Swansea City

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Swansea City are waiting to discover the extent of an injury to attacking midfielder Jamie Paterson.

Paterson, 32, scored the Swans' second goal in Saturday's 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers but was forced off in the 71st minute.

Asked how severe the injury was, Swansea head coach Luke Williams said: "I don't know yet.

"He's a big player for us on and off the pitch. So I'm hoping that when it settles down that they tell me it's nothing too serious.

"If it's more then maybe we have to have a scan. But hopefully the scan comes back and it's nothing too serious.

"We take each stage as it comes, but we need some more time for it to settle down first."

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Swansea City head coach Luke Williams savoured the “special” connection between his players and the club’s fans after overseeing his first home league win against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

The 2-1 victory secured back-to-back wins for the Swans for the first time since October and moved them up to 15th in the Championship table.

“There’s a whole 50% that’s not tangible, you can’t taste it but it’s there and it’s as important as anything else,” said Williams, who was appointed in January.

“Slowly we’re trying to make a feeling and I felt something from the connection between the players and the fans that I didn’t feel before. We have to build that.

“It was a really good feeling because they’ve been so great, the fans, and after games we’ve lost they’ve shown some love to us.

“That’s incredible but it’s better when you’re sharing celebrations together and that felt really special.”

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Jamal Lowe returns to the Swansea City squad to face Blackburn Rovers on Saturday with Luke Williams delighted to have the on-loan Bournemouth forward back in contention.

Lowe, who has six goals in 23 appearances this season, has played only twice since Williams took charge at Swansea due to injury.

They were Williams’ first two league fixtures, the draw at Birmingham and defeat to Southampton, with Lowe picking up a knee problem against the Saints.

Since then, Liam Cullen and Jerry Yates have been Williams' preferred options at centre-forward, although there was one substitute appearance from Mykola Kuharevich.

But Lowe, 29, should play some part as Swansea target a first home league win under Williams against Blackburn.

“I like Jamal a lot,” Williams said.

“I think he is an excellent player and a really good guy as well. He really wants to do well for the club, that’s for sure.

“I think he really enjoys himself here and has a good connection. I am really happy he is back - he brings us a lot of qualities.

“He is capable of playing all the way across the front of the pitch so that’s something we can use to our advantage.”

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Luke Williams says Swansea City have work to do before securing a second loan spell at the Championship club for Brighton goalkeeper Carl Rushworth.

Williams said after last weekend’s win at Sunderland that he thought Rushworth would “be with us next season of course”.

But the Swansea head coach has now acknowledged there are no guarantees over the future of Rushworth, 22, who has been one of the Welsh side’s standout players since joining on a season-long deal last summer.

"We've been in touch with Brighton all the way through because they're a brilliant club,” said former Seagulls youth coach Williams.

“They want to always have contact to make sure and of course that conversation [about next season] has already happened because naturally you start to plan ahead and try to work out what's possible. But it's nothing more than that.

"That will depend on many things. It won't come down to my desire alone. There will be many things. It would be impossible for me to say at the moment."

Asked about his comments on Rushworth at Sunderland, Williams said: "I think what was going on in my head and what I was hoping for and reality all merged.

"He's obviously a very good goalkeeper, a really good guy and we really like him a lot. I know a lot of the people at Brighton as well.

"We know he's a brilliant goalkeeper and I'm sure we'd be interested in him coming back here. But we have Andy Fisher, who I've worked with before at MK Dons and here briefly in my first spell. He's an excellent goalkeeper as well, so it's important for me to make that point.”

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Swansea City host Blackburn Rovers this Saturday, with Danny Gabbidon believing there is a familiar look to Luke Williams’ side following their impressive victory at Sunderland.

Swansea won for only the second time in eight league games under Williams thanks to Ronald’s first-half double at the Stadium of Light last weekend.

Former Wales defender Gabbidon reckons the Swans are moving back towards the sort of possession-based game that has been key to their successes in the club’s recent history.

“That was a big, big win at Sunderland,” Gabbidon told this week’s Elis James’ Feast of Football podcast.

“It’s always a difficult place to go and they are a good side.

“For Swansea to go and pick up a result - that will be huge for them and their confidence.

“It’s taken a bit of time for the new manager to come in and assess things and what kind of system he wants to play. It looks now like the ideas are starting to get across a little bit more.

“You look at the first goal. That’s how I remember Swansea playing. That’s Swansea at their very best, playing out from the back, moving the ball quickly up the field. It’s a brilliant team goal.

“The second goal, the off-the-ball stuff. Swansea are on top of them, Joe Allen steps in and Ronald gets his second goal.

“I just thought the two goals showed the better team understanding, with the ball and without the ball.

“The make-up of the team looks better now. They have a few more threats.”

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Rebecca Welch will become the first woman to referee a Swansea City match when she oversees Saturday's Championship meeting with Blackburn Rovers at the Swansea.com Stadium.

In December, Welch took charge of her first Premier League match – a clash between Fulham and Burnley - becoming the first woman to referee at that level. She also oversaw Bournemouth’s top-flight meeting with Nottingham Forest in February.

