Swansea City ran out easy winners this afternoon with a very competent display throughout the side. You have to be honest it could have been six as chances went begging in the second half but 0-3 away at Derby ? Yes we will all take that.

There were a few gasps and a lot of of anguish when Swans head coach, Vitor Matos announced his starting eleven today. Ross Stewart and Leo Walta being completely left out and Ronald still featuring on the bench. The test of this selection was in the eating, and it has to be said, it tasted absolutely wonderful.

However, those with an immediate and negative reaction to this Swans selection couldn’t have been happier when with not even two minutes gone Jospeh Opoku turned in the area and shot the away side into the lead. A deflection leaving Derby keeper, Jacob Zetterstrom wrong footed. If you don’t have a dip you don’t win a prize. Opoku again came close minutes later when his overhead kick attempt nearly went in. That being said he left the field of play on twenty three minutes with what looked like a twisted knee, we can only hope and pray that it is not cruciate damage. He’s scored now in both of the Swans away games. Opoku (below) was replaced by Moussa Yeo who provided a cross right at the end of the first half which was nodded goal-wards by Adam Idah with Zetterstrom unable to hold on to the ball. Eom picked up on the rebound and couldn’t miss on the goal line.

That put the Swans two up at Pride Park.

Derby County didn’t look at all threatening throughout the first half, yes they had opportunities but the solid centre back pairing of Filip Lissah and Stephen Welsh worked doggedly to clear out any danger. Josh Tymon remained back far more than we have seen since his arrival at the club, it may have looked like he wasn’t on his game but again he was doing the dirty work well, the same with Josh Key on the opposite side of the pitch.

In midfield Jay Fulton was running the show, hard and effective with Marko Stamenić feeding on loose balls and using Eom as an outlet. When Opoku did go off his replacement, Yeo was busy and threatened on occasion. It was a sound and comfortable half. And he has to be complimented for putting in a magnificent cross for the second goal.

No complaints, it was what we have been begging for since Matos joined.

The second half started with the home side displaying far more fire in the belly. A few goalmouth scrambles mostly caused by good use of the wings was disrupting the Swans control. It was to be expected, and you had the feeling if the Rams got one it would really be backs against the wall. As we saw at Stoke the home side will have dominance no matter how good you play. The wet conditions with rain were hampering the Swans creativity but they remained resilient most of the time. Despite that control was becoming an issue more so for the Swans than Derby.

Zān Vipotnik (below) missed a very decent chance in seventy one minutes, In on goal from a quick Swans move his shot was smothered and just went by the post. Then another chance for Yeo, his shot was saved, the ball bounced into the danger area but Vipotnik was nowhere near to take advantage, almost watching the play. Had he been more positive he could have had a tap in. Two chances there which would have put this game to bed. Minutes later another Vipotnik effort was blocked and went out for a corner.

Derby manager, John Eustace (below) had no response to this Swansea side.

A free header for Stamenić who had just been booked was messed up after a lovely delivery from Josh Key. The Swans should have been way ahead by now. Too much messing about with the ball wasn’t helping but that soon subsided. The Swans learning from last week to continue their aggressive play and win back the momentum. On seventy eight minutes Eom had a superb effort saved.

As the game moved towards the end we saw what really everyone wants to see from Ronald. A wonderful strike from outside the area putting the Swans three up. Matos completely vindicated on this performance for his squad choice today. The home crowd immediately leaving the ground Thereafter Derby keeper, Zetterstrom saved well from Vipotnik. He was keeping his side away from a trouncing.

Vitor Matos was understandably delighted with this performance, "This was a good game, we started really well and that gave us the platform and the calmness to face a team that is very difficult to play against, especially in their stadium. I am really happy with the performance, the maturity we showed. We had a clear way of competing and sustaining our game which pleased us most. We needed to use the full squad, and the players that came into the side and that came on from the bench made a big impact on the game and that is really helpful to have. The whole team put in a good performance. The strikers defended and pressed, the midfielders made the team compact and then the defenders could give us much more stability. It was a massive performance in a collective sense and I was really happy with that."

The Swans were excellent today and away from home they remain unbeaten, in fact they remain unbeaten this season after three games. The Swans went through the Derby defence like a knife through butter this afternoon, the composure at times was missing, but three goals away - who can argue ?

All we need now is positive news on Opoku.

Next up : Swansea City v Watford, 7:45pm at the .com.

⚽️ Rams : Zetterstrom, Sondre Langas, Bobby Clark, Salvesen (Filip Bilbija 68), Taylor (Sam Szmodics 46), Alex Mowatt (Owen Eames 78), Max Johnston (Joe Ward 46), Ryan Hedges (Rhian Brewster 46), Lewis Travis (captain), Dion Sanderson, Blackett-Taylor.

Unused Substitutes: Josh Vickers, Craig Forsyth, Ryan Nyambe, Oscar Fraulo.

⚽️ Swans : Lawrence Vigouroux 7 Josh Key 7 Filip Lissah 8 Stephen Welsh 8 Josh Tymon 7 Jay Fulton 7 (C) (Stephen Eustaquio 64) 5 Marko Stamenić 7 Melker Widell 7 (Elijah Just 64) 7 Joseph Opoku 8 (Moussa Yeo 23) 8 Jisung Eom 9 (Ronald 86), Adam Idah 6 (Zan Vipotnik 64) 6

Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Jenson Seelt, Tiago Parente, Thomas Woodward.

⚽️ Referee: David Webb : Did well, saw through the Derby tactics eventually, applied to an extent the new laws and let the game flow. Saw the value in a good tackle, not whistle happy. A deserved 7/10.

Attendance: 26,576
Away : 1,812 (official Reuters)

⚽️ Highlights

⚽️ Matos reaction

⚽️ Eustace reaction

Photographs TNTstrap media & Swansea Independent