Swans' situation 'not as bad as it seems' - Matos

Head coach Vitor Matos says Swansea City's situation is "not as bad as it seems" as he looks to haul his new team clear of the Championship relegation places.

Swansea are just two points above the bottom three, having lost four straight league games and won only two of their past 13 in the second tier.

Matos, who was appointed successor to Alan Sheehan earlier this week, has urged his players to put their recent struggles to one side when they go to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

"I think I joined the club in a moment that probably is not the easiest moment to join," former Liverpool coach Matos said.

"But at the same time, I really believe that we can turn the moment around and it's also not as bad as it seems.

"We need to take out all the negative things that happened before, and after taking that out of us we can start getting performances. That's what we need."

Having finished 2024-25 with a flourish, Swansea spent significantly on their squad during the summer transfer window and, as a result, began this season believing they could contend for a play-off spot.

The campaign began promisingly enough under Sheehan, but a miserable run since September saw Sheehan dismissed and Matos brought to Wales from Portuguese second-tier club Maritimo.

While the 37-year-old is still getting to know his new surroundings, he is convinced it is too early to read too much into league positions in the Championship.

"We are 10 points behind the play-offs, so it's so close, so close, everything," he added.

"I think it will be around February that the table will look much more how it could end, let's say it like that.

"So now is still a lot of games to come, a lot of points to fight for. I think maybe in 10-15 games it will be much more clear where are all the teams in the situation now."

Swansea were beaten 2-1 at home by Derby County in Vitor Matos' first game in charge on Tuesday

Matos says all his players are available to face West Brom, where Swansea go in search of a first win since they beat Norwich City on 25 October.

Ryan Mason's Albion, who are two places better off than Swansea in 17th, are also struggling for form having won only one of their past seven games.

"I think we have a squad of players that really is trying to get out of the moment," Matos added.

"It's not been easy and we need to have a clear direction of how we want to turn things around."