Swansea City

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Jerry Yates and Japhet Tanganga both deserved to get sent off during Millwall's final-day Championship win at Swansea City, according to Swans head coach Luke Williams.

With five minutes left and Millwall 1-0 up, Saturday's game took an unexpectedly aggressive turn when Swansea substitute Yates and Millwall centre-back Tanganga were both shown red cards after tangling off the ball.

It was unclear what sparked the incident but, seemingly reacting to something Tanganga said, Swans striker Yates grabbed hold of the Tottenham loanee and appeared to throw a punch.

“I’ve watched the action back. He [Yates] is certainly antagonised but he reacts badly," said Williams.

"It’s unfortunate because there’s going to be a hangover for that one next season [with a suspension]. It’s a big shame really.

“I don’t want to put the blame on one of those guys because they’re both involved. They both deal with it in the wrong way. Someone can antagonise you and you can choose how you react.

"Both of them deserved to get sent off. Neither of them are innocent and none of them are solely responsible."

The result means Millwall ended the season 13th in the Championship table, their fifth straight win helping them leapfrog Swansea, who dropped to 14th.

Williams confirmed Yates had apologised to his team-mates after the game.

“Yeah, he knows he shouldn’t have done that," the former Notts County boss added.

"These boys are very competitive, very athletic and if you catch them in the wrong moment, something like this can happen.

"It’s happened many times before and he won’t be the last to do a silly action. He got emotional and reacted badly.”

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Luke Williams insists “there’s a lot riding on” Swansea City's end-of-season meeting with Millwall on Saturday.

A win would see Swansea, who have taken 10 points from their last four games, match their best run of the season.

But Neil Harris’ Millwall arrive at the Swansea.com Stadium on the back of their finest sequence of results this season, having won four straight games to pull clear of relegation danger.

Williams says his side can expect a final-day examination against “a team in brilliant form" under a manager who is "an unbelievable fit for the club”.

But the Swansea boss wants his side to end an arduous campaign on a high note.

“We have to continue to make a good feeling, try to build trust and meet the minimum expectation,” Williams said.

“If we want to try to move forward, every single game is an opportunity to do that.”

Victory would mean a 13th-place Championship finish for Swansea, who cannot catch Cardiff in 12th.

Harry Darling, Kyle Naughton, Joe Allen and Przemyslaw Placheta will miss the game through injury, while a host of players could make final appearances for the Welsh club.

Jamie Paterson and Liam Walsh are out of contract this summer as things stand, while Carl Rushworth, Bashir Humphreys, Harrison Ashby, Charlie Patino, Charles Sagoe Jr and Jamal Lowe are coming to the end of loan spells.

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Harry Darling will miss Swansea City’s final game of the season after undergoing foot surgery.

The centre-back has enjoyed a positive end to the campaign, playing his part in Swansea’s improved run of form.

But Darling, 24, will be absent when Swansea host Millwall on Saturday.

“He has been in some discomfort, but he has been playing so well and wanted to keep playing,” said Swansea boss Luke Williams.

“But in the end it was getting too much and it’s good because when he had the surgery, the surgeon confirmed that this was definitely the correctly course of action.

“He can now work over the summer and be ready for day one of pre-season.”

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Luke Williams says his out-of-contract players “know where they stand” going into Swansea City’s final game of the season against Millwall.

Joe Allen, Kyle Naughton, Jamie Paterson, Liam Walsh and Przemyslaw Placheta are all due to become free agents next month.

They could therefore be bidding farewell to the Swansea.com Stadium on Saturday lunchtime, when six loan players will definitely say goodbye before returning to their parent clubs.

Discussions have been held with Allen, Naughton, Paterson, Walsh and Placheta – although some negotiations over potential new deals are ongoing.

“We are nearly there now with a lot of things,” Swansea head coach Williams said.

“Let’s concentrate on the game against Millwall and then plenty of things are going to be released to everybody to understand.

“We have one or two who are still negotiating, but everyone knows where they stand and that’s the key thing.”

Of the loan players, Swansea look unlikely to make moves to re-sign Harrison Ashby, Charlie Patino, Charles Sagoe Jr or Bashir Humphreys given that they have struggled for game-time this season.

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But Williams is an admirer of forward Jamal Lowe, who has scored 10 goals during his year-long loan from Bournemouth, and goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, a star performer since arriving on a season-long deal from Brighton.

