Swansea City

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Luke Williams could not hide his disappointment and frustration with Swansea City's struggles against Sunderland as his side once again fell short against a promotion contender.

Saturday's 3-2 defeat by the Black Cats means the Swans have lost to each of the Championship's current top six (Sheffield United, Leeds United, Burnley, Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough) so far this season.

And having suffered yet more pain against a side with aspirations of reaching the Premier League, Williams will perhaps be hoping for a better outcome when his side take on a team at the opposite end of the table next time out.

Swansea travel to bottom side Hull City on Saturday (12:30 GMT kick-off) looking to extend the Tigers' wretched run.

Hull have won just three of their 21 league matches so far this season and are without a win in 13 Championship outings.

It led to Tim Walter losing his job earlier this month, although they have collected just one point from a possible nine since Ruben Selles was appointed as head coach on 6 December.

With just two matches to be played before the halfway point of the league campaign, Hull have recorded the fewest home wins (one) of any side in the Championship so far this term.

Their total of eight points gained at the MKM Stadium is the worst home return of the 24 sides in the division while only West Bromwich Albion have scored fewer than Hull's tally of nine goals at home in the league this season.

As for the Swans, they have not lost to a side currently below 13th in the Championship this season, and Williams knows that is a record that must continue against Hull if his side are to prove they can push towards the play-off places again.

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Chris Mepham hailed Wales team-mate Liam Cullen as a "lovely technician" after the striker scored a sublime free-kick during Swansea City's 3-2 loss to Sunderland.

Cullen's strike against Regis Le Bris' side was his sixth goal in his past eight matches for club and country.

Black Cats defender Mepham says Cullen has established himself as a key figure under Wales boss Craig Bellamy after watching the forward in action on international duty of late.

When asked if Cullen had improved recently, Mepham told BBC Sport Wales: "You can see it. He's going into Wales camps now and he's right in the mix in terms of the manager's plans.

"He's having an impact for club and country. He chipped in with the goals in the last camp.

"A lovely player, a lovely technician and you could see his quality from the dead-ball situation today as well.

"Hopefully he can carry on doing that for Wales."

Cullen's goal ultimately counted for precious little as the Swans blew a two-goal lead to lose against promotion-chasing Sunderland.

Centre-back Mepham says he was able to share a joke with Wales duo Cullen and Ben Cabango after his side's triumph at the Swansea.com Stadium.

"It's not so nice (seeing Wales team-mates) when they're putting it top bins from a free-kick," added Mepham.

"I get on really well with Culls and Ben Cabango. I was giving them a bit of stick at full time.

"It's good to see them playing week in, week out but it's always nice to get one over on them."

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

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Luke Williams ignored the page in the football manager's handbook which says it can be unwise to criticise your players in the media after Saturday's painful defeat to Sunderland.

But then Williams has proved in 11 months as Swansea City's head coach that he is willing to break from the norm.

He is not a coach who, when faced by microphones, attempts to pull wool over eyes.

Rarely, if ever, do you come away from one of Williams' post-match press conferences questioning his assessment of a game - and that is fairly unusual.

If Swansea have not performed, he says so. If they have been fortunate to get a result, he admits as much.

There are some managers who set out to show little emotion when dealing with the press, who try to remain consistent whether their team have triumphed or been defeated.

Not Willliams.

He is passionate, a little fiery at times, and is unwilling - or unable - to mask his feelings after a difficult day in the dugout.

There was an emphatic reminder of that after Sunderland, when Swansea established a two-goal lead inside 17 minutes and competed admirably in the first half, even after Dan Ballard pulled a goal back for the Black Cats.

Yet the Swans collapsed after the break, succumbing to yet another defeat against one of the Championship's top clubs this season.

Williams said his side's second-half performance "stank of doubt", adding that his players have "a fear of achieving their potential".

It was strong stuff, particularly when you consider that despite the Sunderland reverse, most would agree that Swansea are having a decent season.