Welch began officiating in the North East in 2010 and quickly moved to refereeing in the Women’s Super League before being awarded the 2017 and 2020 Women’s FA Cup finals.

In December 2020, Welch was added to Uefa’s list which put her among the elite female referees in Europe and, last summer, she was promoted to Select Group 2 in the English system.

In total this season, Welch has taken charge of 15 men's games across all four professional leagues as well as the FA Cup. She has handed out 74 yellow cards and three reds.

On Saturday, she will be assisted by Shaun Hudson and Alex James. Lee Swabey will be the fourth official.

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

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In what has been a long old season, yesterday’s first half at Sunderland was among the most enjoyable Swansea City’s fans have seen.

Swansea’s followers have not had a great deal to shout about in a turbulent campaign.

Yet for 45 minutes at the Stadium of Light, Swansea looked a decent side.

Admittedly, they might have faced the Black Cats at a good time, with Jack Clarke – one of the players of the Championship season – and Dan Ballard both missing.

But then Swansea had their share of absentees too.

There is plenty of good news for Luke Williams as he looks ahead to Blackburn Rovers next weekend.

After an injury-hit campaign, Nathan Wood is starting to look like the player who attracted big-money bids from Southampton last summer, while Joe Allen has followed Kyle Naughton’s lead by serving up a reminder of his enduring class having returned to Swansea’s starting side.

Josh Tymon is another who deserves praise - once again - having continued his impressive run of form.

Ahead of Tymon on the left flank, Przemyslaw Placheta had a bright day at Sunderland, bringing pace and balance to Williams’ team, although he will be frustrated not to have opened his account for the club.

That feat was achieved yesterday by the man on the opposite wing.

It looked like something of a gamble when Swansea paid in excess of £1m to recruit Brazilian winger Ronald in January.

But, so far at least, the signing is looking like a smart piece of business.

Ronald’s two goals should boost his confidence, increasing the likelihood of further match winning contributions in the weeks ahead.

And Swansea will need them.

The one downside for Williams and his players this weekend was that so many of the other sides in the bottom third of the Championship table picked up positive results.

But then Swansea's performance on Wearside should add to belief in the dressing room that they can pull themselves clear of the second-tier relegation scrap.

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Luke Williams says Ronald’s matchwinning double at Sunderland was an overdue reward for the Brazilian’s efforts since he joined Swansea City.

Ronald, 22, joined Swansea for a seven-figure fee from Brazilian club Gremio Anapolis in January.

The winger’s goals at the Stadium of Light - his first in English football - came in his sixth Swansea appearance.

Ronald is yet to register an assist for his new club, although that statistic could have been very different had his new team-mates taken some of the numerous chances he has laid on.

“Ronald deserved both the goals,” said Swansea boss Williams, “and I think he has probably deserved one or two more key actions - assists in previous games.

“He was a huge threat today. He is so quick and direct so I am really happy for him.”

Ronald ought to have had an assist at Sunderland when he crossed for Przemyslaw Placheta, only for the Poland international winger to blaze over from close range.

Ronald then came close to completing what would have been a rare Swansea hat-trick when his drive was turned on to the post late on.

Placheta also hit the woodwork on a day when Swansea’s wide players had plenty of joy, with Williams impressed by the efforts of the two mid-season recruits.

“I think maybe I’m a bit of dinosaur these days, a bit of throwback, but I love to see these type of actions,” Williams added.

“For Pzemy and Ronald, there is a lot of high-intensity work to get behind these backlines and then to steady themselves and deliver into the box.

“Josh Tymon as well joined in the attack and put some fantastic balls in. I like that – I am really happy to see that.”

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Swansea City go to Sunderland today with Luke Williams insisting he is not worrying about the possibility of relegation to League One.

Swansea are a mere four points clear of the Championship relegation zone having lost five of their last six league games.

But Williams has seen enough promising signs during what has been a demanding start to his Swansea reign to convince him there are better days ahead.

“The thing that worries me is trying to improve all the time,” he said.

“You are trying to think about the next session, the meeting you need to put together, the conversation you need to have with the staff and the players.

“I think I should be [confident]. I have some performance data to look at.

“I can see some really interesting trends in the performances that suggest to me that we should be confident for the rest of the season.”

Swansea have played seven league since Williams took over on 5 January, with their one win coming at Hull City earlier this month.

They were denied victory at Birmingham City by a late home equaliser and were beaten 1-0 by Plymouth Argyle despite creating a host of chances.

There have been four more defeats, against automatic promotion contenders Leicester City, Leeds United, Southampton and Ipswich Town.

Swansea have had to deal with some heavy blows along the way, with another coming in the FA Cup as they were dismantled at Bournemouth.

A Sunderland side who have won 10 of their 16 home league games will provide another stern examination this weekend, yet Williams is in upbeat mood as he focuses on ensuring Swansea finish a turbulent season “as strongly as we can”.

“We keep pushing and see how far that takes us,” he added.

