I have just managed to open my fingers enough to watch a replay of Saturday's horror show - and perhaps the smiles at Monday's open training session weren't as misplaced as they seemed.

Don't panic! That's the message coming out of Mark Hughes's office at the moment, and there were signs on Saturday that the result was a pure anomaly - though that must run concomitantly with a significantly improved performance at Norwich this weekend.

Rob Green has howlers in him, ask any West Ham fan and he'll tell you, but his general goalkeeping skills are fine - and a trip away, where the nerves may be jangling a little less, should see him straight.

That's the explanation for the first goal out of the way. As for the other four? Well, it would be difficult to not credit Swansea with the second which was a good breakaway goal, although our midfield is lacking an Alejandro Faurlin capable of stopping counter-attacks and Samba Diakite was clearly feeling the affects of Ramadan.

The third was defensive tomfoolery punctuated by Clint Hill watching his QPR career flash in front of him. Four was a high line bought about as an overcompensation for the third. And the fifth, well, they'd pretty much given up by then.

Hughes said he was embarrassed after the game, which he should be, but his other thoughts were poignant: "that there are players who are not where they need to be".

There are questions to be asked over the pre-season, which was perhaps not what the players were used to - and perhaps lacked English opposition. But Swansea did the same, and looked perfectly ready.

But mainly it was about that back four.

When asked about Rob Green's clanger for the first, Hughes said: "He will be disappointed with that, but I was more concerned with what was happening in front of him."

Concerned enough to bring in the central defender we have been clamouring for? Step forward Michael Dawson.

Follow Sean Smith on Twitter @seanshorn

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