Swansea City

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Swansea City midfielder Jay Fulton is to be sidelined until the November international break because of a calf injury.

Fulton, 30, has made nine appearances this season but was not involved in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Oxford United.

“Jay has picked up an injury, just in straight-line running,” said Swansea head coach Luke Williams.

“He is going to need a period to heal, he is going to be sidelined probably for a couple of weeks.”

Fulton’s injury is part of a double setback for Swansea after they lost Ollie Cooper, though the latter’s problem is more serious.

Williams’ side host Watford on Tuesday and go to Burnley on Sunday, 10 November.

They return to action with a home game against Leeds on Sunday, 24 November, when Fulton will hope to be back available.

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Luke Williams felt finding a clinical edge – at last – was key to Swansea City's victory at Oxford United.

Swansea scored for the first time since September as they wiped out Oxford’s unbeaten home record in 2024-25.

Striker Zan Vipotnik ended Swansea's long wait for a goal before half-time.

Fellow August recruit Florian Bianchini scored what proved to be the winner on 80 minutes, the Frenchman finding the target for the first time in English football after he latched on to Goncalo Franco’s pass.

Dane Scarlett pulled one goal back for Oxford as Swansea survived a late scare to hold on for their second away win of the season.

"I think it's a performance similar to many of the others [this season] if I am honest," said Swansea head coach Williams.

"It's probably our best away performance for 90 minutes, but I think we have performed at a similar level. Today we were more clinical in front of goal."

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Vipotnik's goal was just his second in a Swansea shirt, with the Slovenia international starting to look like a player coming to terms with the pace and intensity of the Championship.

Bianchini, meanwhile, has had his best week in a Swansea shirt having twice come off the bench to play as a centre-forward rather than out wide.

"I am very pleased with the manner in which we scored the goals," Williams added.

"They are proper striker's goals - a tap-in where you have to make sure you don't tense up, then a one-v-one [which was] very well struck. You have to hold your nerve."

Swansea do not have any time to celebrate the Oxford win, with attention immediately switching to Tuesday’s home game against Watford.

"I have been asked a lot, correctly, about goals," Williams said.

"We have scored two away from home so the players have risen to the challenge. The next challenge is to maintain their level of performance and continue to score goals."

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Head coach Luke Williams says there has been plenty of interest in the vacant sporting director role at Swansea City following the departure of Paul Watson.

Watson left the Championship club just over three weeks ago after just 16 months in the role.

Swansea chairman Andy Coleman (above) has refused to discuss Watson’s exit with the media, but is understood to be the leading the search for a replacement alongside chief of staff Ken Gude.

When asked whether Swansea have made any progress in their bid to find Watson’s successor, Williams said: “I know there are many, many applicants.

“There’s a process to follow to shorten down that list and then in the very near future people will be interviewed for the role and we go from there.”

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Swansea City's 1-0 defeat at home to Millwall last weekend extended their barren run without a goal to 525 minutes of football.

It is no secret that goals have been a problem for the Swans this season, their tally of eight in 12 league games is the lowest return of any side in the Championship.

Their last goal came against Bristol City on 29 September and if Luke Williams' side fail to find the net again at Oxford United on Saturday, they will equal a 28-year-old club record of six league matches without a goal.

The 1995-96 season was one to forget for Swansea fans, as the club were relegated to what is now known as EFL League Two.

The record began on 6 February 1996.

Former Manchester United and Arsenal goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer was in temporary charge following the resignation of Bobby Smith in December 1995.

Rimmer's Swans suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Stockport County and days later the club infamously appointed Kevin Cullis (pictured above) as manager.

Cullis had never played or coached in professional football, yet controversially found himself in charge at Swansea. The Englishman's only previous management experience was as the youth coach of non-league club Cradley Town.

Cullis' reign lasted all of two games. In his second and final match, Swansea were beaten 4-0 by Blackpool at Bloomfield Road on 13 February 1996.

After a disastrous first half display, Cullis’ planned half-time team talk was ignored by the players, with defender Christian Edwards delivering the second half instructions instead.

Shortly after the full-time whistle Cullis resigned from his position as manager.

Swansea returned to action less than four days later to face Hull City at the Vetch Field, with Rimmer back in the dugout for a second stint as caretaker boss.

However, Rimmer's return could not change Swansea's fortunes in front of goal. After a goalless draw with the Tigers, the Swans were beaten 3-0 by Carlisle United at Brunton Park.

On 22 February 1996, Swansea announced the arrival of Liverpool legend Jan Molby as player-manager.