“At the moment the guys will be returning to their clubs and potentially, somewhere down the line, we may see one or two of those guys again,” Williams said.

Williams suggested last month that a second loan move for Rushworth looked unlikely, but he now says there is still “hope” that the England Under-21 international could return.

“He has had a brilliant time here - you can never underestimate being loved by a football club,” Williams said.

“You can feel incredible, like the best player in the world, and then you go to another club and think you wished you’d stayed where you were.”

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Carl Rushworth is backing Swansea City to mount a play-off push under Luke Williams next season.

Rushworth will return to parent-club Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend after a successful season-long loan in Wales.

The 22-year-old says is it not inconceivable that he will return to Swansea next season, although a second loan has been deemed unlikely by Williams because of Rushworth’s Premier League potential.

But regardless of whether he will be involved, Rushworth is convinced Swansea will enjoy a better year in 2024-25.

The Swans have been left looking nervously towards the Championship relegation zone for much of this campaign, though a late-season upturn in form under Williams – who took charge in early January – means they are destined for a mid-table finish.

“As soon as the gaffer came in, and the more time he spent with us, the more we were improving,” said Rushworth, who was named players' player and supporters' player of the year at Swansea's end-of-season awards.

“Swansea can attack the new season. It’s going to be a very exciting season next year.”

Rushworth is set for the last appearance of his loan spell when Swansea host Millwall in their final match of the season on Saturday (12:30 BST).

Swansea are 13th in the table having taken 10 points from their last four games.

“You can see now the results are starting to go our way,” Rushworth added.

“The gaffer is top. The lads have the ability and with the gaffer in from the start next season, it will be a play-off push.”

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Wales legend Cliff Jones has paid an emotional tribute to friend and former team-mate Terry Medwin following his death at the age of 91.

Jones and Medwin came through the Swansea youth ranks together before moving to Tottenham Hotspur, where they famously won a league and cup double in 1961.

Jones and Medwin also played together for Wales at the World Cup in Sweden in 1958.

“Very sad news that my lifelong friend and Spurs, Wales team-mate Terry Medwin has passed away," Jones said on X, which was formerly Twitter.

"We shared so much success with club and country and we were brothers. Love and condolences from the Jones family x."

Tottenham announced Medwin's death on Wednesday.

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Goalkeeper Carl Rushworth was named supporters’ player of the year and players’ player of the year at Swansea City’s end-of-season awards night.

The 22-year-old has shone during a season-long loan from Premier League club Brighton, playing every minute of Swansea’s Championship campaign.

Swansea head coach Luke Williams would like to re-sign Rushworth on another loan deal next season, but thinks the England Under-21 may end up playing in the Premier League in 2024-25.

Captain Katy Hosford was named Swansea City Women’s player of the year at the dinner, held at the Swansea.com Stadium on Wednesday night.

Defender Ellie Lake was players’ player of the season, with 19-goal Hosford also picking up the top goalscorer prize.

The men’s goalscorer award was shared by Jamal Lowe and Jerry Yates, both of whom have 10 goals this season.

Josh Ginnelly took the goal of the season prize for his spectacular long-range effort against Northampton in the EFL Cup, while left-back Josh Tymon was named best newcomer.

Promising defender Filip Lissah was named under-21 player of the year, with teenage winger Aimar Govea picking up the academy gong.

Former player and director Mel Nurse, who has twice been credited with playing a major part in saving Swansea amid severe financial issues, was given a standing ovation as he received the outstanding contribution award.

The supporters’ trust lifetime achievement prize went former supporter director to Stuart MacDonald.

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Former Swansea City manager John Toshack has paid tribute to his former assistant Terry Medwin, who has died at the age of 91.

Wales international Medwin played for his hometown club Swansea before joining Bill Nicholson's double-winning Tottenham Hotspur team in 1956.

He also played and scored in the 1958 World Cup for Wales, helping them reach the quarter-finals in Sweden.

“The first ever football match I went to watch was the great Tottenham double-winning team playing at the old Ninian Park and Terry was in that side. I think I was only nine or 10 years old at the time," Toshack told BBC Radio Wales.

“I remember the World Cup in ‘58 when he was involved with the Welsh team with Ivor [Allchurch], Big John [Charles] and Mel [Charles] and Cliffy Jones.

"You look at the side that he played in, and Cliffy Jones as well, the great Tottenham double-winning side, Terry was an important cog in the wheel.

"He played centre forward quite a bit but outside right was the position we would best know him as."

