If ever there was a routine win then this was evidenced today at the swansea.com. The Swans never looked in trouble in this game at all, and at times seemed to be in second gear as they probed the Owls defence.

When the home side did press on they looked a very dynamic and purposeful team, even when the substitutes came on to the field. We saw Leo Walta make his debut in the second half and really he will take some time to settle in the Championship. Malick Yalcouyé bagged his first goal for Swansea City with an exquisite finish after a poor Wednesday clearance. The options were not always taken by Swansea today, preferring to maintain possession and at times not spotting the obvious pass forwards. That’s okay but goal difference is crucial and at the end of this encounter they crept above a negative goals against to end with a plus one. The impact on the Championship placings was minimal, but now on forty two points the Swans are now looking up. There is a very difficult game away at Derby County next week and that’s a huge test.

A win and they catch Derby in the league.

The first goal was typical Swansea, eighteen passes and a wonderful goal from Gonçalo Franco. The Swans exposing space as they passed forwards for what was the perfect goal. There were many other opportunities in this game with shots flying just wide of the Owls goal, it was pretty much one way. Ethan Galbrwith shone as the ball carrier, sometimes doing a bit too much but he was abely backed up by the effective Marko Stamenić and Franco in the first half. The bar was hit again, a given in Swans home games after doing so three times against Birmingham City. The defence was never stretched, never under pressure and remained completely in control throughout.

If Franco’s was the perfect goal then Zān Cipotnik displayed how much he has improved this season. The Championship’s leading goalscorer now on fifteen goals after this game hit a free kick his which recketted in to the Owls net shoukd have carried a health warning. It was in the back of Murphy Cooper’s net before he realised what was going on. Then we saw Vipotnik at his best, a pass into him was slightly behind him but he took control of the ball, spun and shot for goal number three. Yalcouyé finished off matters when a tired Wednesday defence gave the ball away to him. He worked his way into the area, then with a clever step made room for himself to get his goal.

All four goals were superbly taken.

Vitor was delighted post match. “I’m really happy I think today we showed a kind of character, Sheffield Wednesday like to compete and we needed to have the right mindset. We needed to be compact, the counter press was massive for us today. It was a good game for everyone. It’s important that a lot of players are involved. (On the first goal) These are the kind of moments we want of course. I think (Vipotnik) he is still growing in terms of games, he is becoming more complete, I’m really happy he performs like that, he understands the press”

On Joe Allen and Leon Britton on the coaching team. “It’s important for me and the players. They have an understanding of the game. I think that shows the character, we always take care of the players of the club. There are so many games. It’s the same situation always, what can make us more competitive, you win a game you see the plays offs you lose a game and it’s a relegation battle. We need to focus on Derby”

This was an all round performance against a team which folds in most games and hasn’t scored a goal now in nine. They didn’t look like it today either. You feel for those fans who made the journey but this needed to be emphatic. Games coming up away at Derby and Ipswich will most certainly test the Swans resolve and status as play off contenders. Then there’s the Bristol City game to come at home. It isn’t as much heady days at the swansea.com but it’s exciting to see how much this team has improved under Vitor Matos and his coaching staff. The first time this season the Swans have scored four goals in all competitions, and a bench that looks like it could be as effective as the starting eleven over the next fifteen games.

Let’s have a look at the Swans last ten games, and just smile.

⚽️ Swans: Lawrence Vigouroux 7 Ethan Galbraith 8 Ben Cabango (c) 6 Cameron Burgess 7 Josh Tymon 8 Marko Stamenic 7 (Jay Fulton 56) 6 Gonçalo Franco 7 (Leo Walta 71) 5 Liam Cullen 6 (Malick Yalcouye 56) 7 Ronald 6 (Josh Key 81) 6 Gustavo Nunes 7 (Jisung Eom 71) 6 Žan Vipotnik 9

Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Ishe Samuels-Smith, Joel Ward, Ollie Cooper.

⚽️ Owls: Murphy Cooper, Liam Palmer (captain), Jamal Lowe (Marvelous Nakamba 60), Jerry Yates, Liam Cooper, Charlie McNeill (Ike Ugbo 70), Joe Ndala, Gabriel Otegbayo, Jaden Heskey, Jarvis Thornton, Tayo Adaramola (Reece Johnson 70).

Unused Substitutes: Logan Stretch, Olaf Kobacki, Rio Shipston, Cole McGhee, Joe Emery, Bruno Fernandes.

⚽️ Referee: Thomas Kirk : Going to give this guy some plaudits, left the game flow, the Swans bookings were possibly earned. Controlled the game well, no suspicious activity. 7/10

Attendance: 16,776
Away : 1,387

Watch the highlights

Photographs Open Source