Swansea City won away for the first time under Vitor Matos, a 1-0 win at Oxford to complete the monthly double on the U’s. It was a scrappy game but the Swans thoroughly deserved to go home with the points.

In hindsight it was a shame that the thirteenth minute goal from Zān Vipotnik was the only goal of the game. The Swans commanded the midfield throughout the ninety plus minutes. The issue again was the gel between the midfield and the flanks and indeed when creating numerous chances that should have seen a far more convincing scoreline. Many said when leaving the ground that the Swans really don't have a cutting edge and indeed that killer instinct to finish games early. When the Swans went one up from a lovely cross from Josh Tymon which Zān Vipotnik headed firmly into the Oxford net - they then seemed to lose momentum. Throughout the game the home side didn’t really threaten as the Swans seemed happy to keep possession and resisted the temptation to keep Swans fans heart rates on an even keel. There were plenty of chances to do so before the passing became hurried and possession switched sides. Oxford though really do look like a relegation threatened unit.

With the goal difference easily added to in a positve way the searching passes led to miscontrolled possession and whatever expected opening lost. What was good to see was the midfield, especially Melker Widell (he should be a firm fixture in this side) and Ethan Galbraith both seeing the Oxford forward pass then keenly intercepting the ball. Marko Stamenic was strong and at times very solid in his tackling and word has to go to Cameron Burgess as well. He had a fine game on the floor and in the air, his uncompromising tackles, well judged and hard kept out any thoughts that Oxford had of winning this game.

The second half saw a variety of chances for the away aide, Ronald, Vipotnik, Burgess and Galbraith all not able to convert their shots. A penalty shout on Zeidane Inoussa looked a given but was waved away by referee Adam Herczeg who kept up his record number of yellow cards he gives out per game. He started on fifty six from his last fourteen games and tonight he hit sixty two from fifteen games.

It wasn’t a dirty game but somehow it reflected six cards and really Currie should have received a second yellow for kicking out at Ronald in the dying minutes. As stated there’s no way the Swans should have lost this game, however against better opposition they will if this button cannot be pressed that says ‘go and finish this game off’ The most notable stat from the game was the seventy one percent passing accuracy which meant over110 passes in this game were not completed by the Swans. That’s an immediate area for Matos to work on.

The stats generally if read into are not brilliant, and as for the U’s overall possession they only really threatened once from an attempt which went wide of Vigouroux’s goal. It really was another of those must take the points games. And the Swans did deservedly do.

This league is absolutely mad, Derby County lost for the ninth time in ten games this evening and we won’t talk about who they beat in that poor run. The Swans now have a nine point gap to the play offs having eased the pressure of relegation tonight. Thats four wins from the previous six games, if they want to continue this upwards momentum it’s almost certain that scoring more than a goal or two will have to be addressed. However, it’s a good end to 2025, a year ago the Swans were not in a great place, now you get the feeling they are at least in a better one.

Vitor post match

⚽️ U’s: Jamie Cumming, Ciaron Brown, Michal Helik (captain), Przemyslaw Placheta (Siriki Dembele 66), Luke Harris (Filip Krastev 55), Brian De Keersmaecker, Brodie Spencer, Nik Prelec (Will Lankshear 66), Stanley Mills (Ole Romenij 76), Tyler Goodrham, Jack Currie.

Unused Substitutes: Matt Ingram, Sam Long, Will Vaulks, Mark Harris, Greg Leigh.

⚽️ Swans: Lawrence Vigouroux 6 Ethan Galbraith 7 (Josh Key 87), Ben Cabango 6 (c) Cameron Burgess 7 Josh Tymon 6 Marko Stamenic 8*Jay Fulton 6 (Goncalo Franco 61) 6 Zeidane Inoussa 6 (Ronald 61) 5 Melker Widell 7 (Ishe Samuel-Smith 87), Jisung Eom 6 (Malick Yalcouye 76) 7 Zan Vipotnik 7

Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Bobby Wales, Kaelan Casey, Sam Parker.

*Man of the match.

⚽️ Referee: Adam Herczeg : 5/10. After the previous five referees he actually looked like he was trying. Far too card happy.

⚽️ Attendance: 11,413
Away : 1,573

Photograph : Swansea Independent