We saw a very different Swansea City after a pretty dismal first half an hour in this fixture. Whatever clicked in the minds of those Swansea City players after a bombardment from Bristol City and superb saves from Lawrence Vigouroux, it most certainly worked.

It was a frantic start to the game, the Swans keen to get forwards but the trend of giving the ball away, and again in dangerous situations in defence was evident already. The excellent support for the Swans (below) was vocal and overpowered anything the home support could muster. On five minutes frantic defending by the Swans prevented an opening goal, again this led from a ball being given away by the Swans. Scott Twine laying down a marker.

On seven minutes the Robins earned a corner after Ronald was caught sleeping allowing his opponent to leave him standing. That corner led to a thunderbolt header from Knight which Vigouroux saved superbly. The next corner also caused mayhem but was eventually cleared. A third corner for then robins on nine minutes. The low ball in cleared but due to the Swans complete lack of composure the ball just kept coming back. The lack of awareness from Kyle Naughton and Ronald was allowing space and time for the Robins to think through their attacks. That would change.

The Swans defence though was being marshalled well by Captain, Ben Cabango.

As we approached the fifteen minute mark Swansea had done nothing to very little to cross the halfway line. Again loose touches, a lack of strength and direction all combining to see a nervy and pretty unaware team in white. Being undone in possession and a home side full of confidence their midfield just couldn’t match up to the Robins. They were being outgunned in all areas and even when Eom had a clear pass to start an attack the ball ended back with Vigouroux. On eighteen minutes Vipotnik was brought down when a ball through was there for him to get on the end of. No yellow card from referee Busby.

The Swans looked far too cautious when in possession,

A free kick out on the Swans left on twenty one minutes saw McNally out muscle Naughton and his directed shot was again superbly saved by then Swans keeper. He was full of confidence and most certainly was keeping Swansea in this game. But the ball continued to be given away. On twenty four minutes another interception led to Ronald fouling McNally, Bird took the free kick but it sailed wide. Again, more lack of control and awareness gave the ball back to the Robins who again started moves. The issue was also with the front players, there was no closing down and Vipotnik just seemed to be happy running round in circles. No pressure on Robins keeper, Max O'Leary whatsoever. Compared to the home side who were quick and able to see openings the Swans were just not at the races.

The first glimpse of Swansea hope came on the half hour but Liam O’Brien making his Swans debut couldn’t find a player. From that move a clear chance from an O’Brien pass to Ronald, in on goal it was poorly executed. That really did sum up the Swans form. On thirty two minutes the Robins had another corner on the Swansea left in front of the away fans. That came to nothing but strong Swansea challenges saw Twine left in a heap after a Franco tackle. The corners continued. A quickly taken corner led to a chance missed - as a header flew over the bar. However, the ball kept coming back. Swansea were just desperate to clear.

We had ten minutes to go until half time, a period in most first halves away this season when the Swans are vulnerable. Franco was lively, Vigouroux very sound in goal but sadly these were the only positives the Swans could take so far. O’Brien though was adding some resistance in midfield. The frustrating thing was the Swans continued to choose back passes when an attack was on. On thirty nine minutes a lively move from the Swans saw their first corner of the game. Franco and Ronald combining. Josh Tymon made an absolute mess of the corner, in fact it was shocking, it led to more Bristol City possession.

O’Brien as Cabango was showing leadership qualities and this would give the Swans hope.

Vipotnik had a wonderful chance to score on forty two minutes his shot was shocking. He was in on goal and just seemed to pass the ball back to the Robins keeper. It’s awful moments like this from Vipotnik that really singles him out as a player playing well above his standard. The last fifteen minutes told us the Swans could compete in this fixture as the Swans had a wonderful free kick opportunity after Tymon was floored. It was central to the Robins goal as Cullen and Eom stood over the ball. The execution from Cullen was again extremely poor. In the last twenty minutes the Swans had their chances but no flair, thought or ability let them down when it mattered.

It was half time and really the Robins will be asking themselves how they were not ahead in this game. The Swans would have been thankful for a 0-0 scoreline but this was all round a dire showing and shocking play at times. Those missed chances, two from Vipotnik and one from Ronald just displayed a total lack of ability from the away side. Awful finishing.

No changes for either side as the the second half started. The Swans had an opportunity early on a good cross in from their right was met by Robins keeper, O'Leary at nigh on chest level. This underlines the complete lack of forethought up front by the Swans. No challenge, no running across the keeper, a dangerous ball watched by the Swans attack allowing an easy collection. Franco and O’Brien remained busy in midfield. Straight after that we saw an excellent interception in his own area from Naughton fielding the ball back to Vigouroux.

On fifty one minutes Sykes broke for the home side on the Swans left but his ball in was poor.

It was now a far more even game. The Swans were now very much in charge. A higher press more determination and effort was unnerving the home side. Excellent play in midfield was now being rewarded, Franco (below) setting up Vipotnik who shot hard and low which O'Leary saved. The rebound fell to Josh Tymon (above) who smashed the ball home. The Swans were at last ahead and in charge. What we needed to see now was more pressure as this was a rejuvenated Swansea City. This seemed to energise the Robins, once again the ball was falling to them in midfield as Liam Manning the Robins head coach made changes.

