Williams urges Swansea to 'regroup and respond'

Luke Williams says Swansea City must "regroup and respond really quickly" after their south Wales derby humbling at Cardiff City.

Swansea are back in Championship action when Sheffield United visit the Swansea.com Stadium on Tuesday (19:45 GMT).

A meeting with the high-flying Blades would be a stern challenge at the best of times, but it looks even more daunting on the back of Swansea's demoralising defeat by their neighbours.

Swansea competed with Cardiff in the opening third of Saturday's game, but the Bluebirds seized the initiative before the break and blew Williams' side away in the second period.

"We have to bounce back," Swansea's head coach said.

"We have to show some fight and determination.

"You can't put [defeat in the derby] right. The only way you can do that is by winning the next one. But we have to have a reaction in the next league game, that's for sure."

Swansea's form has slumped since back-to-back home wins over Christmas left them within four points of the Championship play-off places.

They are only seven points adrift of sixth now, but have looked nothing like a potential play-off team in comprehensive January defeats at Cardiff and Portsmouth.

Joe Allen's stoppage-time goal saw the Swans salvage a point in their last home game, against West Brom earlier this month, but they are in need of a lift as they prepare to face Chris Wilder's second-placed United side.

"They are an incredible team so we have to recover very quickly and try to make a good performance if we are to have any chance," Williams added.

"You are going to lose games, but I think it's the manner that you lose the game. We have to respond really well now."