Swansea City

Swansea City welcome Luton Town to south Wales on Sunday.

The points were split at Kenilworth Road earlier this month and both sides have had mixed results since then, with the Swans most recently turning up for a big win over QPR on Boxing Day to take hold of 10th in the table.

Meanwhile, the Hatters slipped to 18th after failing to find a way past Bristol City last time out.

• Swansea City are winless in their last five league games against Luton Town (D2 L3) since a 1-0 win in March 2021.

• Luton have won their last two away league matches against Swansea – indeed, they are looking to win three in a row for the first time.

• Swansea City have lost their final league game of the year in just one of the last seven years (W2 D4), losing 4-1 to Nottingham Forest in 2021.

• Luton Town lost their final league game last year against Chelsea in the Premier League, last suffering defeat in their final game in back-to-back years in 1988 and 1989, the latter of which was also against Chelsea.

• Luton have won their last four away league matches in Wales, their longest ever winning run in Wales in their Football League history.

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Luke Williams is optimistic that Harry Darling will follow Ben Cabango's lead by signing a new contract at Swansea City.

Wales international Cabango, 24, ended speculation over his future by agreeing a deal running until 2028 on Christmas Eve.

But as it stands, Cabango's centre-back partner Darling, 25, will be a free agent at the end of this season.

Asked about the chances of Darling agreeing a new contract in the wake of Cabango, Williams said: "I am very hopeful.

"If a top player [like Cabango] in a really good position with a lot of options, playing for the national team, commits to the club, I think if I was Harry it would make me think 'OK, we could be on to something and maybe I'm going to have a really good partnership with a player alongside me'.

"Hopefully that gives him an added incentive to sign."

Cabango and Darling have been two of Swansea's most consistent performers, starting every league game together at the heart of Williams' defence.

There had been concerns that both players would be lured away on free transfers come next summer, meaning Cabango's decision to recommit to the club where he came through the ranks represents a major boost.

"When Ben signed I felt like shouting 'he's been', like the little ones shout on Christmas morning," Williams added with a smile.

"You could see he played [in Wednesday's win over Queens Park Rangers] with a clear mind, at his very best.

"That was a top performance from him, like we have become used to."

Cabango and Darling will again be alongside each other in defence when Swansea look to build on the QPR win in Sunday's home game against Luton Town.

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Iwan Roberts says Swansea City's performance and result against Queens Park Rangers was just the reaction head coach Luke Williams needed from his players following defeats to Sunderland and Hull City.

The Swans defeated the London side 3-0 thanks to a brace from Liam Cullen along with an effort from summer signing Goncalo Franco.

And ex-Wales forward Roberts believes Sunday's home fixture against Luton Town provides the Swans with another great opportunity to end 2024 on a high note.

"It's exactly the reaction Luke Williams was looking for after that terrible result at Hull," he told BBC Radio Cymru Dros Frecwast.

"Liam Cullen, four in four for him, six goals in his last eight games.

"Swansea, they're 10th after that win and it's their first clean sheet in nine games.

"They welcome Luton on Sunday, and they've lost their last eight away games, so it's a great chance for Luke Williams' team to win back-to-back games at the Swansea.com Stadium."

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Former Swansea City defender John Moore has died at the age of 79.

Liverpool-born Moore was a product of Everton's academy and had spells with Stoke City and Shrewsbury Town before joining the Swans in 1973.

He made 31 league appearances during a two-year spell with the club before retiring due to a knee injury.

A Swansea statement read: "Everyone at Swansea City sends their sincerest condolences to John's friends and family at this sad time."

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Luke Williams believes Liam Cullen's Wales breakthrough has been key to his spectacular run of form for Swansea City.

Cullen struck twice as Swansea returned to form with a 3-0 win over Queens Park Rangers on Wednesday.

It is now six goals in eight Swansea appearances for Cullen since he scored his first competitive goals for Wales with a double in the win over Iceland in November.

Swansea head coach Williams says the faith shown in Cullen by Wales boss Craig Bellamy has shifted the Pembrokeshire-born forward's mindset.

"He is an overnight success who was 10 years in the making, as they say," Williams said.

"Definitely if you talk about a catalyst, it was having the backing of Craig Bellamy, who everybody respects because he was a top, top player and he's a top guy.

"When that's the guy giving you an opportunity in the national team, it means even more. Then when you go out there and realise your potential and score two goals and play great, then you come away feeling incredible, I'm sure."