Wells was off for Sinclair-Armstrong and Mehmeti left the game for George Armstrong. Bristol City on sixty two minutes had their tails up. They were wounded but still energised. The Swans were in defence mode. Armstrong earned a corner on sixty four minutes. Cabango was out jumped from the set piece but the Robins header flew over the bar. This by no means was over as a contest. Bristol City continued to swarm over the Swans. Florian Bianchini was coming on for the Swans standing patiently on the touchline.

On sixty eight minutes Eom got on the end of a wonderful pass into the Robins area. Eom simply had to score, he didn’t, his shot was straight at the keeper. We saw Vipotnik replaced by Bianchini on sixty nine minutes. That miss by Eom was so frustrating, and right in front of two thousand plus. Swans supporters. The Swans were also alive to pressurising the ball properly, Eom was now more lively, Franco and O’Brien were working together beautifully as Josh Key was brought on for Kyle Naughton. The seasoned veteran had committed himself throughout his time on the pitch, he was without a doubt a contributing factor to the Swans leading in this game.

The Swans were again under the cosh when Bell fired a low shot which hit Vigouroux’s post, it looked like the Swans keeper got a touch on it. Once again we were seeing the Swans pushed back and the home side somehow getting the loose ball falling their way continuously. When the Swans could get forward they found space easily but mistakes were now creeping into their game again. What we were seeing from the Swans was more effort in closing down from Bianchini, forcing the Robins to play the ball quickly.

On seventy nine minutes a scramble in the Swans area saw Twine pathetically dive but Bristol City were still on top. Sykes had a shot wonderfully blocked by O’Brien. Then Bird had a shot deflected by Cabango, the corner came to nothing. The home crowd were shouting for everything in desperation as the Swans broke with O’Brien. On eighty three minutes Ollie Cooper and Jay Fulton came on for Liam Cullen and Eom. A rearguard action but the Swans had a corner in front of the away end.

From the corner and a ball in from Tymon - thereafter Bianchini was presented with a header in front of goal. He mistimed his opportunity. More subs for the home side as we moved into the last four minutes of the game. The fire in the belly of Cooper was making an immediate impact as he harried his opponents. It was great to see him back. A free kick after a Delcroix foul on Armstrong presented a set piece opportunity on the Swans left side. This was crucial. Delcroix superbly headed the cross away and it fell to Vigouroux.

The pressure continued with six minutes injury time to play. A Cornick long throw led to a corner. Bianchini cleared but this wasn’t over. Another Robins corner with three minutes of injury time to play. It was their eleventh corner nothing came from it. Cabango was in charge atbthe back, Ronald was alive as the stands were emptying in the home ends. Now the ball was being cleared by any means necessary. Franco took the ball down into the Robins corner flag then earned Swansea a corner. That unfortunately led to a Robins attack and now the Robins keeper was in the Swans area. Desperate times. The Swans cleared and as they did so the referee blew up to end the game. The contribution of Lewis O’Brien today was so pleasing to see. He is aggressive and thoughtful in the pass despite a few errors he is just the tonic the Swans need to win games.

This Swansea City performance was as bizarre as having all the seasons of a year in one ninety eight minutes. What we saw in the second half today was a Swansea side who may just have learned that this type of endeavour actually works. It was a complete team performance after a shoddy first thirty minutes. Visions of Norwich away moved into clear hope this game could be won, that’s Swansea City this season and no doubt it will continue. A great win as the Swans look to Wednesday and a home game against Sheffield Wednesday at the Swansea.com (7:45pm)

⚽️ Bristol City: Max O'Leary, Max Bird, Scott Twine, Anis Mehmeti (George Earthy 63), Jason Knight (captain), Zak Vyner, Luke McNally (Sam Bell 74), Robert Dickie, Mark Sykes, Nahki Wells (Sinclair Armstrong 63) , Haydon Roberts.

Unused Substitutes: Stefan Bajic, Yu Hirakawa, George Tanner, Harry Cornick ? Marcus McGuane, Elijah Morrison.

⚽️ Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux 9 Ben Cabango 8 Kyle Naughton 8 (Josh Key 73) 5 Hannes Delcroix 8 Ronald 7 Gonçalo Franco 8 Lewis O'Brien 8 Josh Tymon 9 Liam Cullen 6 Jisung Eom 6 Žan Vipotnik 5 (Florian Bianchini 69) 6

Unused Substitutes: Jon McLaughlin, Jay Fulton, Josh Ginnelly, Cyrus Christie, Myles Peart-Harris, Ollie Cooper, Sam Parker.

⚽️ Referee: John Busby : Best refereeing performance I have seen this season. Never afraid to let tackles go and the usual theatrics completely ignored. 8/10.

Att : 21,450
Away : 2,212
(Reuters)

Stats BeSoccer.

Photographs : tag:reuters.com,2025:newsml_UP1EL291142FA:1836166427 : tag:reuters.com,2025:newsml_UP1EL2913KHHQ:943884185 : tag:reuters.com,2025:newsml_UP1EL29112IF8:1682912413 and open source : All our photographs are exclusive to Swansea Independent.

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