Swansea City

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Swansea City were dealt a setback as they were beaten 1-0 by Birmingham City at St Andrews.

What improvements does Alan Sheehan need to make to get the Swans back to winning ways?

And what changes to the squad do you feel need to be made?

Have your say here

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

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Had things worked out differently, Chris Davies might have been in the away dugout at St Andrew's this weekend.

Following the departure of Michael Duff in December 2023, Swansea City made a sustained bid to recruit Davies as their new boss.

At the time, Davies was senior assistant coach at Tottenham Hotspur, having spent the majority of his career up until that point working under Brendan Rodgers.

Davies was interested in a return to Swansea, where he was on Rodgers' staff when the club won promotion to the Premier League thanks to play-off final victory over Reading in 2011 (pictured below).

He had first been approached over the head coach job by the Welsh club's then chairman Andy Coleman before Duff was appointed in the summer of 2023.

For a while it seemed Davies would leave Spurs to succeed Duff, only for the proposed move to collapse when he opted to remain in north London.

Swansea, who had Alan Sheehan at the helm in a caretaker capacity at the time, eventually appointed Luke Williams.

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Davies, meanwhile, remained at Spurs for the rest of the 2023-24 season, eventually dropping into League One to take his first managerial role at Birmingham City in June last year.

Former Wales Under-19s international Davies thrived as the main man, leading Birmingham to promotion – and the title, ahead of Wrexham – in his first season in charge.

The ambitious Blues further strengthened their squad over the summer, bringing in the likes of Demarai Gray, Kyogo Furuhashi and Bright Osayi-Samuel.

They made a promising start to this campaign, taking seven points from their first three Championship games, but have since lost at Leicester City and Stoke City and exited the Carabao Cup against Port Vale.

After three successive defeats, Davies will be particularly keen to get one over his former employers when Swansea visit Birmingham on Saturday (12:30 BST).

Birmingham will seek to get back to winning ways as Swansea head to St Andrew's on Saturday lunchtime (12:30 BST).

The Blues have lost their past two league games without scoring but have the longest unbeaten run on home turf in the country.

The Swans are seeking to make it five unbeaten in the Championship and also stunned Premier League Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup in midweek.

• Birmingham City are unbeaten in each of their past eight league matches against Swansea City (W3 D5), since a 3-1 home defeat in July 2020.

• Four of the past five Championship meetings between Swansea City and Birmingham City have ended level.

• Birmingham City are unbeaten in each of their past 27 home league games (W22 D5), the longest ongoing run in England's top four tiers.

• Since Alan Sheehan's first game in charge on 22 February, only Middlesbrough (33) have won more Championship points than Swansea City (32), with the Swans winning nine of 18 matches in that time (D5 L4).

• Birmingham have failed to score in each of their past two league games, last going three without a goal back in March 2024.

• The Blues have mustered the fewest shots on target of any Championship side in 2025-26 so far (9).

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Former Swansea City boss Michael Duff is back in football having been named head coach of Wycombe Wanderers.

Duff has been out of work since leaving Huddersfield Town in March.

But the 47-year-old has taken charge at Wycombe after the League One club parted company with Mike Dodds.

Duff endured a forgettable spell in charge of Swansea after being named successor to Russell Martin June 2023, losing his job in December of that year.

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Kristian Pedersen has found a new club following his summer departure from Swansea City, with the defender returning home to join Danish Superliga side FC Fredericia.

Pedersen, 31, was one of a number of Swansea signings made in the summer of 2023 who failed to make an impact in Wales.

The former Birmingham City player managed just seven Swansea appearances across two seasons before being released in May.

Pedersen follows Cyrus Christie, who joined Bolton Wanderers, and veteran goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin, who is now at Middlesbrough, in finding a new club after being allowed to leave Swansea.

Of the senior players who departed at the end of last season, only the retired Joe Allen and Kyle Naughton, who also indicated he was likely to hang up his boots, have not joined new clubs.

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Any Swansea fans hoping their team will catch new Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou cold could be disappointed - he insists Wednesday's EFL Cup third-round tie at Swansea.com Stadium (20:00 BST) is when his style will start to show through.

Forest's trip to South Wales is Postecoglou's first cup tie since he won the Europa League with Tottenham Hotspur last season, an achievement that failed to prevent him being sacked by Spurs just weeks later.

Postecoglou resurfaced last week as the new Forest boss, starting his reign with a 3-0 Premier League defeat at Arsenal on Saturday.

Having had little time time to work with his new players before the trip to the Emirates - a squad that includes Wales international Neco Williams - Postecoglou now wants to see glimpses of his style beginning to emerge in Swansea.

"It won't be months, it won't be weeks, it'll be Wednesday," he said when asked how long it would take for his methods to become apparent.

"I can't afford to waste time. This is not a project. This football club had a strong season last year, needs to be stronger this year, and my job is to get us to where I want us as quickly as possible.

"So (on) Wednesday night we want to start seeing some principles being embedded."

The EFL Cup - the last major trophy the club lifted in 1990 - is seen as one Forest could and should legitimately target.