Williams could have put a different spin on what was a narrow defeat against one of the Championship's leading sides at the end of an arduous week, but that is not his style.

His obvious determination to raise the bar is to be admired.

Williams must now hope that his players respond in the right way.

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Luke Williams says Swansea City have the chance to hit "another marker" when they host Sunderland on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Swansea head into the game in confident mood after a midweek win at Plymouth Argyle continued their good form.

Now comes the challenge of fourth-placed Sunderland, with Swansea looking to beat one of the division's leading sides for the first time in 2024-25.

Sunderland are the only one of the Championship's current top seven sides the Swans are yet to face this season – and they have lost to the other six.

"We have had some very near misses," head coach Williams pointed out.

"[But] it's another marker for us if we want to be the team we are desperate to become.

"We have to perform well against the top sides. We have kind of got a tick in that box, but we have to come away with the results as well."

Sunderland made a spectacular start to the season under Frenchman Regis Le Bris, who has impressed since arriving on Wearside in June.

They have lost some momentum, with only one win coming in their last eight matches, though just one of those has been a defeat – and that was at leaders Sheffield United.

"They are a very, very good team," Williams said.

"It's not like they have dropped off a cliff. They are still playing very well and they are going to be a very good side throughout the campaign, so we are in for a very tough test."

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Wayne Rooney was added to the list of Matt Grimes admirers this week after he picked out Swansea City's skipper as their key player.

Various opposition managers have namechecked Grimes this season, with the 29-year-old proving as dependable and influential as ever at the heart of Swansea's midfield.

Luke Williams has been singing Grimes' praises all season – and nodded when asked about Rooney's comments, which came after the Swans' midweek win at Plymouth Argyle.

"I totally agree with Wayne's assessment of our captain," said the Swansea head coach.

"I would suggest that Plymouth did a very good job at trying to limit what Matt Grimes can do. That's probably how good he is… that they spent a lot of time working on stopping him from being able to control the rhythm of our play. He is like the guy with the [conductor's] stick."

Grimes will lead Swansea out once more when they host Sunderland on Saturday.

Williams reckons the former Exeter City player may get special attention from the Black Cats – but says that would be nothing new.

"There's no doubt he's a marked man," Williams added.

"He is very highly rated by his opponents and respected by his opponents. We know we have a terrific leader and somebody who is able to play at a very high level, week in, week out, home and away.

"The special measures teams put in don't stop him. They pose challenges for him, but he is able to overcome them."

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Iwan Roberts says Swansea City have shown naivety by failing to secure the futures of Ben Cabango and Harry Darling at the Championship club.

Swansea are trying to convince the two centre-backs to sign new contracts as their current deals expire at the end of the season.

Head coach Luke Williams said last week the ball is in Cabango's court after a club presentation designed to persuade him to stay, while a similar meeting is scheduled with Darling.

Former Wales striker Roberts says the duo could not be blamed for holding out to see what options they have in January – when they will be free to talk to clubs outside the English league – or when they become free agents at the end of the season.

"The only thing - and it is a gamble when you are down to your last few months - is if you pick up a bad injury between now and the end of the season, that really throws a spanner in the works," Roberts told this week's Feast of Football podcast.

"But if I'm those two now, if there haven't been real negotiations until now, I'm thinking I'm going to wait, I am going to see what options I've got in January.

"You can speak to clubs abroad in January, you have the right to, but they will be speaking to clubs in this country as well."

Swansea have seen the likes of Ryan Manning and Joel Latibeaudiere leave in recent memory after their contracts were allowed to run down.

And Roberts fears the Championship club's efforts to secure Cabango and Darling may prove to be "too little, too late".

"I think it's really naïve of the football club to let them get into this situation," he added.

"Surely you would have been sitting down with them both last summer, not now?"

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Swansea City come into the game against Sunderland having climbed up to ninth place on the back of a four-game unbeaten run.

