Swansea City

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Swansea City boss Luke Williams says he and his staff feared Saturday’s match at Coventry would be abandoned.

The Swans won 2-1 to extend their long unbeaten run against the Sky Blues, but a torrential downpour in the second half saw the players taken off the pitch for around five minutes.

Williams said the threat of lightning prompted safety concerns for the players.

“When the players went off (for the weather delay) there was a lot of anxiety, the players were asking if the game had been abandoned and the staff were anxious because we were trying to keep the players calm and focused,” Williams told BBC Radio Wales.

“It was an unusual event and a bit disconcerting, but the players managed to re-focus themselves and got the job done.

“The referee told us he was aware that there was flash lightning and you can’t be looking at the sky waiting for it, because there is a game going on.

“He told us there was lightning and he didn’t know how close it was or serious it was but said he was going to make the call (to take the players off the pitch) and fair play to him, I’m sure it was the sensible thing to do.”

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In his days as a youngster at Norwich City, Luke Williams would make a special effort to watch Mark Robins practising his shooting before the Canaries’ first team played a game.

He admired Robins then and, three decades down the line, he admires Robins now.

Williams will go head to head with Robins as his Swansea City side take on Coventry City on Saturday afternoon.

The Swansea head coach is an admirer of the work Robins has done since taking charge of the Sky Blues – for a second time – in 2017.

“I would love to be able to look back and say I have been here [at Swansea] for that length of time,” Williams.

“I think Mark Robins is brilliant. What he does incredibly well is never gets too high and never gets too low. He is incredibly consistent.

“His teams are always organised, they always give you a problem. They seem to be rebuilding every couple of years and still getting the same output.

“That’s the type of person I look up to because I would like to have that longevity in the game.”

Swansea are unbeaten at home in the league so far this season, but are yet to take a point - or score a goal - on the road after 1-0 defeats at Middlesbrough and West Brom.

Coventry have won only one of their first five league games, against Oxford, with defeats coming against Stoke and Norwich and draws against Bristol City and Watford.

“I think anyone going to Coventry and winning would be happy,” Williams said.

“We need to see a convincing performance that results in three points and then we can start to feel optimistic [about away form].”

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Luke Williams says Swansea City are continuing to assess their options in the free agent market.

Swansea signed only eight players – including two goalkeepers - during the summer transfer window.

That was despite the fact that 13 senior squad members – plus four youngsters on the fringe of the first team - departed during the close season.

Head coach Williams had been keen to add another wide player to his squad before the window closed last month.

And he says it would be “foolish” for the Championship club to be unaware of which players are available.

“We have one or two players that we are aware of and we are in touch with some agents,” Williams said.

“We are definitely open to [signing a free agent] because it potentially is going to be a great option for us.”

Williams believes the quality of players who are currently without clubs is impressive.

Just as importantly, he says unattached players are staying fitter now than in previous years.

“I think it’s something that’s changed in the game,” he said.

“There’s so many things out there now, so much access to sports science and training facilities, which means players can keep themselves in good condition even though they are not attached to a cub.

“There are probably more players than ever who are available and are ready to go, so it would be foolish of us not to have any insight into the market.”

Swansea City Supporters’ Trust are to sponsor the West Wales Women’s & Girls League (WWWGL).

The Trust, who are part owners of Swansea City, have sponsored the Swansea Junior Football League (SJFL) and Swansea Schools FA for more than a decade.

They are now backing the WWWGL, which runs seven leagues in west Wales.

“This is just part of the trust’s ongoing commitment to local grassroots football,” said Trust chairman Dave Dalton.

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Defender Josh Key has revealed how speaking Korean has helped develop his friendship with new Swansea City team-mate Eom Ji-Sung.

Key has been looking to improve his proficiency in the language having previously visited South Korea on a 'training holiday'.

The arrival of winger Eom, 22, at the Championship club in July was the perfect excuse for Key to improve his linguistic skills.

"I can speak a little bit," said Key.

"Enough for Ji-Sung to laugh at me. I try and learn a bit more because I went to Korea a couple of years ago and it's a completely different experience of anywhere I've been and I really enjoyed it.