Cullen signed a Swansea contract extension running until 2028 in October, only a matter of months after the club had opted to trigger a one-year option in his previous agreement rather than handing out a new long-term deal.

The new contract – when it eventually came - was a reflection of Cullen's growing influence at Swansea, yet the 25-year-old has since produced the best run of form in his career.

"I hope he's getting a lot of plaudits because he earned them, and I have seen a lot of his journey," Williams added.

"Now he's in a really good place and I hope he is there for a really long time."

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Luke Williams reckons Queens Park Rangers may now be showing their true colours having pulled clear of the Championship relegation scrap thanks to a seven-game unbeaten run.

Rangers looked to be in for an arduous campaign as they won only one of their first 16 league matches in 2024-25, with pressure on boss Marti Cifuentes.

But the London club visit Swansea on 26 December (15:00 GMT) buoyed by a spectacular turnaround in form which has seen them take 15 points from their last seven league outings.

Victory in Swansea would see the Hoops, who are up to 14th in the table, climb above their hosts and potentially into the top half as both sides reach the halfway point in the Championship campaign.

"This could be an example of a team who have been in a false position and the second half of the season will be in reverse for them," said Swansea head coach Williams.

"We have to make sure we prepare correctly because it's almost a unique fixture in the calendar because of the festivities and the change in people's routines.

"It's going to be a really difficult game because they are in a very, very different place to where they have been."

While Rangers are enjoying their best run of the season, they may have to do without influential defender Steve Cook after the former Bournemouth player came off during last Saturday's 2-1 win over Preston North End.

Swansea are likely to have the same squad as they did for their miserable defeat at Hull City last weekend.

There are only two points between Swansea City and QPR going into Thursday's game, the Swans sitting in 11th and the Hoops 14th.

Swansea have won just one game in their past five and are level on points with Bristol City.

QPR are seven points above the relegation zone and have found some decent form as of late with three wins and two draws in their past five games.

• Swansea City have won one of their last seven league games against QPR (D3 L3), a 1-0 home win in the 2022-23 season.

• QPR have won three of their last four away league matches against Swansea (L1), winning all three by a 1-0 scoreline in 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2023-24.

• Swansea City have lost five of their last six league games on Boxing Day, but the other game was a 2-0 win over QPR in 2020.

• QPR have won one of their last 10 league matches on Boxing Day (D2 L7), failing to score in each of their last four since a 3-0 win over Ipswich in 2018.

• Queens Park Rangers are winless in their last 22 away games on Boxing Day (D7 L15) since Alec Stock led them to a 1-0 win over Plymouth in 1967.

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Luke Williams will spend Christmas trying to ensure Swansea City "make a better performance" against Queens Park Rangers after their dismal defeat at Hull City.

Swansea produced their poorest display of the season as they were beaten 2-1 by a Tigers side who had gone 13 games without victory.

Williams' team return to action against QPR on 26 December, before another home game against Luton Town three days later.

After the misery of Hull – which came a week after a painful defeat to Sunderland – Swansea are in need of an upturn in performance levels as they take on an in-form Rangers side.

"If you think as a head coach that your team is never going to lose a couple of games, you are in the wrong industry," Williams said.

"I have to continue to try to get to the bottom of the weak performance [at Hull] and try to prepare for the next game. We will try to make a better performance in that one.

"We have to prepare the best we can and I need to try to select the right line-up to go into that game."

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Swansea have been jolted by their past two results as they had been in good form.

The Welsh club were unbeaten in four games before losing at home to Sunderland despite taking a 2-0 lead.

Having been criticised over their mentality after that defeat, Swansea never looked like bouncing back at Hull, where they were outperformed throughout.

The Swans will train on Christmas day - which was the plan regardless of Hull - with Williams saying he and his players must try to deliver for their supporters against QPR.

"We need to make sure we are good entertainment at Christmas time for families who love their football club," he said.

"We are the entertainment and that's a privilege. We will try to fit in family time, but we have to remember our responsibility to bring Christmas cheer to all Swans."

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

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Swansea City will be in the top half of the Championship table at Christmas despite a pair of defeats which have dampened festive spirits.

Still, had they been offered 12th place after 22 games before a ball was kicked in 2024-25, Swansea would have been fairly pleased.