Once he was appointed Swansea manager in 1978, Toshack would bring Medwin back to the club, helping the rise from the fourth to the top tier of English football.

"He came down to work with us [at Swansea], so I have fond memories of Terry," added Toshack.

"A big help for me when I first started off at Swansea. He knew the club and the area very well. The experience he’d had and what he’d done as a player, all those things.

"I don’t think Terry ever would have wanted to be a manager as such, but the knowledge he had of the game - and having that bit more experience than me - I felt it would be useful and it definitely was.

"He was delighted to be able to come back to Swansea.

"He had a good sense of humour as well, we got on well. Terry’s eldest lad was called Cameron and I named my lad Cameron after him.

"We were pretty close and starting off in management as I was so young, and low down in the league, Terry - along with Harry Griffiths - was a big help to me. A lovely man."

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Swansea City have joined others from across the football world in paying tribute to former player Terry Medwin, who has died at the age of 91

Medwin, a member of Wales' 1958 World Cup team, began his career with Swansea Town, as the club was known then, in 1952 before joining Tottenham Hotspur.

A club statement read: "Swansea City mourns the passing of Terry Medwin at the age of 91. The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Terry's friends and family at this sad time. Once a Jack, always a Jack."

Medwin joined Spurs in 1956 and won the league and cup double in 1961 before reclaiming the FA Cup two years later.

The club said on the social media platform X it was "deeply saddened" by his death.

It added: "Terry was part of our double-winning side in 1961 and made 215 appearances in all competitions, scoring 72 goals. Our thoughts are with Terry’s family and friends at this impossibly sad time”.

Medwin, who won 30 international caps, was part of the Wales team that reached the quarter-finals of the 1958 World Cup in Sweden and was the last Wales player to score at a major championship until Gareth Bale in 2016.

In tribute, the Football Association of Wales posted on X: “Terry scored the goal that confirmed a place in the quarter finals. The thoughts of everyone at the Football Association of Wales are with his family and friends at this sad time".

Ian Walsh, the former Wales and Swansea striker said: "Very sad news about former Welsh International Player, Terry Medwin. Lovely man, great player".

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We asked Swansea City fans for their views on this season and their prospects for the next campaign under Luke Williams - and there were plenty of responses.

Here's a selection of those comments. If you'd like to get in touch with yours, simply fill in this form.

Max: Swans have been a joy to watch some games (Cardiff at home) but difficult to watch at most games. I think we need proper investment from our owners, sign players instead of loaning to build a long term team, and I think it can happen with Luke Williams. He plays a great style of football, which is the Swansea way. Hopeful for next season, top 10.

Mal Gray: Swansea will forever be rebuilding when the side is made up of loan signings. The people running the club sell anything of promise and then blame the manager for inconsistency.

Ethan: Overall, I have lukewarm feelings going into 2024-25. We are majority owned by an American investment consortium which includes the likes of Oprah Winfrey. Swansea City AFC is a small print on their winnings. With all profits syphoned, we stay afloat by the skin of our teeth.

Ian: Swansea were on a great trajectory following last season, but the appointment of [Williams' predecessor Michael] Duff and then signing the players he wanted has set the club back at least another year. Williams has started to right the ship but it will be interesting to see what happens to players who don't fit his system in the summer.

James: Really exciting to see the improvements in the playing style, but most importantly in the results. Feels as though we are back to playing the Swansea way at times. Big shout-out to Ronald too, who is now my favourite player.

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Swansea City boss Luke Williams says he “loves working with Jamie Paterson”, but says the midfielder’s future is “not clear”.

Paterson who scored in the Swans’ 2-2 draw at Norwich City on Saturday, has played 47 games for Swansea this season after an injury-hit campaign last season.

The 32-year-old has previously said he wants to stay at the club, but Williams said it remains unclear if he will continue to play in south Wales.

“It is so difficult to talk about the contracts. Things are going on and it would be really unfair of me to talk in-depth about anyone’s future,” Williams said, when asked if securing Paterson’s future was a priority.

“Jamie Paterson against Norwich gave everything for the team; at times he’s like holding a handful of water, he’s just impossible to play against.

“He wriggled away and made a brilliant action for his goal and he beat three players inside the box later in the game.

“When a player has that spark and he still has the commitment to the club, then that’s all you can ask for.”

Williams added that he is a “massive fan” of Paterson “as a player and person”, but he offered no assurances of a deal being secured.

