Swansea City

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Vitor Matos felt Swansea City were beaten by the better team after they slipped to a 3-0 defeat at Ipswich Town.

Swansea's miserable away form continued as Ipswich boosted their top-two hopes with a comfortable victory at Portman Road.

Anis Mehmeti put the home side in front after only three minutes and Ivan Azon doubled the lead before half-time.

Although Matos' side improved after the break, George Hirst killed off any chance of a Swansea revival 16 minutes from time.

Championship top scorer Zan Vipotnik, who began on the bench, came closest to a Swansea goal when he hammered a free-kick against the bar in added time.

"Suffering the goal in the third minute of course influenced what comes after that," said Swansea head coach Matos.

"It's hard to come here. Ipswich are a well-organised team with a brilliant squad and a good manager. They were better than us.

"We knew the first minutes were important but they scored and we had to chase the game.

"We were not aggressive enough, we were not intense enough. With the ball we didn't find the right players to start the attack. Sometimes we had it but in the end there was no outcome."

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Defeat was Swansea's ninth in their past 11 away league games.

That run contrasts sharply with their home form, with Matos' men unbeaten in nine league fixtures on their own patch.

They will be back at the Swansea.com Stadium when they return to action against Stoke City next Saturday.

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Vitor Matos is confident there will be no Snoop Dogg hangover when Swansea City face high-flying Ipswich Town on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Swansea make the long trip to Portman Road at the end of a three-game week which has so far brought four points from home fixtures against Bristol City and Preston North End.

But this was no average Championship spell, with Swansea in the spotlight thanks to Snoop Dogg's visit to Wales.

The rap superstar, a co-owner of Swansea since last July, visited the club's training ground on Monday before some players were pictured at a party he hosted that night.

Snoop Dogg then watched Matos' side in action against Preston, meaning a run-of-the-mill second-tier fixture became headline news.

Despite the circus which came with Snoop's visit, Matos insists his players' focus is on Ipswich.

"There's nothing related with the past," Swansea's head coach said.

"We need to look to the next hurdle and the next one is Ipswich."

Having been relegated from the Premier League last season, Ipswich are firmly in the race for a return to the top flight.

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Kieran McKenna's side – who were 4-1 victors in Alan Sheehan's final game in charge of Swansea in November – are fourth in the table, six points adrift of the automatic promotion places with two games in hand.

They have lost only one of 16 home league fixtures this season, when Charlton claimed a shock 3-0 success in Suffolk in October.

Swansea, meanwhile, have struggled on their travels – but Matos insists they will go in search of victory.

"That's why we are here - we never change that," he said.

"I think they are one of the better teams in the league - that's what the table says as well - but that's good because that's what we want.

"You want to compete against everyone and this is another game to do that."

Image source, Coventry City FC

You might not hear the old terrace refrain of 'you're not fit to wear the shirt' as often as you used to, but it still has a better ring than 'the shirt's not fit for you to wear'.

Championship leaders Coventry City launched a new collection on Friday, proudly taking inspiration from a kit widely dubbed the 'Worst of All Time'.

A take on the club's infamous brown change strip worn away from Highfield Road from 1978 to 1981, the modern reinvention features what the club calls "a deeper chocolate plum colour with sky blue elements".

Many would suggest it sounds tastier than it looks.

But it's got us thinking... what are actually the worst EFL kits of all time? Let us know which of your club's shirts is hiding in the back of the wardrobe, or even if they were too ugly for you to even part money for them.

We'll collate a list of the biggest eyesores and will give you the chance to vote on the ghastliest of all next week.

Click here to let us know your suggestion, and you can even attach a picture if you really want to convey the horror.

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

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Liam Cullen is used to autographs, though usually he is the one holding the pen.

It was a different story on Tuesday night, when Cullen scored a stoppage-time equaliser in Swansea City's draw with Preston North End and then received a pat on the back from Snoop Dogg.

On Monday, the rap superstar and Swansea co-owner visited the club's training ground, where he printed his own 'Snoop Dogg' jersey with the number 20 on the back.

The following night Snoop Dogg was in the Swansea dressing room come full-time, praising the character shown by Vitor Matos' team – and signing the shirt of Cullen, the club's actual number 20.

