Swansea City

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After picking up one Championship win in six games, head coach Luke Williams and his team are under pressure to deliver victories as Swansea City look to pull clear of a potential relegation scrap.

Tuesday's 4-0 defeat against Leeds United highlighted the difference between the Swans and the Championship's promotion-chasing sides.

Unfortunately for Swansea, they face fourth-placed Ipswich Town this weekend.

We asked you what changes should be made, and here is what you had to say.

Leon: Put Matt Grimes back where he belongs, in the area between the halfway line and 18-yard box. He's no good further forward. All previous managers played him there and was at his best. Also give Mykola Kuharevich a go.

Callum: Last weekend we kept trying to send in crosses to Liam Cullen when we have Mykola Kuharevich sat on the bench. In my opinion Cullen would suit a deeper role in attacking midfield.

Charlie: Swansea need to first sort out their defence because if you carry on leaking goals like that then they are not going to out-score their opponents. Therefore, I think they need a quality centre-back and holding midfielder to support Grimes.

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Swansea City's tough run of games continues this weekend.

The Swans have played the Championships' top three - as well as Premier League Bournemouth in the FA Cup - in the last five weeks.

And now the Swans welcome fourth-place Ipswich Town to the Swansea.com Stadium.

Ipswich are coming off a 4-0 win over Millwall while Swansea tasted defeat by the same scoreline against Leeds on Tuesday.

So what needs to change for the Swans? And which players should be given a chance? Have your say here.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Swansea City are struggling at the moment, and have won just one Championship game under Luke Williams.

Earlier today we asked for your take on the club's current situation and Tuesday's 4-0 loss against Leeds United.

Here's what you had to say.

Robert: It appears to be the same old story where another manager has come in and is not able to get the players to gel with each other. Why have they not gone for a more high-profile manager when they had the opportunity? There doesn't appear to be any ambition to move the club forward.

Pete: My concern is that Swansea has become little more than a development facility with no ambition for improvement from the owners. It is a shop window for other teams to cherry-pick - the current Leeds squad is a good example of that.

Mark: That is what you can expect when you sell all your quality and replace with cheap or free signings. As for the current sub-standard loan players, send them back.

Gavin: I witnessed a team last night who were ready for Premier League football against a team who are going to be lingering in the depths of the Championship or lower for years to come with this current team.

Ben: If we give Luke Williams a bit of time to embed his way of playing and get a few more players in, we'll be right as rain. As yet, this sort of result against Leeds is going to be part and parcel of our development.

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Luke Williams hopes Bashir Humphreys will be fit for Swansea City’s Championship meeting with Ipswich Town on Saturday after the on-loan Chelsea defender was forced off in Tuesday’s 4-0 thrashing by Leeds.

Humphreys was withdrawn due to a fitness issue after 78 minutes against Leeds.

But Williams says the 20-year-old could yet be available to face Ipswich, and that veteran Kyle Naughton will also be a starting option at the weekend.

Naughton, 35, began on the bench against Leeds having come off in last weekend’s win at Hull with cramp.

Swansea have a host of fitness problems on the right side of defence, with Josh Key, Harrison Ashby, Harry Darling, Azeem Abdulai and Sam Parker all sidelined.

“We have an assessment for Bashir [on Wednesday], maybe it’s nothing too serious,” said Swansea boss Williams.

“Kyle Naughton's not picked up many minutes. He was incredible in the Hull game.

“He came on against Leeds and looked good. I think we're going to be OK. But I think Bashir has a chance to be fine for the weekend.”

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Swansea's recent struggles continued on Tuesday evening as they were comprehensively beaten 4-0 at home against Leeds United.

New boss Luke Williams now has just one victory in six, though that has included facing the top three sides in the league, and Swansea are back down to 17th.

Crysencio Summerville, ex-Swan Joel Piroe and two goals from Wilfried Gnonto gave Leeds victory on the night.

What have you made of Swansea's form of late? Have your say here.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

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Daniel James is available to face former club Swansea City on Tuesday night, Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has confirmed.

The Wales winger missed the Whites' wins over Bristol City and Rotherham United owing to a hip injury.

But Farke revealed the 26-year-old is fit to be involved against his previous employers at the Swansea.com Stadium.