Last season, after all, was an arduous one, while the summer transfer window saw Swansea looking for rough diamonds rather than polished gems.

The playing squad remains a work in progress, with more business required when the market reopens next month.

Yet progress has been made this season, with Swansea looking a more solid Championship outfit than they did at any point during the traumatic 2023-24 campaign.

Luke Williams' team have their issues, but they have been consistently competitive.

As a result, Saturday's abject display at Hull City came as a shock to the system.

Swansea had been left licking wounds after the previous weekend's demoralising defeat to Sunderland, when they led early on 2-0 but came away with nothing after collapsing in the second half.

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Head coach Williams responded by questioning his players' mentality, not holding back as he claimed their performance "stank of doubt".

Williams' hope, presumably, was that his players would produce a response of their own at Hull, who were bottom of the table and had not won in 13 games before Swansea's visit to Humberside.

Instead, Swansea delivered their worst performance of the season.

There was a lack of energy, a lack of urgency and a lack of quality, with even Swansea's most consistent performers slipping well short of their usual standards.

The result was a richly deserved victory for the Tigers – and another post-match interview in which Williams was simmering.

And so to successive home games, against a much-improved Queens Park Rangers on 26 December and Luton Town three days later.

Both fixtures may be considered winnable, but Swansea can expect nothing from either if they perform as they did at Hull.

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Luke Williams felt "dreadful" for Swansea City's travelling fans after his team slumped to a miserable 2-1 defeat at Hull City.

Swansea produced arguably their worst performance of the season as they were well beaten by a Tigers side who climbed off the foot of the Championship courtesy of their first win in 14 matches.

The Swans never really got going at the MKM Stadium, with a mixture of lethargy and a lack of quality costing them dear against the hosts who might have won more convincingly.

When asked about the supporters who made the long pre-Christmas trek to Humberside, Williams said: "The performance wasn't one that they could feel proud of. I feel dreadful about that, as you can probably tell.

"We have to do a far better job in the future and try to show them how much their efforts mean to us."

Williams was left simmering over Swansea's mentality after they lost at home to Sunderland last weekend having led 2-0 against the Black Cats.

But a positive response to that display never looked likely at Hull, where Swansea started poorly and never got going, even after Harry Darling's fine header late in the first half cancelled out Joao Pedro's deflected opener.

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Though Swansea hit the post through Ben Cabango after the break, Hull – who twice hit the woodwork themselves – deservedly triumphed after Mason Burstow capitalised on Lawrence Vigouroux's error to score the winner.

"I don't think there have been too many games where we have played terribly, I really don't," said Williams, whose frustration was obvious for the second weekend in row.

"I think for the most part we have played pretty well. But today wasn't a good day for us and we got the result that matched our performance."

Williams agreed with the suggestion that Swansea's mentality could again be questioned after such a poor display.

"I think we worked pretty hard," he added. "There's not bundles in the game when you look at it from a numbers point of view - there's not a huge amount between the teams.

"But certainly it didn't look like us at our best, far from it. We have seen the group play far better than that."

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Luke Williams says Swansea City's festive fixture list gives his players a chance to prove they can cope with the weight of expectation.

Swansea kick off a run of five Championship games in a fortnight when they go to bottom-club Hull City on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

They then face three more sides who are in the lower half of the table, with home games against Queens Park Rangers and Luton Town followed by a trip to Portsmouth on New Year's Day.

While 10th-placed Swansea have struggled against the second tier's top clubs this season, they have a fine record against the sides currently below them in the table.

And Williams says his team are faced with a "massive opportunity" to maintain that form.

"Now we have a chance to have a look at these players - who we love because they have a swan on their chest - and see how they cope with expectation," said the Swansea head coach.

"It's an opportunity to try to perform in a way that has been successful for us against the teams below us. Let's see if we can be consistent with our performances.

"That's going to come from individuals and as a group. Can they perform the same way, or do they start to feel pressure?"

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Williams has backed his players to respond after he was critical of their mentality following last weekend's 3-2 defeat by Sunderland.

Swansea had been unbeaten in four games before crumbling against the Black Cats, who came back to triumph after going 2-0 down early on.

Williams' team now take on a Hull side who have slipped to the foot of the table having failed to win in 13 matches.

The Tigers have taken one point from two games under Ruben Selles, who left Reading to take over at the MKM Stadium a fortnight ago following the sacking of Tim Walter.

