Josh Tymon’s second-half strike was sufficient to present Swansea a 1-0 Championship victory over Bristol Metropolis in a full-blooded Anglo-Welsh battle at Ashton Gate.
The winner got here after 55 minutes when Robins goalkeeper Max O’Leary dived to save lots of a Goncalo Franco shot however might solely parry the ball into the trail of Tymon, who fired the rebound into an unguarded web.
- Championship highlights | Desk | Fixtures
- All you’ll want to know – Streaming Sky Sports activities with NOW | Get Sky Sports activities
- Obtain the Sky Sports activities App to look at each Sky Sports activities+ recreation
- Reside EFL on Sky Sports activities+ & methods to watch | Get extra EFL to your cellphone with WhatsApp
The hosts have been denied by two excellent first-half saves from Lawrence Vigouroux as their try to enter the play-off locations was additionally thwarted by some poor ending and dedicated Swansea defending.
Twitter
This content material is offered by Twitter, which can be utilizing cookies and different applied sciences.
To point out you this content material, we’d like your permission to make use of cookies.
You should utilize the buttons beneath to amend your preferences to allow Twitter cookies or to permit these cookies simply as soon as.
You possibly can change your settings at any time by way of the Privateness Choices.
Sadly we’ve got been unable to confirm when you’ve got consented to Twitter cookies.
To view this content material you should use the button beneath to permit Twitter cookies for this session solely.
With Joe Williams and Ross McCrory suspended, Bristol Metropolis boss Liam Manning made three modifications to the 1-1 draw at Oxford. In got here Max Chicken and Haydon Roberts, in addition to Anis Mehmeti for George Earthy.
Swansea gave a debut to deadline day signing Lewis O’Brien in midfield as certainly one of 4 modifications, which noticed Kyle Naughton, Eom Ji-Sung and Zan Vipotnik additionally introduced in.
Bristol Metropolis had the higher of an open first half, forcing two moments of brilliance from Vigouroux. On eight minutes, the tall goalkeeper dived to his proper to palm over Jason Knight’s agency header from a Chicken nook.
The twenty second minute noticed Vigouroux make an equally effective cease, this time diving low to his left to fingertip Luke McNally’s volley round a submit.
Ten minutes later, Swansea created their first opening, however Ronald might solely shoot tamely at O’Leary from Naughton’s by way of ball.
Rob Dickie powered a header over from a Knight cross because the hosts continued to threaten. However one other exact Naughton cross simply earlier than the break noticed Vipotnik miscue his try to carry the ball over O’Leary, placing a weak effort straight into the goalkeeper’s arms.
Liam Cullen despatched a 20-yard free-kick over the bar as Swansea squandered the final likelihood of an brisk 45 minutes wherein either side lacked a innovative.
Swansea’s Josh Tymon celebrates his aim towards Bristol Metropolis
Tymon’s aim rewarded Swansea’s finest spell of the sport at the beginning of the second half. Manning responded by sending on striker Sinclair Armstrong and midfielder Earthy for Nahki Wells and Mehmeti.
The highly effective Armstrong made an immediate impression and compelled a nook from which Dickie headed over.
However Swansea ought to have gone two up after 68 minutes when the spectacular O’Brien fed an unmarked Eom contained in the field and he shot straight at O’Leary from 12 yards.
The Robins went straight again on the assault just for Armstrong to clear the crossbar. Then Manning’s determination to ship on an additional striker virtually paid off with 14 minutes remaining when Sam Bell’s low drive got here again off a submit.
Swansea needed to defend for his or her lives within the closing phases, O’Brien making a superb block from Chicken’s shot, whereas one other Chicken effort was deflected for a nook because the guests held out.
The managers
Bristol Metropolis’s Liam Manning:
“There have been so many positives within the efficiency. I’m as annoyed as our supporters should be as a result of the whole lot was there aside from the outcome.
“Their goalkeeper has made two excellent saves and we saved asking questions of Swansea proper to the ultimate whistle.
“In the long run we simply lacked that little bit of composure and high quality in entrance of aim. However the progress we’ve got made this season was once more there for all to see. The extent of consistency of efficiency is so significantly better and I imagine in case you keep that the rewards will come.
“We paid for a brief interval at the beginning of the second half after we dipped in sure areas. However aside from that I’ve no complaints in regards to the efforts of the gamers.
“There’s a fast likelihood to bounce again at residence to Stoke Metropolis on Wednesday and we’ve got proven ourselves able to overcoming setbacks this season.”
Swansea’s Luke Williams:
“It was a hard-fought win. We’re in one thing of a transitional interval now, studying to get alongside with out Matt Grimes, who was so essential to us, and when that’s the case the primary factor is to play with whole dedication.
“The gamers have been sturdy and resilient sufficient to deal with a variety of stress from an excellent facet, but in addition courageous sufficient to create some actually good possibilities.
“I see Bristol Metropolis as real play-off contenders. Liam Manning is a superb coach and they need to again him long-term. This might transform a vital outcome for us.”