“The future is not clear because many things have to happen but I can only talk about his performances since I’ve been here,” the head coach added.

“Negotiations may be going on and whatever his future is, he’s not showing any lack of commitment to the team.”

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Swansea City captain Matt Grimes says he is “honoured” to have made 300 appearances for the club.

The 28-year-old marked his 300th appearance with a goal as the Swans held promotion-chasing Norwich City to a 2-2 draw on Saturday.

Grimes has been a model of consistency for Swansea, missing just 271 minutes of Championship action since a defeat to Aston Villa in October 2018. Grimes has played in 161 of Swansea’s last 162 league games.

“It’s an honour every time I play a game for Swansea City and 300 is way more games than I ever thought I’d get to in my Swansea career,” he told BBC Radio Wales Sport.

“I am enjoying every second and hopefully will play many more games.

“It’s crazy to think back on it but I try to keep thinking about it as a game at a time.”

Grimes says he hopes his consistency can inspire the younger players at the club.

“Fingers crossed I can get to 300 more,” he added.

“I live and train as well as I can and try to do things right off the pitch.

“Hopefully I can be an influence to younger players as to what they can achieve.”

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Luke Williams will demand more from his players as he looks to turn Swansea City into a side capable of competing in the top half of the Championship next season.

Swansea continued their positive late-season form by drawing 2-2 at fifth-placed Norwich City on Saturday.

Williams, who took over at Swansea in early January, says he wants to emulate the Canaries in 2024-25 by mounting a play-off push.

This has been a traumatic campaign for Swansea, who for much of the season were looking nervously towards the relegation zone.

But they have climbed to 13th courtesy of an upturn in fortunes under Williams, claiming six wins and three draws in their last 12 matches.

The creditable draw at Norwich – who have not lost a home league fixture since 5 November – means Swansea have taken 10 points from their last four games.

Yet Williams says the challenge for his improving team is to keep on progressing.

“We have to drill down into the performance and show them ‘this is what got you the success, so this is the bare minimum’,” he said.

“Then of course if you stand still you go backwards, so if we reach a level, we have to say ‘OK, now more’. That’s unfortunately the life the players need to live – every time they reach a standard, they have to push beyond that next time.

“They are showing they can do that so that’s the way we are going to continue.”

Swansea will aim to reach 60 points for the season – and extend their unbeaten run to five games – when they host Millwall on the final day of the campaign next Saturday.

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Luke Williams returns to the club where his career began on Saturday intent on continuing Swansea City’s encouraging end to the season.

Swansea go in search of a fourth straight Championship win as they take on Norwich City, though nothing will come easy against hosts who have not lost a league game on their ground since early November.

For Williams, a trip to Carrow Road brings back memories of his days as a Norwich schoolboy.

He signed for the East Anglia club on his 12th birthday and departed aged 16 – by which time he was already hampered by the injury issues which ultimately ended any hope of a professional career.

“In the end my body gave up on me a lot… just not cut out for football I’m afraid,” Williams said.

“But I loved my schoolboy days at Norwich City. I have a lot of ties there - it’s a brilliant club.”

Norwich, who are looking to win promotion to the Premier League for the fourth time in the last 10 seasons, know victory against Swansea would all but secure a play-off place.

The Swans have nothing to play for, though that was also the case as they took on relegation-threatened Huddersfield last weekend and they won that game 4-0.

Norwich, of course, are a much tougher proposition than the ailing Terriers, with Williams calling the Canaries game “as big a test as we have faced for a few weeks”.

Nevertheless, the Swansea boss says his team should travel with confidence given their recent form.

“We have had three victories, three clean sheets, eight goals scored, last two games [the opposition] didn’t register a shot on target against us,” Williams said.

“We dominate many of the numbers and watching us you can see the team is playing in a good way. We have to try to continue that as best as we can because that will create a new identity for us and a different feeling as we move forward.”

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Ollie Cooper is more comfortable being filmed on the football field than he is when the cameras are in his living room.

On the pitch, Swansea City’s attacking midfielder is – much like his team - finishing what has been a difficult season with a more encouraging run of form.

Away from football, Cooper is getting used to life on reality television – though he laughs off the suggestion that he could now be described as a TV star.

“I’d say I’m more in the background,” Cooper said with a smile.

Cameras have followed the Wales international and his partner Tanwen Cray, a weather presenter on Welsh language channel S4C, who gave birth to their first child, daughter Neli, in January.

