late equaliser to rescue a point for Swansea at Liberty Stadium
Ayew fired passed Julian Speroni would could only dive helplessly and watch the ball fly past him into the far corner
The substitute came on to lift the gloom around the stadium and salvage a draw against Crystal Palace
Credit, therefore, to caretaker Leon Britton and his team of Cameron Toshack, Gary Richards and Tony Roberts. They stopped some of the bleeding and lifted some eyes off the floor.
They also got the team playing. Not enough to get excited about, but after the negative tactics and results of Paul Clement, this was a little more traditional for the club, with an attempt to dominate possession. They still struggle terribly with creating good chances and that is an issue that badly needs addressing in January.
But across two thirds of the field they looked improved, as was their collective attitude, which, again, has to be seen as positive for a side that lost eight of their previous 10 league games. Indeed, after falling behind to a Luka Milivojevic penalty early in the second half, rather than wilt as they usually do, they found their way back and actually looked the stronger side at the close.
For Roy Hodgson and Palace, eight games unbeaten is impressive – Swansea can only hope such a vast turnaround from a managerial change.
But the frustration for Hodgson will be that his side might have made more of the first half.
Luka Milivojevic celebrates scoring the first goal of the game after slotting a penalty effortlessly into the net
The Serbian took the responsibility of the spot kick and stepped up to convert from the spot in the second half
Lukasz Fabianski guessed the wrong way and watched the ball fly past him and into the goal to silence the home fans
The best early chances all went to Palace, though. Inside three minutes, Scott Dann had a header saved and soon after Andros Townsend went closer still, with a step inside from the left and a shot from the edge of the area. Lukasz Fabianski tipped it over the bar.
There was also an opening for Ruben Loftus-Cheek, which he pushed a shade wide. Promising stuff, but it is equally noticeable, and predictable, how this attack loses some of its potency when Christian Benteke isn’t there.
And Swansea? They had 64 per cent of possession in the first half, which is a little more of what they used to do way back when, but chance creation is still an issue for the bluntest attack in the division. Beyond a dismissed penalty appeal by Luciano Narsingh against Jeffrey Schlupp, they offered no threat.
That, though, is more about personnel than tactics. The lack of creative thinkers in the final third is one problem, and the expectation that Tammy Abraham, at 20, can lead the line in a survival bid is quite another. He has plenty of potential but isn’t yet the sort for breaking down doors as a solo striker, which he might need to be so long as Wilfried Bony is injured.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek was chopped down by Federico Fernandez and the referee Craig Pawson pointed to the spot
Ruben Loftus-Cheek (left) is bundled over unceremoniously by Roque Mesa during a physical challenge for the ball
Zaha shows his evasive skills to power his way past Tom Carroll in the Swansea midfield and advance up the pitch
Leon Britton (left) was given a warm reception by the home fans as he lined up alongside Roy Hodgson
Andros Townsend (right) battles for possession with Nathan Dyer who struggles to hold off the winger
Dyer proved himself a nuisance for the visiting defence as he looked to show off his dribbling ability in the first half
The difference between the two attacks paid off early in the second half, albeit through a soft penalty rather than any great design.
Zaha was involved in the build-up, putting Loftus-Cheek one-on-one with Federico Fernandez, who made gentle contact in the challenge as the winger went past. Craig Pawson gave it – the third penalty Swansea have conceded in two games – and Luka Milivojevic put the kick down the middle.
Swansea responded by making two chances for Abraham, with the first one launched over the bar and the second sent too close to Julian Speroni, before Schlupp almost put into his own net after deflecting a Nathan Dyer cross.
That was modestly encouraging and yet what followed was entirely unexpected, both in the outlet and the outcome. Ayew has hardly torn up trees since arriving from Aston Villa in January, but his goal here was sublime, a blast into the top corner from 25 yards some 11 minutes after coming on. A stunning impact.
The question is whether Swansea’s new manager can build on it.
Loftus-Cheek soars skywards but the ball passes him by as the Chelsea loanee loses sight of his target
James McArthur and Zaha end up on the turf after a collision in the air which left both players struggling
Tammy Abraham reacts in frustration as the Swansea striker fails to level the scores against the Eagles
Fabianski exhibits his bravery as the goalkeeper claims the ball before bracing for an impact with Zaha
A number of fans were calling for Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins to step down and leave the club
Whoever takes over from Leon Britton in charge at Swansea will have a slightly smaller mess to clean up than before