"The people are amazing. Obviously, Ji Sung came and I thought it was a great opportunity to speak a little bit.

"On the pitch it's not as easy as I don't really know what to say at the moment, same as with [Brazilian winger] Ronald as well.

"I think I've got to take a few language courses to try and play in this team."

Key, 24, says his blossoming partnership with Eom on Swansea's right-hand side has meant a growing friendship away from the pitch.

"I try and help him with his English," added Key.

"He asks me a few things and he tries to help me mumble in Korean, so it's a bit of a best of both worlds for me, really.

"But I enjoy it and he's a really good lad. I think the Korean word for friend is chingu, so he always says 'chingu' when he sees me."

Ethan Latham
BBC Sport Wales

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Swansea City head to Coventry this Saturday looking to make it back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.

The Swans claimed a second Championship victory of the campaign last weekend as Amankwah Forson’s early own goal proved the difference against Norwich City.

However, with both league wins so far coming at the Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea are yet to pick up a point away from home.

Liam Cullen netted an injury-time free-kick to earn Swansea a 2-2 draw with Coventry City when the sides last met in December last year - the fourth successive draw between the clubs.

That result extended Swansea's remarkable unbeaten streak against the Sky Blues to 17 league games, a run stretching back to 1981.

The draw also left Coventry boss Mark Robins winless in 12 league games as a manager against the Swans.

Swansea have won three and drawn four of their seven visits to the Coventry Building Society (CBS) Arena, which opened in 2005.

One of the draws was particularly memorable, with Swansea fighting back from 3-0 down to claim a point in 2022.

Can Luke Williams' side keep up the run without defeat this Saturday or will Coventry finally end their Swansea hoodoo?

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Luke Williams is excited by what Josh Ginnelly could bring to Swansea City when the winger is able to return from his long injury-lay-off.

It is almost 12 months since Ginnelly last played for Swansea.

The 27-year-old suffered a ruptured Achilles in the home game against Sheffield Wednesday last September.

He has since faced a number of setbacks in his bid to return to action, the latest of which came after he impressed Williams during an individual training session last month.

“He trained and he looked excellent - the way he moves, the way he addresses the ball, the way he holds himself,” the Swansea head coach said.

“I am really looking forward to him being back on the grass and being able to work his way into the squad.

“He looks like he will be an excellent player and all the feedback I have had from the staff who were here [last season] is that he is an excellent player.”

Ginnelly joined Swansea on a free transfer from Hearts in the summer of 2023. He made only eight appearances before injury struck, but was just starting to show why Michael Duff brought him to Wales.

A player with pace and energy, he would be a welcome option for Williams given the style of football he wants to play – but it remains unclear when he will be fit to return to action.

“He is continuing to struggle to find his route back into full training” Williams added.

“When he gets close he seems to have a setback. The problems are all different. I don’t think there’s anything major, apart from the original injury, but since then he has picked up minor secondary injuries.

“That can happen when you push to get back into training – the body can break down again.

“Josh has just been very unfortunate. We can’t quite get him there. He is so close, so it’s tough for him.”

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Luke Williams says Swansea City teenager Sam Parker looks an even more impressive prospect after his return from long-term injury.

Parker made three first-team appearances when aged just 17 last season, with his debut coming under interim boss Alan Sheehan in December 2023 before he was twice given game-time after Williams took charge in January.

But the Swansea academy product’s breakthrough was ended by a serious hamstring injury.

Parker, who turned 18 in July, has recently returned to first-team training, and made his first appearance of the season as Swansea’s under-21s beat their Fleetwood counterparts 6-0 on Sunday.

Williams has suggested Parker will soon be contention to add to his tally of senior appearances.

“He looks very strong,” the Swansea boss said.

“He has had some time to work on his physicality because you haven’t got the games programme of course when you are injured. He looks an even more impressive athlete than he did before.”

Williams was delighted by news that Parker had signed a new long-term Swansea deal last month after it emerged that he turned down a contract in the spring.

“Excellently done by him, his agent and the club so that was very good,” Williams said.

Parker can operate either as a right-back or further forward on the right flank.