‘Tanwen & Ollie’, which is available on the BBC iPlayer, charts the story of Cray’s pregnancy.

“It’s not something I ever imagined, but it’s something that for my partner is massive for her career,” Cooper said.

“I just have to try to support her in any way I can, just like she does for me in football.

“It’s an opportunity for her to build her profile. If it means I have to sit in the background on a few episodes, I can do that.”

Cooper, 24, says there have been “a lot of sleepless nights” since Neli’s birth, though he is allowed to sleep in the spare room to get "nine hours' beauty sleep" immediately before Swans fixtures.

“I don’t think anyone can really prepare you for how tough fatherhood is, but it’s also the most rewarding thing in the world,” Cooper added.

With a little over a week remaining in the Championship season, a family holiday is on the horizon, though there is a part of Cooper that wishes the games would keep coming.

He has started four of Swansea’s last five matches, including three straight wins going into Saturday’s game at Norwich City.

After establishing himself at club level - and winning international recognition – in 2022-23, Cooper has had a less successful spell this term, so his recent run of form has been a timely boost.

“I have struggled with a bit of form and confidence,” Cooper said.

“But the gaffer (Luke Williams) has had a chat with me and told me what he wants from me, and he has got to know my partner and my little one.

"He really shows an interest in that side of things as well, which is what you want from a manager.”

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

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The clock is ticking down on the contracts of five senior players who have been a big part of the first-team picture at Swansea City this season.

But for the moment, head coach Luke Williams is unable to offer clarity on what the future holds for Joe Allen, Kyle Naughton, Jamie Paterson, Liam Walsh and Prezmyslaw Placheta.

Allen, Naughton and Placheta will all miss Swansea’s remaining games in this campaign, at Norwich City on Saturday and at home against Millwall seven days later.

Paterson and Walsh, meantime, still have chances to remind Swansea’s hierarchy of their qualities – though the truth is that Williams knows both players well enough already.

Williams describes Walsh as “a brilliant talent”, as evidenced by his superb goal at Huddersfield last weekend, but the issue with the former Everton youngster is his injury record.

“We have to make sure we feel he is robust enough,” Williams said before the Norwich trip.

Allen has also had his share of fitness troubles over the last couple of seasons, though the 34-year-old has racked up more than 550 club appearances across a stellar career.

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Williams has indicated since taking over at Swansea in January that he sees a role for Allen beyond this season.

“There are no question marks over whether he has gone over an age where he can compete,” Williams said before the Norwich trip.

“In fact, I looked yesterday at some of his physical data and it’s quite funny, he is getting stronger. We know he has still got the physicality to play.”

Naughton, who will be 36 in November, is a similar case to Allen. He has enjoyed a fine career and, while he may not be able to play every week these days, he is regarded as a guiding light for younger players in the dressing room.

“You look at Joe and Kyle, they played in the Premier League for a reason,” Williams said.

“To get that level of quality is rare in the Championship, and the experience, and they are two guys as well who are really committed to the club.”

Nevertheless, contract discussions, which involve Swansea’s owners as well as sporting director Paul Watson, go on.

In each case, all parties need to be happy for a deal to be signed.

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Williams says talks continue with Paterson, 32, who has contributed seven goals in 46 appearances to date this season.

Williams says Paterson will have options given his record in the Championship, but suggested he wants the attacking midfielder in his squad next season.

“He is such a great character to have around because there are no dark days with Pato,” he added.

“You always get energy and excitement from Pato and then sometimes mad frustration, but I will take that.”

Placheta’s situation is slightly different, given that he only joined Swansea on a short-term deal in January.

The Poland winger has made a mark at the Welsh club, but has a hamstring issue which may influence Swansea’s thinking when it comes to a potential new deal.

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“I think we all like Przemy a lot,” Williams said. "He brought a lot to the club didn’t he? I think he has a set of skills that are hard to find.

“It’s looking at the injury record, the amount of games he has been able to put together back to back.

“Then you have to look at the position and [see if] there is another player we are looking at… We have a list of players for all positions. That’s elite football.”

With one-year extensions triggered in the contracts of Nathan Wood and Liam Cullen, the only other senior player whose Swansea deal expires this summer is Nathanael Ogbeta, who is on loan at Bolton.

Given that the left-back has made only three appearances since joining Swansea in 2022, it would be a shock should he be offered a new contract.