Wednesday's game is Swansea's first meeting with Forest since they were thrashed 5-1 at the City Ground in a Championship fixture in April 2022.

Alan Sheehan's side host the Premier League team after victories over Crawley Town and Plymouth Argyle earlier in the competition.

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Striker Adam Idah could make his first Swansea City start at home to Nottingham Forest in Wednesday night's EFL Cup tie (20:00 BST).

The 24-year-old came off the bench in Saturday's 2-2 Championship draw at home to Hull, replacing fellow striker Zan Vipotnik for his debut.

But the former Celtic forward could make his first start since moving to the Swansea.com Stadium in a deal worth an initial £6m.

New signings Manuel Benson, a winger on loan from Burnley, and left-back Ishe Samuels-Smith, on loan from Chelsea, could also make their Swans debuts.

But midfielder Marko Stamenic has been ruled out of facing former side Forest due to a groin injury he picked up while on international duty with New Zealand.

Fellow midfielder Jay Fulton and defender Ricardo Santos are still injury absentees.

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After an eye-catching transfer window and an unbeaten run of games, we asked you for your thoughts on Swansea City's ambitions for the rest of the season.

Is a top-six finish a must this season? Or is it about building for the long-term with a view to returning to the Premier League further down the line?

Here is a selection of your responses.

Tom: "The most important thing is to move forwards. The ownership has shown some intent - what we have been howling for for years from the stands. The most important step is always the next one and let's not get ahead of ourselves."

Gareth: "We've got work to do, we have to give the manager a chance to find our starting XI. I'm positive but let's not put pressure on. The players know their strengths and weaknesses but my only criticism is that team is better than I think they realise. Don't take your eyes off the prize guys."

Simon: "Very positive start from the Swans considering that we have thirteen new signings. Sheehan has an excellent method to improve players - very clear with Vipotnik and Ronald."

Clare: "Top six is within reach with this squad but we must keep going for 90 mins to win the game and not take our foot of the gas like against Hull. Dropped points like Saturday could be vital at the end of the season."

Nigel: "Staying cool for more than 90 mins is critical to Swansea. How many games were either lost or drawn by losing a goal in extra time?"

Wayne: "Top half is probably about the best we will get unless more of the team start scoring. After the last few seasons where we have had to suffer dreadful football, this would be a good result for the season ahead."

Zeke: "Hopefully the Swans will see some sense this year and not sack our manager half-way through the season. If we do that then top six could be a strong possibility."

Richard: "People are getting carried away with predicting the Swans will be in the playoffs. I think a top half finish is more realistic."

Freddy: "Finishing in the top six isn't a must as long as we can sustain progress into next season - but we do have to challenge. We haven't done so since Cooper left, and the squad is better than it's been at any time since then."

Leon: "It's not a bad start to a season, but even if we finish 8th or 7th that will be a good season in my eyes. I think it will be too early for us to get promoted - give it a few years."

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Former Wales striker Ian Walsh has questioned why Alan Sheehan subbed in-form Zan Vipotnik as Swansea City threw away the chance of victory against Hull City.

Vipotnik had impressed after continuing his scoring streak in the Championship encounter with the Tigers.

But, despite four goals in four games – and another score for Slovenia in midweek - Vipotnik made way for new £6m signing Adam Idah after 60 minutes.

Swansea went on to concede late in injury-time, and speaking after the 2-2 draw on Feast of Football Phone In, ex-Swans frontman Walsh said: "He's had so much stick for not scoring enough goals, but he's got four in four and an international goal.

"Yes, you've signed someone (Idah) for a lot of money, but you've scored a great goal and if that was me I'd be crying into my beer after the game and saying 'Gaffer, why are you bringing me off, I'm playing at my best?'

"When you're scoring goals you want to be on that field of play to get another.

"Whether you play (Vipotnik and Idah) together I don't know; they would have to completely change their shape so it would be unlikely.

"But I've said it before, it can be nightmare playing as a striker for Swansea because you can be so isolated, but (Vipotnik's) on fire at the moment so keep that fire burning, don't push it out."

Sheehan – who has been criticised by fans for his changes during the Hull game – said Vipotnik's international duty for Slovenia meant his withdrawal was always planned.

But Walsh said Swansea and Sheehan's priority should have been "to win the game on the day" after calling the result two points dropped.

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Swansea City suffered late frustration as they were pegged back by Hull City deep into added time to ensure the Championship contest between the sides ended 2-2 at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Despite the setback, Alan Sheehan's side still sit on the cusp of the play-off places at the early stage of the season following what was an impressive summer transfer window.

So is a top-six finish a must this season? Or is it about building for the long-term with a view to returning to the Premier League further down the line?

Have your say here!

Swansea City head coach Alan Sheehan on his side's 2-2 draw with Hull City in the Championship.

Match report: Hull score last-gasp leveller to deny Swansea

Owain Gwynedd Griffith
BBC Final Score reporter

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It was a dramatic finish in south Wales, with John Egan's 97th-minute equaliser securing a deserved point for Hull at Swansea.

The Tigers, who haven't won away since 5 April, could have easily given up but showed unusual tenacity for a side struggling on the road.

