Swansea City

Luke Hemmings
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Marko Stamenic doubled his goal and assist tally for the season as he played a decisive role in Swansea's 2-0 victory over Watford on Saturday.

The midfielder scored and assisted in the Swans' first away win since Oxford on 29 December to lift Vitor Matos' side ten points clear of the relegation places.

"I don't think you can beat that. We've been working hard week in, week out and now to finally win away against a really good opponent with the fans and everything, it's overwhelming," he said.

The New Zealand International opened the scoring on the weekend, reacting at the far post to tap in a goal-bound Vipotnik header.

Set-pieces have been a major strength for Swansea - accounting for 10 of their 34 league goals - and with Stamenic boasting the most interceptions per 90 minutes of any player in the squad, his influence has grown at both ends of the pitch.

"We know we are a strong force with set pieces, I'm happy to be able to take that chance."

Later in the game, he turned provider, setting up Josh Key, who had only just come onto the pitch, for what he called "a crucial goal".

Stamenic has started 19 Championship matches since his £2 million arrival from Nottingham Forest in the summer, and says he is relishing life in South Wales.

"I'm very proud to represent Swansea. We have all the ingredients to do amazing things and hopefully get into the playoffs.

"Every game matters, every point matters. We're focused on ourselves and doing everything to win."

With Snoop Dogg's recent comments about his plans to make Swansea a "global name", Stamenic believes the co-owner's words can only advance the Welsh side's progression.

"To hear someone like Snoop Dogg say of his ambition is a huge credit to the people around Swansea that make it a whole organisation," he said.

"The ambition drives us, gives us that confidence to every day come into training and work hard for this club."

Swansea are now eight points off sixth-placed Wrexham and face bottom-of-the-table Sheffield Wednesday next as they look to continue their momentum which has seen them lose just once in their last five matches.

Find more Swansea City content from BBC Sounds at the bottom of this page or on our dedicated club page.

Image source, Getty Images

Today is the final chance of the season for your Championship team to do transfer business.

The window closes at 19:00 GMT, meaning teams - and fans - can avoid the usual late-night transfer scramble.

It has already been a busy window - for some teams anyway - but whether it turns out to be a day of transfer action or a pretty quiet one for your club, you will be able to keep across it all on BBC Sport.

Follow our live text coverage throughout the day here

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Vitor Matos says he is "pleased with the ambition" after Snoop Dogg declared that Swansea City's owners want to make the club a "global name".

Rap star Snoop Dogg is one of Swansea's celebrity co-owners alongside Real Madrid legend Luka Modric and billionaire businesswoman Martha Stewart.

They have been brought in by Brett Cravatt and Jason Cohen, who took control of Swansea in November 2024, in an attempt to raise the profile of the Championship club.

Matos, who was appointed head coach just over two months ago, believes Snoop Dogg's target is proof that Swansea are in "good hands".

"That was one of the reasons why a lot of principles and thoughts came together when I was doing the interview with the club," Matos said.

Image source, Getty Images

"That's the feeling I got from the owners, this kind of ambition. I am pleased with the ambition and values."

Matos has made a positive impact since being named successor to Alan Sheehan, with Saturday's impressive victory at Watford lifting Swansea to 15th in the table.

While a season which began with play-off ambitions has been something of a struggle, a return to the Premier League in the not-too-distant future remains the target for Swansea's hierarchy.

"We want to improve the team and to improve the club," Matos said.

"Swansea is a really special club with identity that started long ago. We need to grab those values, grab the identity the club has and use them as the standards and build from that."

Image source, Huw Evans Agency

Vitor Matos says he will wait and see what the final stages of the transfer window bring as he toasted Swansea City's victory at Watford.

Swansea won on the road for the second time in seven attempts during the Matos era thanks to second-half goals from Marko Stamenic and Josh Key at Vicarage Road on Saturday.

It was just a fourth away success this season for the Swans, with the three others coming against the clubs currently occupying the Championship relegation places.

With his team now 10 points clear of the bottom three thanks to seven wins in their past 12 league games, Matos believes Swansea are heading in the right direction.

"I think there's still a lot that we can keep building as a club and a team," he said.

"It's important that the foundations are getting set, the basics are starting to be clear for everyone.

