Blue Army column by Steve Pumfrey: Fans rue Leicester City shortcomings

City's first visit to the Liberty Stadium, and the Blue Army came from all corners of the UK to reach rain-sodden Swansea. There was the "Ilfracombe Massive'' – well, four of them at least, from north Devon – and Colin, who lives in Sussex, but rarely misses a game.

Just after Christmas, he drove from Worthing to catch a supporters' bus in Leicester heading for Doncaster, only for the match to be called off.

That's dedication for you. But most of the long-haul merchants express surprise when they are applauded for their achievements. "It's just what we do,'' said another member of the Blue Army with many miles on the clock.

What they did on Saturday's journey home was to have plenty of time to reflect on City's shortcomings.

After five successive home games, partly because of December postponements at Cardiff and Doncaster, this was City's first away venture since the awful 5-1 thumping at Forest.

It resulted in a third defeat on the road, which equals the number of losses suffered away from the Walkers during City's entire League One-winning campaign last season.

But this is the Championship – an entirely different proposition.

Even skipper Matt Oakley admitted that City won League One too easily.

News quickly spread around the concourses before kick-off that City boss Nigel Pearson had dropped Steve Howard, Richie Wellens and Robbie Neilson. The omission of Wellens was the big talking point. There was also surprise at Howard's absence, with several fans pointing to his physical presence as helping to plot Swansea's downfall in the two previous meetings this season.

Away from the furious debates about the team selection, Lee Jobber was a distinctive figure dressed as a pink fairy complete with wand.

There was a Father Christmas, too. The costumes were probably due to be worn on the seasonal away trips which never happened because of the weather.

The PA announcer quickly put the kiss of death on City's chances by announcing before kick-off that the Swans had not beaten their East Midlands' opponents at home since 1956.

The City fans were upbeat enough in the early minutes of the encounter. "We're going to win 2-1,'' they cried in reference to the results of the two confrontations this season in the Championship and the FA Cup.

There were two Dyers on the pitch – City's Lloyd and Swansea's Nathan – but it was the home side's version who tormented the visitors' defence in the opening exchanges, and his run and cross set up the unmarked Gorka Pintado to give the home side the lead right in front of the Blue Army.

It was not looking good for City as the Swans threatened to extend their advantage.

The chorus of: "One-nil and you lost before,'' referred to the Welsh club's inability to hold on to the lead in the two previous meetings. But the banter only partially hid the fans' disappointment at City being distinctly second-best in the opening 45 minutes.

That probably extended to the first hour and, with the supporters growing ever more disgruntled, Pearson shuffled his pack and switched his front-line attack to Howard and Martyn Waghorn.

The livewire Waghorn quickly posed problems with his strength and pace and had a good shout for a penalty when he crumbled under a challenge. It was right in front of the Blue Army, who were furious as the spot-kick appeals were waved away.

Dany N'Guessan, twice the tormentor of Swansea with late goals, then entered the fray and one City fan suggested: "We'll be okay, Dany's bound to score."

It certainly looked that way as Martyn Waghorn's cross reached him at the far post but, as the City fans held their breath, N'Guessan managed only to hit the ball straight at the grounded Swans keeper, Dorus de Vries.

"What a chance," said one fan, who probably realised seconds later there was to be no comeback this time.

As the Blue Army trooped out of the Liberty Stadium, there were still disagreements about the team selection, but very few about the performance. Not one of their better days, seemed to sum it up.