Williams says Hull will be playing with a "different mindset" as a result of Selles' arrival

"We don't expect anything easy," he said.

"We expect a group with new energy and new ideas. It's difficult to analyse them because things are changing already.

"But we should go there feeling we are confident enough to give them a really tough game."

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Josh Tymon heads home to Hull this weekend believing there is more to come from him at Swansea City this season.

Tymon has featured in every Swansea game in 2024-25 bar the win over Watford in early November, when he was missing through suspension.

The left-back has nailed down a regular place under Luke Williams – but wants to bring more to the Swansea side as the campaign goes on, beginning with Saturday's Championship game against the Tigers.

Tymon described his form this season as a "bit of a mixed bag", adding: "I haven't really been at my best at times. Some games I've looked my best and then dipped off.

"One of my biggest strengths is to put good quality into the box for our forward players and, at times this season, it has not been there.

"I am always working on my defensive stuff which has got a lot better since last season. But I have to keep on working."

Tymon, 25, arrived at Swansea from Stoke City in the summer of 2023, six years after joining the Potters from Hull City.

Born and raised in Hull, Tymon signed for his local club at the age of 12 and made his senior Tigers debut when aged just 16.

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He made 14 appearances for Hull - including five in the Premier League - before leaving for Stoke, and says a trip back to Humberside is always a special game.

"It's the place where I was born and a lot of my family still are now," he said.

"I spent a long time at the club, right through the academy to being the lucky one to make my debut there.

"I always look for this fixture when it comes around, more so because of how many tickets I will have to find."

Tymon has he enjoyed his returns to Hull, having won there twice with Stoke and again with Swansea last season.

"As players going back to get former clubs, you get some sort of abuse," he said.

"That's part of football. You can either fold or you can embrace it.

"Luckily for me I have been on winning sides every time I have been back there, so it's a nice feeling. I want to see Hull doing well but obviously when I am playing them, I want to do the best for my team."

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Luke Williams says he held a "very positive" meeting with Brett Cravatt and Jason Cohen after two of the key figures in Swansea City's takeover visited the Championship club.

Alongside club chairman and fellow American businessman Andy Coleman, Cravatt and Cohen hold a 77.41% stake in Swansea following last month's change of ownership.

Cravatt (pictured above, centre) and Cohen attended last weekend's game against Sunderland along with another American, Keith English (pictured above, right), who is thought to be a minor investor.

"Three of them came to visit us at the training ground and came to the game," said Swansea head coach Williams.

"I have met Brett before but with Keith and Jason it was the first time. It was good to meet them. They had lots of energy and are very astute guys who have been very successful. It was very positive."

Coleman said last month that the "momentous" ownership change at Swansea would see more than £20m brought into the club.

Cohen, a business associate of Cravatt, joined the Swansea board along with three further American investors - Tyler Morse, George Popstefanov and Chris Sznewajs.

The takeover brought an end to Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan's eight-year spell as Swansea's majority owners.

Williams has reiterated that he is optimstic about the club's future prospects under the new regime.

"We had a chance to sit down and have more of a chat," he added.

"There was a lot of energy and a lot of excitement about the club. That's really good, to meet people who seem to be genuinely engaged, people who have been successful and who know the challenges that come with that."

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Swansea City duo Sam Parker and Josh Ginnelly are edging closer to long-awaited comebacks from injury, but Kristian Pedersen faces a spell on the sidelines after undergoing hamstring surgery.

Academy product Parker, 18, has not played since January due to hamstring issues while fellow wide player Ginnelly, 27, has been out since September 2023 thanks to a ruptured Achilles.

But both players have played some part in full team training this week.

"I would say we need weeks of training and to be very careful, but it's good progress. That's positive," said Swansea head coach Luke Williams.

Goalkeeper Andy Fisher is now fully fit having recovered from a groin injury in pre-season, though Williams has suggested the former MK Dons player will initially be third choice behind Lawrence Vigouroux and Jon McLaughlin, whose short-term deal with the Championship club expires next month.

Pedersen, meanwhile, is unavailable as his frustrating spell at Swansea continues.

The 30-year-old former Birmingham City defender has made only seven appearances for the Welsh club since joining in the summer of 2023, having had a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday in the second half of last season.

"He had surgery a while back and is now rehabilitating," Williams said. "He certainly won't be available for the foreseeable [future]. He needs recovery time."