'Play-off challenge is there for us' - Williams

Swansea, who finished 14th in the Championship last season, last reached the play-offs in 2020-21

Luke Williams says Swansea City will compete for a Championship play-off place this season if they maintain current performance levels for the rest of the campaign.

Swansea host Sunderland on Saturday having taken eight points from their past four games.

They have lost three times in their last 10 fixtures, with all three defeats viewed as somewhat unfortunate given that they came as a result of last-minute goals.

Williams says Swansea are in their most consistent spell of form since he took charge 11 months ago, with his side five points adrift of the top six as they approach the halfway point in 2024-25.

"If we are really serious about trying to get into a play-off position and staying there until the end of the season, the challenge is there in front of us," said the Swansea head coach.

"[That is] to maintain our level of performance and to get the results when we have created enough [chances] and denied enough [opposition chances].

"If we can do that in the way we have demonstrated recently, then I am sure we are going to end up in those play-offs."

After a summer transfer window which left vacancies in Swansea's squad and saw a number of inexperienced players arrive at the club, Williams said it would be "silly" to suggest his team could compete "at the very peak" of the second tier.

By November, he suggested a top-10 spot should be the minimum target.

Williams now says that every win his team achieve adds to the feeling of optimism around the club, with the hope being that Swansea's hand will be further strengthened in the January transfer window.

"I think it's fair to say that a number of players signed in the summer have made steady progress," he said.

"I am hoping they will continue to improve their performances and that goes hand in hand with developing strong relationships with their team-mates. I think that's going to help us.

"Then we have the possibility that we bring players to join that group who have a very high level as well."

Victory at Plymouth in midweek means Swansea will aim to extend their unbeaten run to five games – a feat they have not yet achieved under Williams - when they take on high-flying Sunderland.

"That would be nice… 10 games unbeaten would be nice," said former Notts County boss Williams.

"I have been fortunate enough to go through some long runs without losing in my previous role. It's a great feeling and one I would love to replicate here."

Swansea have no fresh fitness concerns going into the Sunderland game, but are again without Joe Allen – who is expected to be missing for around three weeks – Andy Fisher, Sam Parker, Josh Ginnelly and Ollie Cooper.