"He's back in training and also available for the trip," Farke said of James.

"It's definitely good news to have Daniel back. He was fantastic in terms of end product before his injury."

James will be returning to Swansea for the first time since leaving the club to join Manchester United in 2019.

He is set to join former Swans Joel Piroe, Joe Rodon and Connor Roberts in lining up against his old club.

Sam Byram will not be included in the Leeds squad due to a minor muscle problem while Jamie Shackleton is absent due to "private reasons".

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Luke Williams’ start to life as Swansea City head coach has been far from simple, but the former Notts County boss says his players now feel ready to compete with the Championship’s top teams.

That is just as well, really, given that Swansea host Leeds United on Tuesday, then welcome Ipswich Town to Wales next weekend.

Swansea claimed their first league win under Williams courtesy of an encouraging display at Hull City on Saturday.

Prior to the weekend, the Swans had taken only one point from four league fixtures since Williams took charge, thanks to a 2-2 draw at Birmingham City.

After that came fairly comprehensive defeats to Southampton and Leicester City – the current top two – before a frustrating home loss to Plymouth Argyle, when Swansea missed a host of chances.

Now come Leeds, who are third, and fourth-placed Ipswich.

“The feeling in the changing room is that they believe they are on to something and they can compete with the top sides in the division,” Williams said.

“And now we have a chance in the very near future to test ourselves.

“Southampton were incredible [against us in] the first 45 minutes. They blew us away.

“Leicester were fantastic as well but I think what we learned in the Southampton game helped us to be more competitive.

“It was still nowhere near enough, but maybe we have learned from those two games, from the Plymouth game and from Hull.

“We are going up against an opposition with that similar type of quality and maybe we are in a different place - but we’ll see.”

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Gareth Vincent, BBC Sport Wales

Defeat at Hull City on Saturday would have left Swansea City only four points clear of the Championship’s bottom three with two demanding home fixtures to come this week.

The tough assignments are still coming, of course, with Leeds United and their band of Swansea old boys coming to Wales on Tuesday night before Ipswich Town visit next weekend.

But it is remarkable how one good result can lighten the mood at a football club – and the challenge now for Luke Williams’ team is to build on their 1-0 triumph at MKM Stadium.

Liam Rosenior was critical of his players after Liam Cullen’s goal had secured a win which leaves Swansea seven points clear of the drop zone, suggesting Hull had been guilty of “over-confidence” as they took on opponents who had been struggling for form.

But regardless of Hull’s display, Swansea deserved credit for what was their most complete performance in some time.

There was a clean sheet - the first in the Championship under Williams and only the sixth in 31 league games this season – with goalkeeper Carl Rushworth enjoying a largely peaceful afternoon.

On top of that, Williams’ team produced another bright attacking display which might have secured a more comfortable margin of victory.

The biggest positive of Swansea’s display was the combination of balance, pace and attacking threat offered by their two new wide players, Przemyslaw Placheta on the left and Ronald down the right.

Their presence meant opportunities for others to thrive, with Matt Grimes and Jay Fulton dominant in midfield and Josh Tymon impressing once more with his surges forward from left-back.

Kyle Naughton also put in another impressive shift at right-back, with the veteran’s late substitution because of injury the one black mark on a much brighter day for Williams’ team.

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Former Swansea City boss Michael Duff is being linked with the vacant manager's job at Huddersfield Town.

Duff has been out of work since being sacked by Swansea in early December after less than six months in charge of the Welsh club.

But he could be heading back into the Championship with Huddersfield, who are just two points above the relegation places after Saturday's defeat at Southampton.

The Terriers sacked Darren Moore on 29 January.

Duff has been touted as a leading contender to take over ever since Moore departed, with one report in today's football gossip column suggesting his willingness to relocate to Yorkshire will be key to whether he gets the job.

Duff is based in Cheltenham, having previously played for and managed the Robins.

Huddersfield are five points below Swansea in the Championship table after Luke Williams' side won at Hull City on Saturday.

Image source, Rex Features

Swansea City are keeping fingers crossed over Kyle Naughton amid fears the veteran defender has joined their lengthy injury list.

Naughton, 35, was forced off late on as Swansea claimed a first win in five Championship games at Hull City.