Asked where the Cardiff-born player is likely to be deployed this season, Williams said: “I think he will have the line to one side of him, but I am not sure exactly how close he will be to one goal or the other.”

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Harry Darling believes Swansea City’s band of summer signings “will only get better” as they get to grips with the Championship.

Swansea’s summer recruitment work focused on targets abroad because of a belief that they could get better value in overseas markets.

Swansea brought in Eom Ji-Sung from South Korea, Goncalo Franco from Portugal and Zan Vipotnik plus Florian Bianchini from France.

Only Lawrence Vigouroux and Myles Peart-Harris arrived from domestic clubs - though neither of those players had ever played in the Championship before this season – with Nelson Abbey joining on loan from Olympiakos and free agent Jon McLaughlin signing a short-term deal after leaving Rangers.

Centre-back Darling has been impressed by the new recruits – and says they are certain to improve.

“For them to adapt as quickly as they have is testament to them.

“They are really good players and I think they will only get better. This is just the start for them.

“Once they are properly settled, they will be really good for this club.”

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Head coach Luke Williams says Myles Peart-Harris could be an option up front during his loan spell at Swansea City.

Peart-Harris has made two substitute appearances as an attacking midfielder, having joined Swansea on a season-long loan from Brentford shortly before August's transfer deadline.

Swansea brought in the 21-year-old even though Williams had suggested his top priority before the deadline was a wide player.

Nevertheless, the head coach says Peart-Harris “has a lot to offer us”.

Swansea are short of options up front, with Liam Cullen and Zan Vipotnik the only recognised centre-forwards in their squad.

Asked about Peart-Harris' strengths, Williams said: “He is an attacking player. He is a powerful boy with good attacking instincts and quality.

“He is going to play the top line or the second top line on the pitch. Certainly, his attacking instincts are higher than his defending instincts.”

Former Chelsea youngster Peart-Harris has made a handful of substitute appearances for Brentford.

He will attempt to establish himself in the Championship this season after previous loan spells in the lower divisions with Portsmouth and Forest Green Rovers.

“We need to get him up to speed and give him a chance to show us what he can do and work out what’s going to be the best position for him, the best combination for him to play in,” Williams added.

“He was more of a club signing that I am really happy with. I don’t mind so much what path the players come through to get here. We are certainly going to give him every opportunity.”

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Swansea City are in the top half of the Championship table courtesy of their 1-0 victory over Norwich City on Saturday.

Amankwah Forson's early own goal proved decisive as Luke Williams' team claimed a second win in five league games so far this season.

It has been a mixed start for the Swans, who have lost both their away games - and failed to score on their travels - but have seven points from three home league fixtures this season.

Williams said before Norwich that it would be "silly" to suggest Swansea can challenge "at the very peak" of the second tier this season.

Do you agree? Having ended up 14th last term, where could Swansea finish in 2024-25? Is Williams' squad strong enough for the long campaign ahead, or should he bring in a free agent?

You can send us your views here, external.

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

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Luke Williams had tongue firmly planted in cheek when he compared Ben Cabango’s challenge against Norwich City to Bobby Moore’s famous tackle on Brazil’s Jairzinho at the 1970 World Cup.

But you understood the point.

Swansea City held on to claim a second league victory of the season on Saturday thanks to the sort of last-ditch defending which prompts roars among fans.

The desire to deliver three points was stamped all over Swansea’s performance this weekend.

For long spells Swansea kept Norwich at arm’s length, but Williams’ players were on the ropes in the final stages as the Canaries pushed hard for an equaliser.

Despite some intense pressure, Swansea did not crumble.

“What was incredible was some of the recovery runs from forward players, some of the defending, putting bodies on line, Ben Cabango’s impression of Bobby Moore,” Williams said.

“Let’s be honest, it’s great when we see the team play forward with some creativity and try to score a goal, but you can’t get away from how great it is to see players tearing back and making tackles and putting bodies on the line.”

Cabango's intervention, when he slid to deny Borja Sainz as the Spaniard was clean through, typified Swansea's formidable defensive effort.

While the Welsh side's start to the season has been something of a mixed bag, victory over Norwich – a club who tend to contend in the Championship – was their most notable result yet.

