Franco the star of 'best Swansea performance' this season - Roberts

Iwan Roberts felt Goncalo Franco was the star of a standout Swansea City performance as they began life after Luke Williams with a resounding win over Blackburn Rovers.

Swansea toppled a side in the top six of the Championship for the first time this season as goals from Zan Vipotnik, Myles Peart-Harris and Liam Cullen secured victory in the opening game of Alan Sheehan's second spell as caretaker boss.

Former Wales striker Roberts was commentating for BBC Sport Wales on the game – and felt Franco was the leading light in a stellar Swansea performance.

"I have not seen a Swansea side play with that level of energy for a long time," he told BBC Radio Wales.

"That was the best performance I have seen from Swansea this season considering Blackburn are chasing a top-six place and only the top four [in the Championship] had conceded fewer goals than Blackburn.

"It is only the second time in 32 Championship games that Swansea have scored more than two goals.

"I thought Goncalo Franco produced one of the best midfield performances I have seen this season in the Championship. He was absolutely outstanding – he was everywhere."

Roberts also praised Vipotnik, who scored just his fifth goal since joining Swansea last summer, as well as Wales international Cullen, whose cool finish saw him reach double figures for league goals in a season for the first time in his career.

Victory means Swansea are 10 points clear of the Championship relegation places, and was desperately needed after a run of seven defeats in nine league games saw Williams' 13-month reign come to an end last week.

With Swansea considering their options regarding Williams' long-term successor, Sheehan may well be at the helm once more when they are next in action at Preston North End on Tuesday, 4 March.

The Irishman's first stint as caretaker boss saw Swansea bank 11 points from seven league games following Michael Duff's departure in December 2023.

"When Alan Sheehan was interim manager last season, they went to Rotherham and won 2-1 [in his first game]," Roberts added.

"But that was nowhere near the level of performance which I saw on Saturday, [particularly] considering they had won four points from the previous nine games and they had lost three in a row at the Swansea.com Stadium.

"He went a little bit old school. They have been playing with five at the back, he made four changes and went to a flat back four. They were outstanding.

"It takes the pressure off but there are some tough games to come."