It was a special moment for Cullen, the Pembrokeshire-born academy product who joined Swansea as an eight-year-old.

And according to Matos, a point-winning goal on a big occasion was reward for Cullen's commitment to his club's cause.

"I like Liam a lot," Swansea's head coach said. "I have a problem because I like all the players a lot but I can only pick 11.

"But the good thing is that all of them are really professional and really Liam is one of those.

"He loves the club, born here, grew here. He has this mentality, which I love, that is if he's to play five minutes, he will play that five minutes trying to make an impact and trying to make that five minutes the best of his life.

"If it's 10 minutes it's 10. If it's 90, it's 90. That's why all the coaches love him, because he's the kind of player that we all like."

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Cullen was Swansea's 12-goal leading scorer last season, when he was used more often in a more advanced role than he has been in this campaign.

These days Cullen, who grew up as a striker, is regarded as an attacking midfield player who is capable of playing up front if required.

Unsurprisingly, given the fierce competition in Swansea's midfield, he has not always had the game-time he might have liked – but he remains an important figure in Matos' squad.

"[When] he's on the bench, we know that he has this mentality to try to change the direction of the game," Matos added.

"He had that as well with me in the Portsmouth game, when he scored as well. In other games he came on and created chances. In this game [against Preston] he created chances and scored.

"It's just a matter of how we can use him. I am really happy because he came on and scored and I think that's good for him especially, because he was wearing the same number as Snoop!"

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Vitor Matos says Ben Davies will always be welcome at Swansea City after the Wales defender watched Tuesday's draw with Preston North End from the directors' box.

Swansea head coach Matos spoke to Davies after the Preston game, but insists they did not discuss the idea of the Tottenham Hotspur player returning to his old club.

Davies sees his current Spurs contract expire at the end of the season and is currently sidelined because of a broken ankle.

The 32-year-old, who came through the Swansea academy, has connections with the Welsh club's current owners.

"I was really happy for him to be here, to speak with him," Matos said.

"[He is] someone from here and as well from the club. It's always nice to have this kind of connection with the players that have a past here.

"I think in the moment where he is [with injury], it's always good to have his friends around and feel comfortable wherever he goes, at home especially."

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As things stand, Davies will be a free agent at the end of the season, though it remains to be seen whether Tottenham will offer him the chance to extend his 12-year stay in London.

The Neath-born left-back or centre-back made 85 senior appearances for Swansea before leaving for Spurs in 2014.

When asked whether Davies could join the list of players who have rejoined former clubs, Matos added: "It's not the first time that it happened, that's true, [but] we didn't speak about that.

"I think more important is that he's having a good recovery and then he feels back again to his best shape.

"I think that's what everyone at the club and his friends want for him.

"We are here for whatever he needs from our side as well to help him because he's someone from the club who grew up here."

Ipswich Town are playing their first home league game in a month, having had three away matches since drawing with Preston at Portman Road on 31 January.

Swansea snatched a last-minute equaliser against Preston on Tuesday night to make it only two defeats from their past six outings but only West Brom (11) and Sheffield Wednesday (7) have won fewer than their 14 points away from home.

• Ipswich have won their past three league games against Swansea, as many as they had in their previous 12 (D4 L5).

• Swansea lost their past away league game against Ipswich in November 2023, but have not lost on consecutive visits to Portman Road since August 1959.

• Ipswich have lost just one of their 16 home league games this season (W10 D5), and are unbeaten in 10 since a 3-0 loss to Charlton in October (W7 D3).

• Swansea have lost eight of their past 10 away league games, winning the other two against Oxford in December and Watford in January.

• Ipswich's Jack Clarke has scored three goals in his past two home league games, while five of his eight overall home goals this season have been as a substitute.

Luke Hemmings
BBC Sport Wales

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Vitor Matos said Swansea City fell short of their usual standards in the first half of their draw with Preston North End, but praised his players as they "found a way" to earn a point thanks to Liam Cullen's late goal.

A sell-out crowd of 20,233 was at the Swansea.com Stadium as rapper Snoop Dogg watched the Swans in the flesh for the first time since becoming a co-owner of the club last July.

However, Preston threatened to spoil the Snoop Dogg party after Daniel Jebbison forced the ball over the line midway through the first half, leaving Swansea struggling to establish any control.