Although his appointment would provide the Swans with much needed stability, the Danish midfielder's first game in charge would be a 0-0 draw at York City, extending Swansea's goalless run to what is now that club record six league games.

Three days later Steve Torpey broke the 624-minute goal drought with a superb strike after 36 minutes as Molby's side beat Walsall 2-1, only their second win in 18 games.

With the current squad looking to end a six-game winless streak, history is not on their side as they travel to face newly promoted opponents at the Kassam Stadium this weekend.

The venue has not been a happy hunting ground over recent years, with Oxford proving tricky customers for the Swans.

Famously, former Rangers and Leeds United winger Kemar Roofe scored twice as League Two Oxford knocked Premier League Swansea out of the FA Cup in 2016.

And Russell Martin's Swansea side found themselves on the end of another cup defeat at Oxford, squandering a two-goal lead to exit the EFL Cup on penalties in 2022.

Will Williams' current batch of Swans join the wrong side of the club's history come Saturday evening?

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Luke Williams says Swansea City failed in a bid to sign Siriki Dembele over the summer, with the winger instead joining Oxford United.

Dembele, 28, signed for Oxford at the end of August, with the U’s paying Birmingham City an undisclosed fee – which was reported to be in the region of £1m – for the former Bournemouth and Peterborough player.

Swansea were linked with Dembele at the time and Williams, who was keen to sign a wide player before the August deadline, says he was on their list.

"There was [truth in the links]," Swansea’s head coach said.

"We weren’t able to reach a deal. I think is a very good player, a very accomplished player."

Asked whether Swansea had been outdone financially by Oxford, who are back in the second tier this season for the first time in 25 years, Williams added: "I can’t tell you what they offered him because I don’t know.

"Maybe the player just preferred the club or the manager. But I know we were not in the running in the end."

Williams says he is “very fond” of another of Oxford’s attacking players, Ruben Rodrigues, having worked with him at Notts County.

He is also an admirer of United’s former Swansea loanee Josh McEachran, who he coached at MK Dons.

But there seems unlikely to be a reunion with Prezmyslaw Placheta when Swansea go to Oxford on Saturday, with the Polish winger struggling with injury.

"I know there are some very high-quality players there," Williams said.

"They are a good example of a club being well run and coping with the step up in level very well."

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Luke Williams says Swansea City are in talks with Cyrus Christie – and club great Wayne Routledge, who is his advisor - over a potential deal for the free-agent defender.

Christie, who has been without a club since leaving Hull City at the end of last season, has been training with Swansea for most of October.

The 32-year-old has done enough to convince Williams that he is worthy of a contract, but it is now a question of whether terms can be agreed.

A key player in the negotiations is Routledge, who scored 33 goals in 305 appearances over 10 years at Swansea before his retirement in 2021.

"We are talking with Cyrus and to his agent, who is somebody we are very fond of, Mr Routledge," Swansea head coach Williams said.

"We are trying to speak to Cyrus and Wayne to make sure we get two happy parties and then we’ll see."

Christie played 23 Swansea games – and scored three goals – in the second half of 2021-22 after signing on loan from Fulham.

In all the Republic of Ireland international has made 455 senior club appearances, scoring 14 goals.

Williams views Christie as a player who can offer cover anywhere across Swansea’s backline.

"Cyrus has been great," he added.

"Everyone who knows him before is really fond of him, so hopefully we can get something done."

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Swansea City seem unlikely to face a reunion with Przemyslaw Placheta when they go to Oxford United this Saturday because the winger is struggling with injury.

Poland international Placheta, 26, made a positive impact at Swansea last season after joining on a short-term deal from Norwich City in January.

Swansea liked what they saw from the winger, who offered pace and balance on the left flank.

But the club’s concerns over Placheta’s injury record left them unconvinced about whether to offer him a longer-term contract in the summer, and he instead ended up signing for Oxford.

It is still early days in Placheta’s Oxford career, but his contribution so far will not have left Swansea feeling they made the wrong call.

Placheta has made only three appearances for the U’s, all of which came in August, as a result of fitness issues.

It may be good news for Swansea should he be absent once more this weekend, as they have often been haunted by former players.

But it is a pity for Placheta, a player who has obvious talent, but has been unable to consistently show it.

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Ian Walsh questioned Luke Williams' substitutions as Swansea City conceded a late goal to lose 1-0 against Millwall.

Strikers Zan Vipotnik and Liam Cullen both started against the Lions, although the latter was deployed in a deeper role.

However, with Swansea controlling possession and seeking a winner with the score at 0-0, Cullen was replaced by Joe Allen in the 66th minute.