Sunderland have drawn six of their past eight Championship matches.

• Swansea City have won five of their past six league games against Sunderland (D1), while they have lost just two of their past 22 league matches against the Black Cats (W11 D9).

• Sunderland have won just one of their past 11 away league games against Swansea (D4 L6), a 4-2 victory in the Premier League in January 2016 which saw Jermain Defoe net a hat-trick.

• 11 goals have been scored in Swansea's past two home league games (5 for, 6 against – D1 L1), as many as in their previous eight such games (7 for, 4 against – W3 D3 L2).

• Sunderland have failed to score in three of their past four away league games (D3 L1), as many as in their previous 13 such games (W6 D1 L6).

• Liam Cullen has scored in each of his past two home league games for Swansea City – the last Swans player to net in three in a row was Ollie Cooper in October 2022.

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Luke Williams has described Gareth Jennings as "very capable" after the UAE Pro League's technical director emerged as a contender for the vacant sporting director role at Swansea City.

Englishman Jennings has previously worked for Fifa and New Zealand Football, and held academy roles at Bristol City, Leicester City and Stoke City as well as a technical advisor post at Grimsby Town.

He is believed to be one of the names under consideration as Swansea seek a replacement for Paul Watson, who left the Championship club in October.

"I don't know so much, other than that he (Jennings) is someone who is very capable with a good reputation," said Swansea head coach Williams.

"I think there's probably still a number of people on the shortlist. Whoever we decide is going to be the right person will be exactly that, I am sure.

"I am very confident it's going to be the right person to represent this club in the way it should be represented and I am excited for that."

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Former Swansea City player Vic Gomersall has died at the age of 82, the Championship club have announced.

Gomersall spent the early years of his career at Manchester City, making 39 league appearances for the club before joining Swansea in 1966.

The Manchester-born player found a home in south Wales, playing 219 games over five years with the Swans.

After retiring as a player, Gomersall returned to the club to work in the commercial department and then became a popular part of Swansea's matchday hospitality team.

"A natural raconteur, with a generous spirit and a warm sense of humour, Gomersall was an absolute natural in such surroundings and continued to share his reminiscences up until the recent home game against Portsmouth despite battling cancer with the same bravery and determination that marked him out as a player," Swansea said in a statement on the club's website.

"Vic will be greatly missed by all who had the fortune to know him, and our thoughts and condolences go out to his friends and family at this sad time."

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Jay Fulton says Swansea City will relish a return home to face high-flying Sunderland on Saturday after banking four points from games at Luton Town and Plymouth Argyle this week.

Fulton scored his first goal in 13 months to help Luke Williams' team secure victory at Home Park on Tuesday, three days after they impressed in a 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road.

Swansea are in the midst of perhaps their most consistent run of performances since Williams took charge last January – and experienced midfielder Fulton says the squad are looking up.

"We moved up to ninth [after Plymouth] and we will look back at games already and think we could have probably got more points," the 30-year-old said.

"Sunderland are having a good season. Our home form has been decent so we look forward to it. We are ready to push on."

Fulton made just his fourth league start of the season in the Plymouth win, having last made Williams' XI in the draw at Sheffield Wednesday on 22 October.

Fulton has had to be patient at times because of the form of the likes of Matt Grimes and summer signing Goncalo Franco, while he was also out of action for a spell because of a calf injury.

"It's tough for any player when they are not getting consecutive games and they are trying to find a way into the team," he said.

"I have done it before. Obviously the injury was a little setback to me but I work hard in training and try to be as fit and ready as possible.

"Swansea have always had a lot of midfielders, a lot of options. It's only good for the squad to have that competition and help push us up the league."

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

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Victory at Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday means Swansea City have taken 10 points from their last five away fixtures.

That is the form of a club competing for automatic promotion, so it is little wonder Luke Williams feels Swansea are "quietly improving" on the road.