Swansea’s success was by no means all about their defence. They played some lovely football in spells, with a host of players showing their qualities in possession.

But a second league clean sheet of the campaign was key, and it is worth noting that Williams’ team are yet concede more than one goal in any game this season.

Swansea have been too porous, too often in recent years.

And for all the focus on the club’s philosophy when in possession, there is a need to improve defensively if they are to enjoy a more positive season.

On that front, Williams’ team have made an encouraging start.

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Luke Williams hopes Swansea City will learn lessons from the early weeks of the new season when they host Norwich City on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Swansea go in search of a second Championship win of the new campaign as they return to action after the first international break.

Their one league maximum so far came at home to Preston, while they were held by Cardiff City in their other second-tier fixture at the Swansea.com Stadium.

There have been two narrow defeats away from home, at Middlesbrough on the opening day and at West Brom a fortnight ago.

“We need to try to learn from each block of games how we can do better,” said Swansea head coach Williams.

“We have had two 1-0 defeats away against very good sides. If you get 1-1 draws there it’s a completely different landscape and we are not too far from there.

“I think we were outplayed in both those games, certainly in the first halves, but a one-goal margin… you can conceivably turn those into two great results.

“And in the derby, I think it’s fair to say having dominated the first 40 minutes and struck first, we should win that game.”

Swansea are 16th in the early-season league table, with Williams saying it would be “silly” to suggest their new-look squad can compete at the top end of the division this season.

Nevertheless, he says a positive campaign is within Swansea’s reach after the struggles of 2023-24.

“We need to be more resilient on the road, that’s quite clear, and we have to be more thorough and concentrated at home,” Williams added.

“We were probably overwhelmed in both away games, then bounced back and showed character in the second halves - but we left it too late in both games.

“It doesn’t seem to me like we are a huge distance away from where we want to be.”

Norwich claimed a first league win of the season at Coventry last time out, though they have not lost in the second tier since a 2-0 reverse at Oxford on the opening weekend.

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Ollie Cooper believes his best is yet to come despite reclaiming his place in the Wales squad on the back of a bright start to the season at Swansea City.

Cooper made his first Wales start as Craig Bellamy’s side won in Montenegro on Monday having featured as a late substitute in the home draw with Turkey last Friday.

The 24-year-old had not been involved with Wales, having struggled for consistency at Swansea last season.

But while he is “glad to be playing” under Swansea boss Luke Williams, Cooper says he wants to have a bigger impact in the Championship.

“I still think there’s a lot more I can bring to the team,” Cooper said.

“Towards the end of last season I was slowly building my confidence back up again and I feel like the more I play, the more that’s going to happen and the more I am going to be able to show what I can do.”

Cooper says the mood in the Wales camp is “very positive” after an unbeaten start to the Bellamy era.

“There was a real positive buzz around the place,” he added.

“I think you have seen from the first two games the way he (Bellamy) wants us to be and it’s an exciting time for everyone.”

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Swansea City have been boosted by news that Liam Cullen will be fit for Saturday’s Championship game with Norwich City, but they have lost Kristian Pedersen to a hamstring problem.

Cullen was forced to withdraw from the Wales squad for their Nations League games against Turkey and Montenegro with an ankle injury.

The striker also missed Swansea’s 1-0 defeat at West Brom prior to the international break, but he is back in contention for Norwich’s visit to the Swansea.com Stadium.

“He was unfortunate not to be able to remain with the Wales squad, but he is back in full training and available,” head coach Luke Williams said.

There is more good news for Swansea regarding Sam Parker, who is back in full training having been out since January with a serious hamstring injury.

Fellow teenage wide player Aimar Govea is also back training after hamstring trouble, but Danish defender Pedersen is facing a spell out.

“We have a problem with Kristian Pedersen - he is going to need a few weeks to recover from a hamstring injury,” Williams said.

Long-term absentee Josh Ginnelly remains on the sidelines having suffered another setback in his bid to return to action after rupturing an Achilles last September.

“He is continuing to struggle to find his route back into full training,” Williams said.

“When he gets close he seems to have a setback. We continue to try to help him get to where he needs to get to.”