Swansea City 2-2 Wycombe Wanderers: Late Swans fightback denies Chairboys

Liam Cullen headed in his third goal of the season to earn Swansea a point

Swansea City launched a dramatic late fightback to claim a point and maintain their slim automatic promotion hopes.

Wycombe Wanderers were on course for a fine victory after Admiral Muskwe and Garath McCleary struck early in the second half.

But Jamal Lowe's penalty and a Liam Cullen header saw Steve Cooper's side snatch a draw.

They are six points behind second-placed Watford, while Wycombe are nine points adrift of safety at the bottom.

Swansea had revived their top-two bid coming into this game courtesy of wins at Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday.

This will go down as a missed opportunity given that Watford lost at Luton, although Swansea were staring at defeat themselves with 11 minutes remaining.

They suffered an early blow as top scorer and talisman Andre Ayew was forced with a hamstring injury, but Wycombe deserve credit for a spirited, determined display which had seemed set to earn them victory.

The recalled Connor Roberts - playing in an unfamiliar wide attacking role - was Swansea's biggest threat in the first half.

First he capitalised on a loose Joe Jacobson touch to race clear only for David Stockdale to save his left-foot shot, then the Wycombe goalkeeper gathered a second Roberts effort after good work from Wayne Routledge.

Wycombe gave as good as they got before the break, with Muskwe seeing appeals for a penalty waved away when his shot may have hit a hand before Dennis Adeniran could only slide a shot beyond the far post.

Gareth Ainsworth's side seized control of the contest in the opening seconds of the second period as Muskwe exchanged passes with Uche Ikpeazu before drilling a shot beyond Freddie Woodman from the edge of the area.

Lowe might have replied instantly but saw a scuffed effort saved before Wycombe doubled their lead.

Swansea thought they had escaped when Ryan Bennett diverted Anthony Stewart's header onto the bar, but Wycombe came again through McCleary.

The former Reading forward cut in from the left flank before guiding a shot through a crowd and inside the far post.

Lowe came close to finding a response but was denied by Stockdale, before Routledge's rebound was cleared off the line by Jason McCarthy.

Admiral Muskwe (right) celebrates his third goal of the season

Swansea were then handed a lifeline as McCarthy handled in the box, allowing Lowe to drive home his fourth goal in three matches from the spot.

Two minutes later the home side were level as Roberts crossed from the right and Cullen - making his first appearance in almost three months after injury - headed home from point-blank range.

Wycombe should have won it at the end, but Muskwe inexplicably shot wide with the goal at his mercy to leave Ainsworth's men staring at relegation.

Swansea head coach Steve Cooper:

"I think it's a missed opportunity. We are at home and the objective was to win, but we knew they needed to win today as well.

"We didn't play well in the first half, we didn't make enough passes. The start of the second half was really poor. I was disappointed to say the least.

"But the players showed a lot of heart and courage and some good play to get back in the game. We shouldn't lose sight of that. In the end, it leaves you with real mixed emotions.

"It's about looking after your own business. You can look at it as a point closer to Watford. I've always said, whatever is left to play for, we are going to go for it."

Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth:

"I thought we played some great football, probably scored the better goals and were unfortunate not to get a penalty.

"I am amazingly proud of my boys. We only paid for one player and that was not much at all, so to come here and do what we have done to a team like Swansea is fantastic.

"If the season had started four months ago rather than eight months ago, we would be mid-table. I am really excited for the future of this football club, whatever league we are in.

"We have got to get to 46 points now - we have to win every game. Who knows? Fairytales have happened before for me."