Swansea's hard-fought but deserved triumph over Plymouth saw them become only the second visiting side to win at Home Park this season.

They achieved exactly the same feat at Derby County on 27 November, having become the first team to triumph at Oxford United's Kassam Stadium in this campaign earlier last month.

Williams' team are finding ways to win on grounds where others have struggled.

Swansea have taken 14 away points in 2024-25, which is actually one more than Leeds United have managed so far, though the leaders have played two fewer games on their travels.

Certainly, the Swans have enjoyed a stark change of fortunes after losing four of their first five away games this season.

"I think we are quietly improving performances," Swansea head coach Williams says.

"I think we are able to simulate something close to our home performance level away from home now, which wasn't the case [previously].

"I think we are learning to cope with the environment and the challenges away from home in a better way. We are gathering momentum with our performances."

After Sunderland come to Wales this Saturday, Swansea go back on their travels to face Hull City in their final fixture before Christmas.

Given their away form, and Hull's struggles, Williams' players may head to Humberside in confident mood.

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Wayne Rooney was frustrated by Plymouth Argyle's failure to take anything from their game against Swansea City because he felt they dealt well with "key player" Matt Grimes.

Goals from Jay Fulton and Liam Cullen saw Swansea triumph at Home Park on Tuesday, with Mustapha Bundu's late response counting for little as Plymouth slumped to a third straight Championship defeat.

Manchester United legend Rooney says Plymouth were beaten despite limiting the impact of Swansea's captain.

"I thought we coped really with Grimes," said the Plymouth boss.

"He is the key player for Swansea and we really nullified his moments on the ball - we did well with that.

"The big thing for us was stopping the crosses, which we didn't do twice and we got punished for it. I think a little bit of naivety cost us."

Plymouth remain in the Championship relegation zone after the Swansea defeat, which leaves the Devon club with only one win in their past 10 league games.

After Argyle's game against Oxford last Saturday was postponed, Rooney felt his team may be able to take advantage of potential fatigue in the Swansea camp after their weekend trip to Luton Town.

"I felt if we didn't concede, we could go into the last 15-20 minutes and we could really push Swansea, who had a difficult game away from home on Saturday," he added.

"But once they get that first goal it gives them a bit more energy and something to hold on to."

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Not for the first time in his long Swansea City career, Jay Fulton has had to be patient this season having been used sparingly by Luke Williams.

Fulton, who will celebrate 11 years at Swansea next month, made his 12th appearance of 2024-25 – but just his fourth league start – in Tuesday's win at Plymouth Argyle.

The 30-year-old midfielder played a key part in the 2-1 victory by scoring his first goal in 13 months to put Swansea ahead.

Williams was pleased to see Fulton, who has made 264 senior Swansea appearances, seize his chance to shine.

"It's been really tough for Jay," head coach Williams said.

"He's such a good player, but we have some competition in there. The captain (Matt Grimes) is incredible of course, Goncalo [Franco] has done really well and we have Joey Allen as well. We have so many good players in this position.

"We know the quality Jay has. Everyone in the group respects him and he has shown that he can come in – relatively – from the cold, because he has only started four games in the league, and make a really good performance and key contribution.

"I am really happy for him. He deserves that."

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Swansea City's summer signings are showing signs of improvement after a slow start at the club, according to Owain Tudur Jones.

Players including Goncalo Franco, Zan Vipotnik, Eom Ji-sung, Myles Peart-Harris and Florian Bianchini joined the Swans over the summer, but head coach Luke Williams regularly stressed they needed time to adapt to the rigours of the Championship.

But former Swansea and Wales midfielder Tudur Jones says the club are showing signs of progress in what is their first full season under head coach Williams.

"Like the head coach has said, it takes a bit of time for players who have never played at this level," he told BBC Radio Cymru Dros Brecwast.

"In terms of the team, I do see improvement.