It was also written in the stars that Oli McBurnie, the former Swans hero, would score against his former club - and he did for a second time. The first came in 2023 for Sheffield United.

Swansea will feel disappointed as they controlled large parts of the game and held the lead until so late.

That said, Swans fans will feel that they've got a squad that can push for the top six.

Malick Yalcouye, the 19-year-old on loan from Brighton, showed his potential as he started instead of injured Marko Stamenic.

Sitting in midfield, he looked to drive forward with the ball at his feet, with pace and strength, on each occasion possible.

He provided the assist for Zan Vipotnik's opening goal and was at the centre of the attack that led to Ronald's score.

Drawing what the Hull defenders must have believed to be a foul that the referee had whistled for but hadn't as they stood like statues, Zeidane Inoussa crossed, Ronald tapped in unopposed.

Yalcouye will have a big part to play in Swansea's season.

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There was a knowing look from Sergej Jakirovic when the Hull City boss was asked about Zan Vipotnik's sharp finish in the Tigers' draw at Swansea City on Saturday.

Bosnian Jakirovic, 48, coached a host of clubs before moving to Humberside this summer.

Among his former employers are Slovenian side Maribor, where he worked in 2020 with a young Vipotnik.

And Jakirovic says the 23-year-old, who is in easily his best run of form since moving to Swansea in 2024, is a player who will score goals if given the chances.

"He was my player when he was 18 years old," Jakirovic said.

"I'm very glad that he has developed to become a national team player with Slovenia. That's very good.

"He's a goalscorer who is very dangerous in the box. Maybe on the pitch he is not so, but he is a fox in the box.

"If you lose him for one second he will score the goal. That is his quality."

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Vipotnik put Swansea in front against Hull, drilling the ball low into the net after buying himself a yard of space in the penalty area.

Alan Sheehan was ultimately left frustrated after John Egan's 97th-minute goal earned Hull a 2-2 draw, but Vipotnik's form is great news for the Swansea head coach.

Vipotnik managed seven goals last season, his first in English football. Despite an injury in pre-season he has moved up a level at the start of this campaign, having scored four goals in his past four matches – and netted for Slovenia during the international break.

Vipotnik must keep on delivering in order to keep his place, with Liam Cullen and £6m signing Adam Idah beginning on the bench against Hull.

The hope for Sheehan will be that the increased competition will help ensure Vipotnik continues to fire.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Alan Sheehan insists his targets have not changed despite Swansea City's "good business" in the summer transfer window.

Swansea return to action after the international break against Hull City on Saturday (15:00 BST) with three new faces available for the first time.

Striker Adam Idah and loan signings Manuel Benson (pictured below) and Ishe Samuels-Smith have further bolstered a squad which now features 12 summer recruits in total plus Melker Widell, who linked up with Swansea in June having signed for the club last January.

Swansea spent more money over the summer than in any other window since relegation from the Premier League in 2018.

As a result, their squad looks more balanced than it has at any point in recent memory – yet Sheehan says his outlook remains the same.

"I understand people talk about where you want to get to, but ultimately you've got to find a way of picking up points along the way," the Swansea head coach said.

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"My expectations haven't changed really. I think it's clear we want to be a competitive team in the top half of the division, so that doesn't really change.

"Putting a timescale on success is impossible. We just want to keep getting better all the time."

Sheehan said "we can all agree" Swansea are "making progress as a football club" after a positive end to last season, a bright start to this campaign and what looks a successful transfer window.

But he added: "We're nowhere near where we want to get to.

"We've got something to chase, but we've got some incredibly difficult games coming up."

Hull come to Wales having won one and lost two of their four league games so far under new boss Sergej Jakirovic.

Oli McBurnie could lead the line for Hull having scored twice in five appearances since joining the Tigers in the summer, when former team Swansea were among a host of clubs interested in signing him.

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Former Wales international Iwan Roberts believes Adam Idah has the tools to shine at Swansea City – if the striker can realise his potential.

Norwich City great Roberts presented Idah with his shirt when he made his Canaries debut as a teenager during the 2019-20 season.

He feels Idah has developed since his days at Carrow Road, but says there is more to come from the Republic of Ireland player.

"I look at him and he's got everything - he's powerful, he's a big boy, he's pacy, he can score goals," Roberts told the Feast of Football podcast.

"I don't think he realises what he has got. If he can get a bit more fire in his belly, a bit more hard work and a bit more desire, I think he can be a great signing for Swansea - and I think Swansea fans will take to him."

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Idah scored 17 goals in 119 appearances – 31 of which were league starts – after coming through the ranks at Norwich.

He then managed 29 club goals in 18 months as a Celtic player.

Roberts says Idah faced an unenviable task for much of his time at Norwich.

"He was only a young lad when he joined Norwich. He was behind Teemu Pukki (pictured with Idah above) and he took a bit of stick," Roberts added.

"When he got the opportunity fans said 'he's not like Pukki'. Well of course he's not because Pukki was unbelievable for Norwich.

"He is by no means the finished article but I do think Swansea have got a good one there."

Having signed for Celtic for an initial £6m, Idah could make his Swans debut against Hull City on Saturday (15:00 BST).