Goncalo Franco and Vipotnik were later replaced by Ollie Cooper and Florian Bianchini respectively, although Casper de Norre struck a 90th-minute winner to earn Neil Harris' side all three points.

Former Swansea and Wales forward Walsh admitted he was somewhat perplexed by the decision to withdraw Cullen at a point where the contest remained firmly in the balance.

"They played Liam Cullen in midfield, in the Ollie Cooper role, slightly deeper," he told Call Rob.

"For me, Liam is not a midfield player, he's a goal poacher, in and around the penalty box. So that surprised me to begin with.

"They brought off Liam Cullen and brought on Joe Allen. You've already got Franco and [Matt] Grimes in there and you bring Joe Allen on in that similar area.

"At his advancing years, you don't expect him to go out and make something happen.

"On the other hand, Neil Harris the Millwall manager brought on three front players to try to change the game because he felt there was something in this game for him.

"Swansea could have been here all day and not scored but if Millwall had half a chance, which they did in the end, they'd take all three points.

"So that was my thought, why bring Joe Allen on when you're struggling to score goals and take Liam Cullen off?

"In the end, Bianchini came on up top and Cooper came on for Franco. It was a little bit too late."

Swansea have failed to score in any of their previous five matches - the club’s longest run without a league goal since 1996.

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Iwan Roberts feels Swansea City's failure to find a replacement for Joel Piroe has been the biggest reason behind the club's struggles in front of goal.

Dutch striker Piroe was sold to Leeds United in August 2023 having scored 46 goals in 96 appearances across all competitions for the Swans.

Jamal Lowe and Jerry Yates ended the 2023-24 campaign as Swansea's joint-top scorers with just nine goals each across all competitions.

This term, Swansea's struggles have worsened - with Luke Williams' men scoring just eight goals in 12 league games so far, the worst return in the Championship.

"I think it's [lack of goals] been a big problem for the club since Joel Piroe left for Leeds," Roberts told Radio Cymru's Dros Frecwast.

"Last season, their top scorers were Jamal Lowe and Jerry Yates, they scored nine each, that's such a low total."

Former Wales striker Roberts does have some sympathy for Swansea's forward players though, and stressed the club's midfielders need to have more of an impact in the final third.

He added: "You look now, [Zan] Vipotnik has scored one in 11 [Championship games], [Liam] Cullen two in nine, Ronald none in 12, he's only scored three in 30 since joining the club, two of those came in the same game. Eom [Ji-sung], no goals in nine, [Ollie] Cooper one in 12.

"I don't see any of those players going on to score more than 10 goals this season. That's why they're in the situation they're in.

"They're lucky the defence is performing well, but there has to be a responsibility on the players in the middle of the pitch.

"Is Matt Grimes doing enough to get up the pitch? Are [Goncalo] Franco and Jay Fulton? I don't think those players are contributing enough in terms of goals."

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Owain Tudur Jones believes Swansea City's inability to recruit more attacking players during the summer transfer window is starting to cost Luke Williams' side.

Forwards Jerry Yates, Jamal Lowe and Mykola Kuharevich all left the Swans while Slovenia international Zan Vipotnik was the only traditional number nine brought in.

Although Swansea boast a strong defensive record, their tally of eight goals scored in 12 league games is the lowest return of any side in the Championship this season.

They have also failed to score in any of their previous five league outings - a sequence that has seen the club slip from seventh to 17th in the table.

"I think Swansea's lack of depth in the squad is starting to show," former Swans and Wales midfielder Tudur Jones told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

"I think the fact they lost the winger Eom Ji-sung has been a problem. I think the 11 that start games and a couple in reserve, Swansea have a strong 13 or 14 players. Anything beyond that and I think the weakness is showing itself.

"I think that comes down to investment in the summer. Those attacking players who provide and score plenty of goals in the season, they're few and far between.

"The fact that Swansea have been unable to attract those sort of players, for financial reasons probably, is starting to show itself."

Myles Peart-Harris, Florian Bianchini and Eom are among the attacking players brought into the club over the summer, although Williams has had to shuffle his frontline on numerous occasions already this term.

And Tudur Jones believes the squad desperately needs further investment to give head coach Williams the chance to succeed at the club.

"You look at Swansea and the squad depth, it probably is a mid-table team," added Tudur Jones.

"Hopefully they can surprise myself and a few others and climb higher.

"It does seem that that is probably the level, unless more investment is made somehow to bring in players, whether they're free transfers now or going into January.

"At the moment, it just looks like a real lack of ambition and a real lack of backing for what I believe is a really good coach in Luke Williams."