"I'm seeing players that at the start of the season didn't look up to the standard, and a lot is down to Luke Williams, he improves players, and you can just see they're settling in and the confidence is rising but they need to go on a run themselves to make sure that confidence stays."

Williams has regularly had to rotate certain players given the demands of the league schedule.

He has also had to cope with losing players to injury, including Eom, Josh Ginnelly, Sam Parker, Ollie Cooper and Jay Fulton.

But Tudur Jones says Williams has done well to balance keeping his fringe players happy while also protecting his new additions who have taken time to adjust to the second tier.

"He's tried to do that (rotate) all season, and sometimes fans haven't been happy," he added.

"Franco in the middle of the pitch has been a prime example. He's probably been one of Swansea's best players this season, he brings so much energy.

"Luke Williams often pulls him out of the team, and fans are shouting 'why?'.

"It's hard to come into a league like this and play 46 games in a season, tiredness is going to catch up with some players.

"Getting that balance right and putting faith in the other players to make sure they're training hard and that they feel they've got a chance of playing and keeping the shirt, that's what's important to keep a squad happy. 

"It seems Luke Williams is getting that balance right."

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Andy Legg expects Swansea City to pile more pressure on Plymouth Argyle boss Wayne Rooney when the sides meet at Home Park tonight (19:45 GMT kick-off).

The Pilgrims are currently 22nd in the Championship having failed to win in four matches, conceding 10 goals across their last two league fixtures.

And former Swansea and Wales left-man Legg expects Luke Williams' side to prove they can challenge for a top six place by beating Plymouth in Devon.

"They're (Plymouth) a decent team at home, they've had some good results, they beat Sunderland at home," he told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

"It's on the road that they've got problems.

"But I expect Swansea to go there, put in a performance, come away with all three points and push towards the play-offs."

Legg was in attendance for Swansea's 1-1 draw with Luton Town on Saturday.

Matt Grimes cancelled out Elijah Adebayo's opener as the points were shared in Bedfordshire, but Legg believes the Swans should have claimed victory over the Hatters.

"They played very well, should have won the game as well," he added.

"They missed numerous chances towards the end of the game.

"They totally dominated the game, only a mistake from Ben Cabango let Luton in really.

"They dominated the game from start to finish and should have come away with three points."

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Luke Williams says many of his players are learning on the job as Swansea City look to cope with the grind of the Championship season.

Swansea are back on the road on Tuesday as they take on Plymouth Argyle at Home Park.

It is the second away trip in three days for Williams' team following their weekend draw at Luton Town.

The games will keep on coming with the hectic festive period ahead, with Plymouth the first of seven league fixtures in 24 days.

A number of Swansea players are experiencing the relentless Championship schedule for the first time – and Williams says they must find a way to cope.

"We are backing these players enormously - I can't show it more than giving them minutes on the pitch," said the Swansea head coach.

"But I have also said it is going to be a season where they need to learn really quickly and grow up really quickly.

"We need to support them. We have to be tough on them as well because otherwise they won't get there."

Summer signings Goncalo Franco, Eom Ji-Sung, Florian Bianchini and Zan Vipotnik are all playing English football for the first time this season, while Brazilian winger Ronald is in his first full campaign on these shores following his January move to Wales.

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The likes of Lawrence Vigouroux and Myles Peart-Harris are also playing regular second-tier football for the first time.

"It's hard to compare the Championship with any other league in the world," Williams added.

"The players have to travel long distances, which is tiring, then they have to play in a ferocious game with a huge atmosphere sometimes.

"Then they travel, train the next day because the next game is coming so quickly. Then they get back on the bus to Plymouth, then play, travel back, train the next day and prepare to play again against unbelievable opposition in Sunderland [on Saturday].

"It's difficult for all of us and it's extra difficult for the players who haven't experienced that before."

Williams suggested he will make some changes at Plymouth to give his team "freshness", with the likes of Kyle Naughton, Joe Allen, Jay Fulton and Eom among the players who could be recalled.