"Preston were better than us in the first half. That's the truth," Matos said.

"We could not break their organisation, not finding the right player to start the attack. That created a little bit of sloppiness.

"We were two days in between [games]. Preston had one more day to recover, sometimes that makes a difference. They scored on our worst moment and from there we needed to build - not easy."

Swansea improved significantly after the break and their persistence was eventually rewarded in stoppage time when substitute Cullen headed home.

"I think the point was important," Matos said.

"Performance-wise, Preston were better in the first half, but in the second half we were better than them. We found more mobility.

"We were able to break their lines inside and outside and created several chances. We could have scored earlier, but we kept trying and in the end we got the reward we deserved.

"We found a way. I think the draw feels like a fair result."

The result leaves Preston with just one win in their past eight league matches, while Swansea will look to extend their unbeaten run to three games when they travel to promotion-chasing Ipswich Town on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

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Swansea head coach Vitor Matos admits a return to the Premier League is an "aim for the future".

The Swans continued their unbeaten run with a late equaliser against Preston North End on Tuesday night in front of superstar rapper Snoop Dogg.

The hip-hop legend is one of the club's co-owners and has boosted the profile of Swansea, who have been in the Championship since relegation from the Premier League in 2018.

"We need to build. The foundations need to be built. We need to find the spirit again," said Matos.

"It's a completely different world nowadays than before. To reinvent ourselves, that's what we are trying. Starting on the pitch, starting with the players, starting with the culture and moving on."

Matos took charge in November following the dismissal of Alan Sheehan, who had overseen just four wins in the club's opening 15 league matches.

Swansea have now taken 10 points from their last five fixtures, narrowing the gap to the Championship play-off places to eight points, and have enjoyed the buzz of a visit from Snoop.

"It's exciting times for the club. It's good to have someone like him involved, someone who has that kind of profile, who brings a lot of visibility as well," said Matos.

"That is just a good feeling. We are, as a club, trying to create something different and something special."

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Swansea City take on Preston North End on Tuesday (19:45 GMT) hoping another resilient defensive display will provide the foundation for more success on their own ground.

The Swans claimed a seventh victory in their past eight home games as Zan Vipotnik's goal proved decisive against Bristol City on Saturday.

But the latest triumph was not the result of a stellar showing in possession, with Swansea failing to reach the heights of numerous recent performances.

Instead, their ability to dig in and keep the Robins at bay proved critical as Swansea kept a seventh clean sheet in 17 Championship games since Matos took charge.

In the 16 league games this season before Matos' arrival, the Welsh club managed only three shutouts.

That improvement has, unsurprisingly, coincided with Swansea's significant upturn in results.

As his team look for another home success against a Preston side who are three points above them in the congested second-tier table, Matos says his rearguard deserve credit for the Bristol City win.

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"I think the back four was unbelievable. Vigs (Lawrence Vigouroux) as well in crucial moments, but the back four was outstanding," he said.

"The way they could control the physicality that they put on [and] the togetherness as well, because it's not about only the individual but how they can control the space, how they can control the runs in behind.

"They are working a lot on that, we are working a lot on that, and they deserve all the credit because when you have a front three who can press and a back four who can control the space, you have already 50% of the job done for yourself. I think that's what happened."

Matos could consider changes to freshen up his side against Preston, with Ronald and Liam Cullen among the contenders for a recall having begun on the bench last weekend.

But defensive alterations are unlikely, while Swansea will once again be without Marko Stamenic as the midfielder completes a two-match ban.

Preston North End will hope to steady the ship in the play-off race as they visit Swansea City on Tuesday (19:45 GMT).

The Lilywhites have only won one of their past seven games to sink to 10th place (D2 L4), though they do still remain just three points adrift of Wrexham in sixth.

Swansea, meanwhile, have won three of their past four (L1) and are only three points shy of their visitors.

• Swansea have lost just one of their last 23 home league games against Preston (W17 D5), winning 10 of the last 11 (L1).

• Following their 2-1 win in November, Preston are looking to complete the league double over Swansea for the first time since 1933-34.

• Preston have won two of their last four away league games against Welsh sides (L2), though did lose at Wrexham this season. It's as many wins as they'd managed in their previous 22 visits to Wales (D6 L14).