"That's what we need to build from. There are still a lot of games to come."

Image source, Getty Images

Swansea remain in the market for a new recruits before Monday's transfer deadline, with Matos interested in signing an attacking midfielder as well as a centre-back.

Finland international Leo Walta (pictured above) is among the players Swansea are interested in, but Matos refused to be drawn on a potential move for the Sirius player, who scored 16 goals in the 2025 Swedish top-flight season.

"Nothing to add, nothing to confirm," he said. "Let's see how the next couple of days go."

Matos was shown a yellow card after the stoppage-time incident which saw Watford substitute Nestory Irankunda sent off.

Irankunda raised his hands towards Liam Cullen, who was also booked.

Matos said his caution was because he "came on the pitch to calm down the players".

Image source, Huw Evans Agency

Swansea City take their search for an improvement on the road to Watford on Saturday (15:00 GMT) with Vitor Matos acknowledging his team remain a work in progress.

Swansea have taken 16 points from seven home league games since Matos took charge in November.

But their away record is far less impressive, with last weekend's somewhat unfortunate defeat at Hull City leaving Matos' side with only three points from a possible 18 on their travels.

Matos believes Swansea have taken positive steps since he succeeded Alan Sheehan, but accepts they "need to keep improving" if they are to maintain momentum for the rest of the season.

"I think we are on the right way to the kind of style we want to play," the Swansea head coach said.

"We are in the right way in terms of culture because at the end of the [Hull] game there was no-one who felt the [pain of the] result more than the players. I think that's what we want to see when you have these kinds of games.

"Now is about another away game, different kinds of problems, and we need to go there and to compete."

Despite the sharp contrast in home and away form, Matos argues his team's failures away from the Swansea.com Stadium have been purely down to performance.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

"It's about which kind of problems come up in the game and how we can handle that kind of problem," he added.

"Of course, emotion-wise it's different because you are at home in your stadium with your fans, but that doesn't change what the game is."

Watford, who are a point outside the play-off places, have taken 29 points from 15 home league games so far this season.

But the Hornets face Swansea after a slight dip in form, having failed to win in four matches in all competitions.

They were held to a draw by lowly Portsmouth in their most recent home fixture having lost the one before that against Millwall.

"They are a good team - really good players, decisive players who are really effective in the last third," Matos said.

"They scored 24 goals from open play, which says a lot about them as well.

"It's a game that we need to be 100% focused with a 100% concentration and again, for sure, details will make a difference."

Image source, Huw Evans Agency

Vitor Matos says new recruit Gustavo Nunes is finding his feet at Swansea City as the winger bids for a start at Watford on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Nunes made his Swansea debut as a second-half substitute at Hull City last weekend after joining on loan from Brentford.

That was a first league appearance this season for the 20-year-old, who has dropped down to the Championship in search of regular football.

Matos is excited by the blend of trickery and pace Nunes offers – and says the Brazilian is "settling" in south Wales.

"I am really happy with him," Matos said.

"He's a player who has not had much game-time and that's something that we need to keep in consideration.

"But he's training really well, made his debut, came on and had one or two really interesting moments as we all saw.

"He's getting the right adaptation with the team and [we will] use him the best we can."

Swansea have lost Zeidane Inoussa to a long-term injury, while fellow winger Manuel Benson's disappointing loan spell was cut short on Thursday.

But Matos believes Nunes, who can operate on either flank, will offer Swansea the options they need out wide for the rest of the season alongside Ronald and Eom Jisung.

Image source, Opta

Watford will seek to get their play-off chase back on track as they welcome Swansea to Vicarage Road on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Hornets go into the weekend eighth in the Championship, a point below the top-six, but with a game in hand, however have failed to win in their past three games, two of those at home.

The Swans are 16th, seven points back and seven clear of the relegation zone, but their away form is poor in comparison to their home form.

They have just one win and suffered seven defeats in their past eight on the road, whereas they have 16 points from their past six in front of their own fans.

• Watford have only won three of their past 10 league meetings with Swansea (D2 L5), although one of those victories did come in this exact fixture last season (1-0 at Vicarage Road in March 2025).

• This season's reverse fixture between Watford and Swansea ended in a 1-1 draw (August 2025). Only once previously have they drawn both meetings in a league campaign, doing so in 1966/67 in the third tier.

