Swansea v Oxford

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Swansea v Oxford Sat 6 Dec 15:00
This is our list of matches left this year. How well we recruit in the January window will probably decide whether we go down or not. We will need to strengthen, dump some poor performing loanees and maybe recall some of our own from loan.

H Sat. 6 Dec 15:00 Oxford
H Tue 9 Dec 19:45 Portsmouth
A Sat 13 Dec 12:30 Stoke
H Fri 19 Dec 20:00 Wrexham
A Fri 26 Dec 15:00 Coventry
A Mon 29 Dec 19:45 Oxford
H Thur 1 Jan West Brom 15:00

A season defining two matches are coming up against fellow relegation candidates. Lose these and we’ll up the creek without a paddle as the rest of the fixtures look much tougher.
After a good start at West Brom, two up, we took our foot off the pedal and then limped to half-time. Second-half we collapsed and conceded three goals, could have been more as our soft centre was exposed.
Oxford first then. They arrive off the back of a 2-1 home win against Ipswich. Ironically Swansea born Mark Harris and ex-Swan Przemyslaw Placheta were on the scoresheet for Oxford for their first win in six games.
Swans, one win in ten matches, last five straight defeats, is a sorry record and a shock to Swans fans. How can we get out of it? Concentrate on keeping it tight, defending, defending, defending, no kamikaze football leaving our wings exposed. Scrape those 1-0 wins, give no easy goals away, mark your men tighter. Vigouroux to dominate his area better and stop conceding goals at the near post. No second-half capitulations.
We hope the new coaches have some defensive coaching experience as Martin Margetson the goalkeeping coach has been doing it so far and with less and less success.
We wish the players good luck, they’ll need our fans to get right behind them to spur them on.

[Estoban]

Oxford pre-match Press Conference Vitor Matos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpe-7UXykI8

[Estoban]

Still without his coaching staff, awaiting visas.
Surely hasn’t helped this weeks training.

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Swansea:
Lawrence Vigouroux, Ethan Galbraith (Fulton 90), Ben Cabango (c), Cameron Burgess, Josh Tymon, Goncalo Franco (Cullen 79), Marko Stamenic, Melker Widell (Casey 72), Ronald, Jisung Eom, (Idah 80), Zan Vipotnik(Inoussa 73)

Oxford:
Jamie Cumming, Sam Long, Ciaron Brown, Will Vaulks, Michal Helik (c), Mark Harris (Lankshear 63), Luke Harris (Romenij 63), Brian De Keersmaecker, Stanley Mills (Avest 63), Jack Currie (Leigh 80), Filip Krastev (Prelec 62)

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Swansea 2 (Stamenic 40’, Tymon 45’) - Oxford 0
That was much better Swans, at last a win and without conceding.
Every player giving max effort and some outstanding displays from Eom, Stamenic and Galbraith. A Stamenic header and a Tymon ‘worldly’ left footed shot gave Swans the lead by half-time.
No goals second-half and we won for the first time in seven matches.
This was despite poor refereeing from Tony Backhouse once again, who turned down a blatant penalty and let Oxford foul at will.
Two Welsh Internationals in the Oxford side today, Will Vaulks and Mark Harris but neither excelled.
Galbraith was switched from midfield to right-back as Key was out through illness, but we didn’t miss him.
Well done Swans, now for a repeat performance on Tuesday against Portsmouth.

[jackaway]

Match highlights here:

https://www.skysports.com/football/v...hip-highlights

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Vitor Matos reaction:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=zinZSaRGUuE

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Match report here:

https://www.swanseacity.com/news/rep...xford-united-0

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Extended highlights:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlqZ0hd8E_Q

[Estoban]

Huge relief for the elusive win at last. They all played better and with more determination. Matos has got them hungry for the ball and the will to win once again.
Small steps I know but the recovery has started. Wasn’t that ref crap, I’m sure we’ve had him before. He let the Oxford players get away with murder and that blatant foul on Ronald for a penalty was ignored. I hope his assessor gives an honest report.
On to Tuesday we go.