• Swansea have won five of their last eight midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games (L3), including each of the last three in a row.

• Preston have won just two of their last 12 midweek (Tues, Weds, Thurs) league games (D7 L3), though one of those was in the reverse fixture against Swansea City this season.

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Getty Images

Swansea City have played better in a number of recent games than they did against Bristol City on Saturday.

But for the ninth time in 15 Championship fixtures since the beginning of December, Vitor Matos' team did enough to deliver victory.

There have been five defeats during that period, all of which have been away from home - at Stoke City, Coventry City, Millwall, Hull City and Derby County.

Swansea came away from four of those losses believing they may have deserved more than they got.

Millwall was the exception given that Lawrence Vigouroux produced a spectacular goalkeeping display just to keep his side in the contest and yet even at The Den, Swansea were only beaten by a 90th-minute Caleb Taylor winner.

This weekend's 1-0 win over Bristol City, meanwhile, was one which could be considered a little fortunate given that the Robins carried more attacking threat than their hosts for long spells.

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The woodwork rattled on a couple of occasions and Vigouroux – who must be amongst the most consistent goalkeepers in the Championship – made a couple of smart saves as Zan Vipotnik's 18th goal of the season proved decisive.

As a result, the gap to the play-off places narrowed briefly to three points, though it was back up to six by the end of the day thanks to Wrexham's victory over Ipswich Town.

And so to Preston North End on Tuesday, when Snoop Dogg and a capacity crowd will watch on as Swansea try to make it 25 points taken from nine home games.

With so many teams above in the congested play-off race, a top-six finish still looks like something of a long shot as things stand.

But whatever is to come over the next couple of months, the mood of the club has shifted under Matos.

Swansea were only outside the relegation places after slumping to a fifth straight league defeat – despite taking a two-goal lead - at West Brom in late November.

That painful day seems a long time ago now.

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Vitor Matos says Swansea City's "connection" with their supporters has been a key factor behind their spectacular run of home form.

Matos' men claimed a seventh win in their past eight league games at the Swansea.com Stadium, as Zan Vipotnik's first-half volley proved enough for victory over Bristol City.

The Swans have not lost at home since a 2-1 defeat to Derby County in November.

At that point Swansea had only two wins from nine home league matches this season, but they have since taken 22 points from a possible 24.

Swansea were made to work for their narrow success against the Robins – and Matos felt the home crowd had a hand in securing the win.

"I think the fans today were unbelievable," the Swansea head coach said.

"That connection is massive. The last 15 minutes, [the fans] played the game with us, they tackled the Bristol players with us, they created the counters with us.

"When you have that feeling, the players can feel it. They feel they can compete against anyone and when you create that feeling in the stadium, it is outstanding."

Vipotnik's 18th club goal of the season came via Swansea's one clear-cut chance against Bristol City, though Liam Cullen and Malick Yalcouye forced saves from goalkeeper Radek Vitek late on.

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Bristol City hit the woodwork twice, while Lawrence Vigouroux was also required to make a couple of sharp saves as he claimed a 10th league clean sheet this season and a seventh since Matos took charge.

"I think the desire, the hunger, the mentality, the idea of holding nothing back, that mindset was massive today," Matos added.

"We were able to compete, we were able to get the three points. I think that's quite important to have because these games are games who can decide positions as well in the table."

Swansea moved to within three points of the top six courtesy of the Bristol City win, though that was before the day's later games.

Matos insisted his only focus is Tuesday's home fixture against Preston as he once again brushed off talk of a play-off push.

"We play again at home, which is brilliant and that doesn't happen a lot for us," he said.

"We can recover, rest, focus on Preston because that will be a massive game for us as well."

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Swansea City will look to make it eight unbeaten at home when they welcome Bristol City this afternoon (12:30GMT).

The Swans' form at the Swansea.Com Stadium has been a major factor in moving clear from any relegation worries – and even tempting some into dreaming of the Championship play-offs.

Those hopes took a blow when they lost 2-0 at Derby County last weekend, with Swansea's away record looking like an Achilles heel.

Only bottom side Sheffield Wednesday (7) and struggling pair Oxford United (13) and West Brom (13) have collected fewer points on the road than the Swans' 14.

That's in contrast to the 28 points collected at home, the seventh highest in the division.