• Since the start of November, Watford have lost fewer games (2) than any other team in the Championship (W7 D7). They are winless in their past three (D2 L1), however, and could equal their longest run without a league win this term (4 in August-September).

• Swansea have lost seven of their past eight away matches in the Championship (W1), while only West Brom (11) and Sheffield United (10) have more total away losses than the Swans (9) in the second tier this term.

• Imran Louza has the most goal involvements for Watford in the Championship this season (12). This is already his best league campaign in English football for both goals scored (6) and assists (6)

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Vitor Matos says Swansea City will consider sending Bobby Wales out on loan before the transfer window closes.

Wales, 20, has made only five substitute appearances for Swansea since joining the Championship club from Kilmarnock last summer.

But three of those appearances have come since Christmas, with Swansea's attacking options limited by the loss of Adam Idah to a significant hamstring injury.

With former Celtic frontman Idah out until March, Matos says Swansea must weigh up whether they could be caught short if they allow Wales to move in search of regular game-time.

"It's a decision that needs to be made regarding what is best for Bobby's development and what is the best at the same time in terms of depth of the squad," said the Swansea head coach.

"Both things need to be put it on the table and then we can make the best decision for everyone.

"I think Bobby has a lot of qualities. I like him a lot. Of course he's an age where playing is important to keep his development [going].

"At the same time we need to think regarding the depth of the squad."

Swansea remain interested in strengthening their squad before the transfer window closes next Monday, though Matos said Wales' position does not depend on whether another new face comes in.

The Swans have signed defender Joel Ward and winger Gustavo Nunes this month, while Ollie Cooper has returned from a loan spell at Wigan Athletic.

Their only significant departure so far was Kaelan Casey, who was recalled from his loan spell in Wales by West Ham United.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Aimar Govea has returned to Swansea City after the winger's loan spell with Girona B was cut short.

Govea joined the Spanish side last August in a deal which included an option to buy.

But the 19-year-old is now back with Swansea after what the Championship club described as an "injury-hit time" with Girona.

Govea has made five substitute appearances for Swansea, all of which came under Luke Williams in the second half of 2023-24.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Head coach Vitor Matos says handing homegrown youngsters a chance in the senior side is "part of the project" at Swansea City.

Matos is aware of the success Swansea have had with academy products since the club's relegation from the Premier League eight years ago, with the likes of Joe Rodon, Connor Roberts, Daniel James and Oli McBurnie flourishing after coming through the club's ranks.

There are others who remain among Swansea's squad, such as Liam Cullen, Ollie Cooper and club captain Ben Cabango.

Matos says he and Swansea's ownership share a desire to ensure more players graduate from the youth ranks to his Championship team.

"I think it's quite clear that there's a pathway that the club wants to create, there's a culture that the club wants to create and the academy is a big part of that," the Portuguese said.

"I think it's only possible to have a proper healthy club when the academy is one of the major, let's say sources, for the first-team squad. That's something we want.

"There's a lot of examples that I don't need to mention here that came from the academy. That's the part of the project, that's of the culture of this club."

Image source, Getty Images

Sam Parker is another academy graduate in Matos' squad, while the likes of Cameron Congreve, Ben Lloyd and Filip Lissah – who are currently out on loan - have made senior debuts in recent seasons.

Having downgraded their academy from elite-level category one status – which they had held for four years - to category two in 2020 in order to cut costs, Swansea are hoping some of those players can emulate the likes of Cabango and Cullen by becoming first-team regulars.

Matos says he "will look inside" the club, at the under-21 side and even the under-18s, before transfer decisions are made at senior level.

There have been some encouraging signs in this season's FA Youth Cup, with Swansea's under-18s winning away at Leeds United – a category one club – last week to book their place in round five.

The Swans' youngsters will now take on Blackburn Rovers – who won 8-1 at Coventry City in round four – with the date of the tie to be confirmed.

"[I am] really happy for the academy, really happy for the kids," Matos said.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Josh Ginnelly has found a new club almost five months after ending his injury-hit spell at Swansea City.

Winger Ginnelly left Swansea by mutual consent in early September having seen his spell in Wales ruined by fitness troubles.