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Luke Williams says Swansea City’s players have no choice but to cope with the weight of expectation in front of goal.

Swansea suffered a painful defeat to Millwall on Saturday despite creating a number of opportunities to end their goal drought, before Casper de Norre scored a late winner with the Lions’ only chance of the game.

Williams’ team have now played 525 minutes of football since their last goal, which came against Bristol City on 29 September.

They are the lowest scorers in the second tier having netted only eight times in their first 12 league games of 2024-25.

“There’s a lot of noise around football and Championship level is a big level,” Williams said.

“If that affects the players, I’m sorry but you have to get on with it because there isn’t a single striker on the planet who isn’t under pressure and doesn’t feel some pressure to score a goal.

“We have to overcome that, for sure.”

Swansea will return to action at Oxford United next Saturday, where they will aim to score for the first time in six league games.

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

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One goal in eight months of training and two winners at Swansea City.

That is the unlikely goalscoring record of Millwall’s Casper de Norre, Neil Harris revealed, after the Belgian’s late strike saw the Lions claim the archetypal smash-and-grab victory at the Swansea.com Stadium on Saturday.

A Swansea side who cannot find a finish for love nor money right now were beaten by a player who very rarely finds a finish.

No wonder Luke Williams felt “fed up”.

You have to feel a little for Williams, whose team did everything but score against Millwall but received no sympathy from those home fans who booed them off at full time.

Swansea have not scored in five Championship games, their longest run without a league goal since a stretch of six matches in 1996.

Williams’ side are having enough control – and creating enough opportunities – to win matches.

But for the moment, deficiencies in the final third are costing them dear.

Should we be surprised? Perhaps not, given the glaring lack of firepower in Swansea’s squad.

There are some players with potential, who may - though it is by no means guaranteed - develop into regular goalscorers given time.

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But the fact is that there is nobody on Swansea’s books who has a track record of scoring heavily in the English second tier.

So it seems a little harsh to blame Williams – as some on social media are doing – for Swansea’s considerable issues in attack.

Fourteen years ago, Brendan Rodgers’ Swansea reign began with a 2-0 defeat at Hull City, where the visitors dominated but could not take their chances.

Afterwards, a frustrated Rodgers memorably declared that he was “not a magician” and therefore could not conjure goalscorers out of thin air.

A couple of days after the Hull reverse, Swansea paid what was a significant fee by their standards at the time to sign Scott Sinclair.

Almost 10 months and 27 Sinclair goals later, they became the first Welsh club to be promoted to the Premier League.

This is not to suggest that the addition of a goalscorer to Williams' squad would mean a return to the top flight, but it would certainly help the cause.

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Luke Williams says Swansea City are ready for the challenge of hosting Millwall on Saturday despite an arduous week which included an unexpected tour of Manchester Airport.

Swansea return home to face the Lions after Championship trips to Blackburn Rovers last Saturday and Sheffield Wednesday in midweek.

After being beaten 1-0 at Ewood Park, the Swans were due to fly home to Wales - a rarity these days, but paid for by the club on this occasion due to their fixtures - but the journey did not go to plan.

They made it as far as the airport, but an issue with their plane meant they ended up getting back on the team bus.

“We arrived back on Sunday morning at half two or three o’clock in the morning, because the plane was unable to take off," Williams explained.

"We got back to Manchester Airport on Saturday and the plane broke.

“The autopilot didn’t work, so we did a beautiful lap of Manchester Airport in the dark and arrived back at where we started, we just drove around. At one point, I was convinced that Manchester Airport had two control towers, but no, it was the same one.

“We disembarked and took all the bags off the plane, we asked the coach driver to turn around and refuel and come back to the airport to pick us up. So instead of arriving back in Swansea at 9pm, we arrived at 2:30am.

“Imagine we’re on the bus Friday, Saturday, Sunday morning, on Monday again, on Tuesday and on Wednesday morning, we arrived back at about 4am on Wednesday morning, so I’m tired, but I’m very happy because we have a home game and I’m very excited about it.”

The Swans will look to end a run of five games without a win as they take on Millwall, another side currently in mid-table.

“It’s Millwall, so it’ll be very tough, physically very tough," Williams added.

"They’re very organised, direct, and they challenge you in that way because they won’t switch off for a moment. They’ll look to hurt us, will be really bright around second balls and all the things in football that are lovely in that every team in the world has to do them, the things that are fundamental, they will do those very well.

“They have a really experienced manager (Neil Harris) who gets his message across to the players brilliantly and therefore, you know you never get to tickle their belly.”