“Then we go into the summer with a good feeling and also a good idea of what we need to do.

“We know we have had a tough run. The players tried to play bravely against the top sides - these top teams are incredible.

“I am really optimistic because the players have been so brave. When we have played anybody that isn’t that top bracket, we have shown we can really hold our own.”

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Przemyslaw Placheta says he would be interested in staying at Swansea City beyond this season - but insists his focus for now is on football rather than the future.

Poland international Placheta joined Swansea on a free transfer from Norwich City in January.

As it stands, the winger’s short-term deal with the Swans expires at the end of the season.

Asked if he would be keen on a longer stay at the Welsh club, Placheta said: “Yes - why not? I am really enjoying the first few weeks under the new gaffer and with new team-mates. We will see.

“I am fully focused on every training session and every game, to put my best performance in for the team."

Placheta has made four Swansea appearances to date, helping Luke Williams claim a first league win as the club’s head coach at Hull City earlier this month.

Having started on the bench against Ipswich last weekend, he hopes to return to the starting side at Sunderland on Saturday, when Swansea will go in search of only a second victory in eight league games.

“We just need to stay together, be positive and take some positives from the games we have played,” Placheta said.

“Of course we are trying to make less mistakes, to play better and score more goals. That’s what we focus on.

“When I came here I saw big potential in this team and I enjoy what the gaffer expects from us.

“Of course we need some points and on Saturday we will fight for three points.”

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If Swansea City need a confidence boost as they prepare for a weekend trip to Sunderland, Luke Williams’ players might want to have a glance at the club’s recent record on Wearside.

Previous results might not count for much come Saturday afternoon, but it’s fair to say that Sunderland has been a happy hunting ground.

Swansea won 3-1 at the Stadium of Light last season, when Liam Cullen and Ollie Cooper were among their scorers after Luke O’Nien’s early red card.

The Swans were also victorious on their previous trip to Sunderland, in 2017, when Fernando Llorente and Kyle Naughton goals put Paul Clement’s team on the brink of securing their Premier League status for another season.

In all, Swansea have won four times in their last 10 trips to Sunderland, with five draws during that sequence and only one defeat, when Stephane Sessegnon and Craig Gardner struck in a 2-0 win for the Black Cats.

Brendan Rodgers’ Swans dominated much of the game that day only to be beaten by two spectacular goals.

Head coach Williams will hope his Swansea class of 2024 can control the contest once more this time around – although in truth, performance level does not count much for right now.

With only four points between them and the Championship relegation zone, Swansea need to churn out a few results, however they come.

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Former Swansea City midfielder Owain Tudur Jones says the scrutiny will now increase significantly on manager Luke Williams after a tough run of fixtures since being appointed.

Williams has won just four points from his first seven Championship games - but has faced each of the current top four clubs in the table during that period.

The poor results have seen the Swans drop three places to 18th in the table, and only four points clear of the relegation zone.

"The tough run is over," said Jones on BBC Radio Cymru's Y Coridor Ansicrwydd podcast.

"When he got the job, I looked at those games and thought ‘all the best son!’ because they had Leeds, Southampton, Leicester and Bournemouth in the FA Cup.

"That was a tough start. That’s gone and they didn’t get much success.

"The season starts for real for him now. He would’ve got a bit of leeway during those games, because there wouldn’t have been much expectation.

"Now, the results and performances have to improve or they will be dragged right into a relegation battle.”

Swansea travel to 10th-placed Sunderland on Saturday, and then have five games in March against teams currently no higher than 11th.

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Swansea City are preparing for a testing trip to Sunderland this Saturday with only four points between them and the Championship relegation zone.

Head coach Luke Williams acknowledges there will be pressure on his team at the Stadium of Light – but says that will be the case every week.

After a painful run of five defeats in the last six league matches, Swansea have plenty of work to do before they can contemplate another year in the second tier.

Having played all the division’s top sides since Williams was appointed on 5 January, the Swans can look forward to some gentler fixtures between now and the end of the season.

But given Swansea’s form and worrying position in the table, every outing is a challenge right now.

“There is pressure now on every game isn’t there?” Williams says.

“We have to try to work logically in the week and not try to do something crazy or sulk about the position we are in.

“We have to work hard and clever and prepare for the game at the weekend.”

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Swansea City will be up against a new face - of sorts - in the home dugout when they return to Championship action at Sunderland next Saturday.

Having been appointed Sunderland boss on 18 December, Michael Beale has left the Wearside club after just 12 games in charge.

With Beale gone, assistant Mike Dodds has been appointed interim boss for the rest of the season.

Beale registered four wins during his brief spell with the Black Cats, but has parted ways with the club following back-to-back defeats at Huddersfield and Birmingham.

Sunderland remain in play-off contention despite a mixed run under Beale.

They are four points adrift of the top six in 10th as they prepare for Swansea's visit.

The struggling Swans will also be desperate for points as they head to the Stadium of Light - but their cause will not be helped if Sunderland benefit from the so-called new manager bounce.

Dodds had a spell in caretaker charge before Beale was appointed.