Swansea got 'angry' to find vital win - Galbraith

Ethan Galbraith says channelling a touch of "anger" helped Swansea City end their five-game losing streak by beating rival Championship strugglers Oxford United on Saturday.

The previous weekend Swansea had rushed into a two-goal lead at West Bromwich Albion, only to capitulate after half-time as the Baggies came back to win 3-2.

Against Oxford, Swansea again held a 2-0 lead at the break thanks to Marko Stamenic's header and a wonderful volley from distance by Josh Tymon.

This time the Swans managed the situation better for a vital win that allowed new head coach Vitor Matos to claim his first points in his third game in charge.

"Football is up and down and we've found ourselves in a sticky patch, but the only way you can get out of it is working hard and that's what we've been doing," 11-cap Northern Ireland midfielder Galbraith said.

"Everyone was down [after the West Brom loss] but against Oxford we... spoke about it at half-time that we don't want another sort of scene like that. But while football is up and down, after West Brom everyone was more angry."

Asked whether Swansea have now turned a corner with that win, Galbraith was positive, although any new-found confidence will be put to the test in the next game at home to Portsmouth on Tuesday night (19:45 GMT).

"I hope so, obviously even in the sticky parts that we're in, we've been working hard to put it right so this is the first step to do that and yeah we just need to keep going," said the 24-year-old.

"Momentum is massive in football; it was a good win [against Oxford] but we have to get straight focused on the next game."

Pompey are in the relegation places but only three points behind the Swans, so victory for either side could have a huge bearing on each side's fortunes.

Swansea had begun the season in confident mood after finishing the previous campaign strongly, helping earn caretaker boss Alan Sheehan a permanent three-year deal.

But a string of poor results saw Sheehan sacked and eventually replaced by Matos, after missing out on Kim Hellberg who opted to join Middlesbrough.

"At a club in football it's always tough to see someone go but I think football doesn't wait for anyone, so obviously the new gaffer has come in and you have to get on with things," Galbraith said.

"But yeah, it's never nice to see someone obviously leave a club."

Matos' early days in charge have been complicated by the absence of his backroom team from former club Maritimo, with Swansea still waiting for news on whether Diogo Medeiros, Toze Mendes and Goncalo Ricca will be granted UK work permits.

But club midfield greats Leon Britton and Joe Allen have joined Matos' staff on a temporary basis to help with training and the Portuguese coach's transition into the club.

"He's [Matos] been brilliant you know, the gaffer, alongside obviously Brits and Joey - two club legends, there's not many better people you want to learn off, they've been there and done it, they've been brilliant.

"I think any lads in any position can speak to them because they've played at obviously the highest level and they were great players but even better guys you know, you can go to them and ask them questions and they'll give you advice and stuff so yeah it's been brilliant."

Against Oxford, Galbraith was deployed at right-back rather than his more usual central midfield role because Josh Key was missing through illness, but was given the freedom to try and influence the game from that position.

"The gaffer has given me a bit of licence to, not go where I want, but do what I can... from right-back," he said.

"I've been happy with how I'm performing but football is all about winning, so it's a team game, it's not how individuals are playing and stuff, so we just have to look forward to the next game and hopefully get three points."