In addition, only once have Swansea failed to score in front of their own fans - the 1-0 October reverse against QPR.

Matos has not lost a league game in front of home fans since November, losing to Derby just 24 hours after he replaced Alan Sheehan.

Yet the Portuguese says there is little difference in how his side approach games home or away.

"It's just we have played against different opponents who bring different problems," Matos said. "Then it's about trying to sort those problems out and finding a way to win.

"Of course, it helps when you have the fans. It's clear when you have the connection it is important for us.

"But more important is how – in this game – Bristol City play and how we create problems for them.

"They [are a] really good team, organised, really fast counter, good in set pieces as well - and that's what we need to focus more than what we cannot control."

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Swansea City boss Vitor Matos has hailed the impact of midfielder Marko Stamenic – just as he faces up to being without the New Zealander.

Stamenic will miss Saturday's Championship game with Bristol City (12:30GMT) as he starts a two-game ban for collecting ten yellow cards this season.

The 24-year-old has featured in all but one of Swansea's games under Matos, with the head coach admitting his impact has been key.

But he says he is "a lucky one" for having options to replace him, with Jay Fulton tipped to step in.

"Marko is really important for us," said Matos. "He's been really good scoring goals as well, which is not as normal for a number six, but he has that inside of him.

"The technique level of him as a six is unbelievable. Long pass, short pass, stepping in, dribbling as well."

The All Whites international will also miss Tuesday's visit of Preston North End – a game that will see investor Snoop Dogg take in his first game at the Swansea.Com Stadium.

Despite this, Matos says he does have options, adding: "There's a lot of solutions. I love Jay, I think he has a lot of values that we all want as a club and he has a lot of things as a player that I like.

"How he attacks is unbelievable, how he understands the game is unbelievable, he's a clear leader as well and really respected from everyone so It's a big option.

"But Ethan Galbraith can go there so there's a lot of options."

Matos confirmed there are no other availability issues to take on a Bristol City side fresh from pegging back Wrexham in a 2-2 draw at Ashton Gate in midweek.

Adam Idah continues his recovery from a hamstring injury while Zeidane Inoussa remains sidelined with a stress fracture in his back.

Stamenic picked up his suspension after receiving his tenth caution in last weekend's defeat at Derby County. Two-game bans are applied for any players who collect ten yellow cards before the 37th Championship fixture.

Swansea have played 32 league games so far this season with Ben Cabango (8 yellow cards) the next player at risk.

Both these sides still hold hopes of reaching the Championship play-offs, although Bristol City's chances seem more realistic, as they stand only one point short of the top six going into the weekend.

Swansea City have moved themselves 10 points clear of the relegation zone under boss Vitor Matos and are unbeaten in their past seven games at home.

• Swansea have lost three of their past five league games against Bristol City (W1 D1), after only losing one of their previous eight beforehand (W4 D3).

• Bristol City can do the league double over Swansea for the second time in the past three seasons with a win here (won both in 2023-24 and 3-0 at home this season). This after not winning any of their four league meetings in 2022-23 and 2021-22 (D1 L3).

• Swansea have won six of their past seven home league games (D1), with no other Championship side collecting more home points than the Swans (19) since that run began in December (level with Ipswich Town).

• Bristol City have conceded multiple goals in each of their past three league games (9 goals conceded); they last conceded 2+ goals in four consecutive league games in October 2022.

• Swansea's Zan Vipotnik has scored 11 goals in 15 home league appearances this season, including five goals in his past three games at the Swansea.com Stadium.

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Swansea City's contest with promotion-hunting Coventry City has been given a tea time kick-off after being selected for television coverage.

The game on Saturday 21 March will now kick-off at 17:15 GMT.

Coventry are currently top of the Championship having enjoyed an impressive season under Frank Lampard.

The fixture will mark the potential return of former Swans captain Matt Grimes to the Swansea.com Stadium after he left for the Sky Blues last January.

Swansea lost 1-0 at Coventry on Boxing Day, the hosts' Ephron Mason-Clark scoring the only goal.

The game will come eight days after the Welsh derby meeting with Wrexham at Stok Cae Ras, which will also be televised.

That fixture - Swansea's first visit to Wrexham in 24 years - has been confirmed to take place on Friday 13 March at 20:00 GMT.