The former Hearts player made only 12 Swansea appearances – scoring two goals – thanks largely to a ruptured Achilles suffered in September 2023.

But the 28-year-old now has the chance to revive his career after signing for Turan Tovuz, who are third in the Azerbaijan Premier League.

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Swansea City were left licking wounds after defeat at Hull City, though it would be wrong to suggest they were mauled by the Tigers.

Swansea were beaten narrowly on Humberside despite doing enough to take something from an entertaining game against Sergej Jakirovic's in-form side.

Vitor Matos' team were undone by uncharacteristic errors, with Ben Cabango's handball presenting Hull with the opening goal and Zan Vipotnik – who has been lethal this season – missing not one but two golden opportunities to score.

Matos will feel confident that Cabango will not give away another penalty like that for a while, and that Vipotnik will get back to taking any big chances that come his way.

It is now five defeats in six away matches for Swansea under Matos, a run of results which contrasts sharply with their excellent home form.

The good news for the Swans is that there are some encouraging signs.

Matos' players came away from Hull feeling they should not have been beaten, as was the case after last month's losses at Coventry and Stoke.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Whilst there are no points handed out for decent performances, the statistics suggest Swansea are at least making progress on the road.

In four of their six away games since Matos took charge – at Hull, Oxford, Coventry and Stoke - Swansea's xG has been higher than that of their hosts.

In the eight away fixtures this season prior to Matos' appointment, Swansea's xG was higher than that of their opponent only once, at Sheffield Wednesday in August.

Matos' Swansea's average xG on their travels is just under 1.1, up from 0.7 when he arrived.

The next challenge, of course, is to convert that progress into more positive results away from the Swansea.com Stadium, with the next opportunity coming at Watford next weekend.

Image source, Huw Evans Agency

Vitor Matos leapt to the defence of Ben Cabango and Zan Vipotnik after the duo were in the spotlight for the wrong reasons during Swansea City's defeat at Hull City.

The Tigers went in front through an Oli McBurnie penalty after Swansea captain Cabango inexplicably handled as he attempted to clear Amir Hazdiahmetovic's free-kick.

Vipotnik, the Championship's leading scorer, then missed two golden chances to level before Hull extended their lead before half-time through Regan Slater.

Liam Cullen did pull a goal back after the break, but Swansea could not conjure an equaliser despite a spirited display.

"That is what happens in this game. There are a lot of hurdles in life. Today was one and we need to keep pushing," said Swansea head coach Matos.

When asked about Cabango's error, Matos added: "It's like all the situations that sometimes happen. Ben is a leader. In the tough moments, he has stood up for all of us.

"The most important thing is to analyse the situation, not the individual - how we got deep, how they broke the press, how they got the foul, how we were positioned to defend that set-piece."

Vipotnik's misses came as a shock given his fine form in front of goal this season.

"It can happen," Matos said. "There is no-one more unhappy than him at the moment.

"Vipi (Vipotnik) has given so much to us, not only goals, but in terms of hard work and we are really pleased to have him.

"He knows he has all the tools to get over that and score again."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Vitor Matos insists there is no change in approach on the road from Swansea City despite the sharp contrast between their home and away form.

Swansea go in search of a rare travelling success when they take on high-flying Hull City at the MKM Stadium on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Matos' team have been in fine form on their own ground, taking 16 points from the past 18 on offer.

But in five away games since Matos took charge, Swansea have suffered four defeats and managed only one win, at lowly Oxford United.

"The approach is the same, the mentality is the same," Matos said.

"It needs to be if you want to be a team who reach the standards we want. I think that's quite important, to have this consistency in terms of behaviour.

"We want to press wherever we go, we want to be dominant wherever we go, then it's more about how the game is by itself."

Image source, Getty Images

Hull, who are set to be spearheaded by former Swan Oli McBurnie, have been one of the Championship's surprise packages so far this season.

The fourth-placed Tigers, who scored a late equaliser to draw 2-2 at Swansea in September, have won seven of their past 10 league games to put themselves in automatic promotion contention.

"It's a good team, really well organised, 4-3-3," Matos said.

"[They have] good players, Oli, Liam [Millar] as well who was in the Liverpool academy when I was there.

"They are really competitive, really dangerous with the ball… It's game where we need to be focused for 90 minutes and to do really well with and without the ball."