Naughton has started back-to-back league games – something he last did in December 2022 – as a result of injuries to fellow right-backs Josh Key and Harrison Ashby.

Harry Darling, Azeem Abdulai and Sam Parker would also be options to play on the right side of defence, but they are also on the sidelines.

That meant Naughton was replaced by on-loan Chelsea centre-back Bashir Humphreys at Hull.

With Leeds United to come at the Swansea.com Stadium on Tuesday, head coach Luke Williams is hoping 35-year-old Naughton is not seriously injured.

“I think he has more cramp than anything else,” Williams said.

“We are hoping – we will have to wait for it to settle down of course before we know for sure.

“But what a player. He is so gifted. He makes football look simple at times. [At Hull there was a] tough pitch, aggressive opposition, but he is so calm, so much quality, he sees things that other players wouldn’t be able to see.”

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Luke Williams paid tribute to his forward players after Liam Cullen’s goal gave Swansea City a welcome victory at Hull City.

Cullen’s early strike proved decisive as Swansea produced their best display under Williams to secure one of their most notable wins of a difficult season.

It was a first Championship triumph for Williams at the fifth time of asking, and stretched the gap between Swansea and the relegation zone to seven points.

Williams, who handed Cullen a rare start as a central striker ahead of Jerry Yates, said: “Liam is a finisher. That’s his main duty.

“He does the non-negotiable stuff – the running, the pressing and the recoveries. But ultimately he has to finish the actions and he did it.

“Culls has been playing out of the position. He deserved an opportunity to play as a central striker.

“I am really happy with Jerry Yates as well. I have been pleased with him and I am really excited about what he can do for us.

“And I know we have Myko (Kukharevych) as well. Trying to find an opportunity to get him on the pitch is challenging, but he is doing everything in training brilliantly. Honestly I am so pleased with these guys up front.”

Swansea’s first clean sheet under Williams meant they held on for only a second away win since late October.

January signings Ronald and Przemyslaw Placheta started either side of Cullen, and Williams felt the contribution of the two wide players was key to what was an encouraging display.

“They have changed the feel of the squad entirely,” he added.

“They have the pace, the directness, and they are tough as well.

“It’s not like they are lightweight and they don’t want to challenge or run back.”

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Swansea City head to Hull City on Saturday having won only one away league game since October.

The Swans are yet to triumph in four Championship fixtures under Luke Williams and have registered just two wins in their last 10 league games.

Sixth-placed Hull, by contrast, have won their last two matches – although Liam Rosenior’s team did lose four of their five league games before that.

Swansea have shown some encouraging signs since Williams took charge, most notably against Plymouth last time out, and the former Notts County boss says there is no lack of confidence within his squad.

“We believe in ourselves and we are going there expecting a tough game but looking to win and be competitive,” he said.

“Hull are very good. The manager has done a brilliant job and did a great job helping Wayne Rooney at Derby in a very challenging time.

“But we have to go there believing in ourselves. The players have the belief that we can win. We are not going there beaten before we travel, I can tell you that.”

Morgan Whittaker’s goal saw Plymouth register a first away win of the season at Swansea last weekend.

Argyle’s 1-0 success made it four straight defeats for Swansea in all competitions.

Nevertheless, Williams took heart from the Swans’ performance against Plymouth given that they carved out a host of chances.

“We need to create the actions we had in the last game and convert those,” he added.

“We have to concentrate and focus all the time because we have given up goals we did not need to.

“The more we work on the training pitch the more chance we have of making those things a reality.”

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Luke Williams says new Swansea City recruit Ronald is mixing English lessons with training sessions as he bids to settle in at the Championship club.

Brazilian winger Ronald arrived from Portuguese football during the transfer window.

So limited is the 22-year-old’s English, apparently, that even saying hello was a bit of a struggle when he arrived at Swansea’s training ground to complete his move to Wales.

But that did not stop Ronald producing an eye-catching display on his full debut in last weekend’s narrow defeat by Plymouth Argyle.

And head coach Williams says Ronald is settling in well, with communication aided by a member of Swansea’s scouting team who can speak Portuguese.

“Ronald is doing very well,” Williams said. “We have a translator on the training pitch and in the meetings sitting with Ronald. I am very happy he understands what we are asking of him.

