Paulo Sousa admitted that it just wasn't Swansea City's day at the Liberty Stadium as he remained upbeat despite a 3-0 defeat to Middlesbrough.

Goals from Adam Johnson, Marvin Emnes and Tuncay Sanli earned the visitors an impressive victory to signal their intent in making an immediate return to the Premier League.

It left Paulo counting the cost of two straight Championship defeats and a horrendous injury list that includes the likes Joe Allen, Ferrie Bodde, Jordi Lopez, Albert Serran, Tom Butler, Guillem Bauza and Darren Pratley.

"I thought we started the game well enough and we created some good chances,'' explained Paulo. "But we didn't take them and they hit us on the counter attack.

"If we had scored one of those chances then the game could have been different. But we didn't get the crucial moments right; we didn't get the luck.

"And when you make small mistakes against teams and players of Middlesbrough's quality who have played in the Premier League, it's game over.

"It just wasn't our day today."

You can see the full post-match interview on Swans Player

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate felt a second consecutive clean sheet was the foundation for their first win on the road in 13 games.

"Two clean sheets in two games is crucial; that's the basis for everything," he said.

"The manner of the win was pleasing. I saw Swansea play last week and they're an attractive team and are always going to have lots of possession.

"I felt our wingers would be key in this game and that they could have some joy if we got the ball to them; and so it proved.

"I thought the key would be to pressurise and not allow them to get into their stride and that we'd create chances the way they play.

"They've lost a couple of crucial players and I felt it was a good opportunity for us today, but the basis was the clean sheet.''