“He is mixing with the players really well. I don’t think anyone understands a word they are saying but he wants to be involved in everything. He wants to be there with the guys.

“He is having English lessons twice a week and bit by bit it’s going to become easier for him.”

Williams felt Ronald “really stood out” against Plymouth.

He looks certain to be in Swansea’s starting side once more at Hull City this weekend, while fellow new recruits Przemyslaw Placheta and Charles Sagoe Jr are also available to start according to Williams.

“They came in without too much training but those guys are ready,” he added.

“The new guys have been encouraging, seeing their level improve.

“I think Ronald really stood out, I think that’s fair to say, and made some really exciting actions and created big openings for us.

“There were encouraging signs from all of them last weekend.”

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Luke Williams says there is “a realistic chance” teenager Sam Parker will not play again this season as Swansea City continue to be troubled by injury issues.

Parker, who can play at right-back or further up the right flank, made his first-team breakthrough earlier this season.

One of the 17-year-old’s three first-team appearances came in Williams’ first league game as Swansea boss, the 2-2 draw at Birmingham last month.

But it now appears Parker’s season could be over because of a significant hamstring injury.

“Sam Parker is going to be a longer-term one,” Williams said.

“He’s got a lot of things he needs to tick off but he’s going to be a while.”

Parker is one of numerous right-sided defensive options who remain unavailable to Williams as he prepares for Saturday’s trip to Hull City.

Josh Key (muscle), Harrison Ashby (hamstring) and Azeem Abdulai (hamstring) all remain some way off a return, while Harry Darling misses out even though he took part in training on Friday.

“It’s all on track in terms of what we expected for Josh but he’s not training at the minute,” Williams said.

“Harrison is still not right so there’s work to do on that one.

“Harry was on the grass today so that’s really encouraging, but we need to see how he reacts because that was his first day kicking the ball.

“Azeem is in the gym and recovering well.”

Midfielder Liam Walsh and forward Jamal Lowe are also working in the gym as they battle injury issues.

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Ethan Latham, BBC Sport Wales

A derby-day win sticks out in the memory of any football fan. There's something about the day that means more; the excitement, the passion and ultimately the bragging rights.

However, this time around the ship was far from stable at Swansea.

Cardiff had already beaten the Swans earlier in the season - the first south Wales derby to take place in the Premier League - with former Swansea defender Steven Caulker's towering header sealing victory.

After six defeats in eight Premier League games, Swansea sacked manager Michael Laudrup, only four days out from the return derby game.

Club captain Garry Monk was named as Laudrup's successor. His first task as a manager was the little matter of a south Wales derby.

Three points separated the sides before kick-off and it was Swansea who started brightly as Wilfred Bony made Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall react well with his feet.

Cardiff striker Kenwyne Jones flashed a header just wide, in arguably the best chance of the first half.

Into the second half and Wayne Routledge, who had a loan spell at Cardiff in 2008-09, raced into the box to curl the ball low into the bottom corner.

The Swans then scored two goals in six minutes. Winger Nathan Dyer ghosted past his marker to net the second, before Bony powered home Pablo Hernandez's delivery to earn Swansea all three points.

Life at Swansea was suddenly an awful lot better, victory for Monk in his first game in charge was secured and the bragging rights were heading back to Swansea.

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Kyle Naughton had played just 164 minutes of league football this season before last weekend.

Swansea City’s injury issues saw the 35-year-old defender start against Plymouth Argyle and he went on to complete a Championship game for the first time in a year.

Plymouth saw Naughton begin a league fixture for only the third time this season, but the likelihood is that start number four will come at Hull City this weekend.

Naughton last started back-to-back league games in December 2022.

He is in line to wipe out that statistic at the MKM Stadium on Saturday with Swansea’s injury problems continuing.

Josh Key has not played since 22 December because of a muscle injury, while Harrison Ashby is in the midst of a second spell on the sidelines because of his own muscular problem.

Harry Darling (quad) and Azaam Abdulai (hamstring) would be contenders to fill in on the right side of defence, but both are injured, as is teenager Sam Parker.

The only realistic alternative to Naughton looks like centre-back Bashir Humphreys, but he was left on the bench last weekend after a run of patchy form.