Swansea City

Luke Hemmings
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Getty Images

Head coach Vitor Matos insists there were "a few good things" to take from Swansea City's FA Cup third-round defeat to West Brom.

Swansea's loss on penalties came in the third meeting between the sides since late November.

One major positive was the debut of Joel Ward and Matos was full of praise for the former Crystal Palace defender.

"Joel gives us experience and leadership," Matos said.

"He's a real top pro and his signing gives us options, including moving [Ethan] Galbraith back into midfield, which was good to see."

Swansea showed resilience after falling behind in extra time, with Zeidane Inoussa scoring his first goal for the club to force penalties.

Matos highlighted the equaliser as another encouraging sign.

"The resilience the boys showed was important," Matos said. "We keep pushing, training and improving."

Attention now turns to the Championship, with Swansea eight points above the relegation zone and nine off the play-off places.

They welcome Birmingham City to the Swansea.com Stadium on Saturday, 17 January (17:30 GMT), with the Blues chasing a third straight win after back-to-back 3-2 victories over league leaders Coventry and League Two side Cambridge United.

But Matos remained guarded on potential January business.

"My focus is just to improve the players I have," he said.

Left-back Ishe Samuel Smith is expected to miss around three weeks with a groin injury, and with youngster Bobby Wales the only fit back-up to striker Zan Vipotnik, Swansea may yet need reinforcements.

Despite Wales and Malick Yalcouye missing in the West Brom shootout, Matos praised their contributions.

"Malick came into the game really well and we created chances straight away, " Matos said.

"Bobby brought the energy we needed when Vipotnik was tired. They'll be stronger after that."

Pundits Dion Dublin and Phil Jones join host Kelly Somers to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's FA Cup ties.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

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• Derby County 1-3 Leeds United

• Portsmouth 1-4 Arsenal

• Norwich City 5-1 Walsall

• West Ham United 2-1 Queens Park Rangers

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Head coach Vitor Matos refused to be drawn on Swansea City's interest in Jesurun Rak-Sakyi after the Crystal Palace winger was recalled from his loan at Turkish club Çaykur Rizespor.

Matos has described the 23-year-old as a "really interesting" player who "has a lot of things we like".

Since then, Palace have cut short Rak-Sakyi's loan in Turkey to fuel speculation that another move could be imminent.

But Matos played that down by saying: "No, nothing to add about that."

Asked if Rak-Sakyi was still a player of interest for Swansea, Matos added: "I think not only for us, I think he's a player of interest of a lot of teams.

"That's why he played last season at Sheffield United. So he's a player who has a lot of things, like I said, that we like, but that doesn't mean anything for the future."

Matos was speaking after Swansea lost their third-round FA Cup tie at home to West Bromwich Albion after a penalty shootout on Sunday.

The match featured a Swans debut for former Palace defender Joel Ward, who signed on a short-term deal until the end of the season on Friday to become the Welsh club's first signing of the January window.

"I'm really happy for him," said Matos.

"Joel gave us experience, leadership, and I think that's quite important as well as a group to have someone like him. So that's why I'm really pleased with the signing."

Meanwhile, Ishe Samuels-Smith, the Swansea defender on loan from Chelsea is facing three weeks out with a groin injury.

There are eight third-round ties in the FA Cup on Sunday - as Premier League and Championship teams enter the competition - and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Derby v Leeds (12:00) - BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Derby & BBC Radio Leeds

• Portsmouth v Arsenal (14:00) - BBC Radio 5 Live & BBC Radio Solent

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• Norwich v Walsall (14:30) - BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2, BBC Radio Norfolk & BBC Radio WM

• Sheff Utd v Mansfield (14:30) - BBC Radio Sheffield & BBC Radio Nottingham

• Swansea v West Brom (14:30)

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• Man Utd v Brighton (16:30) - BBC Radio Manchester and BBC Radio Sussex

Kick-off times GMT

Follow all of the action and reaction here

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Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

BBC Sport asked Swansea City fans for their views on potential player recruitment during the January transfer window.

Here are some of the responses:

Jof - We definitely need an 'enforcer'. We are lacking 'mettle' as a team, with too many examples of weakness in 1on1 battles at an individual level which creates the same weakness at a team level. I want to see a strong-willed, highly verbal player, that can create the battling ethos that we are lacking as a team.

Mark - Number one target needs to be a right-back, Josh Key's injured and his confidence is shot to pieces, [Ethan] Galbraith is doing an amazing job there but he needs to be in the middle of the park. Number two for me is a RW as Ronald needs competition there as I feel hes not delivering performances right now and lastly number three for me would be a pacey centre-back.

Richard - Priority is a right-back. Key sadly is not good enough and our star player Galbraith has to play in midfield. We need another striker to support [Zan] Vipotnik and a right winger who can cross the ball as Ronald is pathetic at that.

Simon - At the Millwall match it was clear that [Lawrence] Vigouroux needs a stronger defence in front of him.

Brian - We definitely need a striker, we have had so many chances to score more than one goal per game, we are playing some good football since Matos has taken over but we just don't finish games off. More goals needed.

Gareth - I don't think we need another centre-forward even with [Adam] Idah off for a while. What we need is regularly passed balls into the box. Vipotnik will do the rest. Tymon is a great crosser but we need both wingers to up their game and have a better end product and go for the pass not glory - too many wasted opportunities through poor thinking.

Karl - Right-back and winger at the very least.

Paul - Desperate for a second fit striker, also a right-back to free up Galbraith and play him in his most effective position.

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After five wins in the past eight Championship games, head coach Vitor Matos has helped steer Swansea City away from the relegation zone.

The Swans have moved eight points clear of the bottom three after their upturn in form, but what player recruitment is needed - if any - in January to maintain their climb up the table? And what players could leave?

We want to hear your views.

Let us know what you think by clicking here.

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Former Wales striker Sam Vokes believes Swansea City may need to sign a forward this month having lost Adam Idah to injury.

Republic of Ireland international Idah has been ruled out for up to three months with a hamstring injury.

With Liam Cullen also sidelined, by a calf injury, Zan Vipotnik is Swansea's only fit centre-forward aside from youngster Bobby Wales.

Vokes is a big fan of Vipotnik, but says Swansea's 12-goal leading scorer may need some help.

"I like Vipotnik. He is on 10 [league] goals. That's a good return for a Swansea side who haven't been creating a great amount of chances," Vokes told this week's Feast of Football podcast.

"With Adam Idah out, can he carry the team and lead the line for the rest of the season? I am not sure. They may have to look in the market for someone else.

"He is the man they have been relying on but with Idah injured, maybe they need someone else."

Wales, who has scored once in five substitute appearances since joining from Kilmarnock last summer, could be in contention for a first Swansea start when Vitor Matos' team face West Brom in the FA Cup third round on Sunday (14:30 GMT).

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Swansea City have recalled Joel Cotterill from Bristol Rovers and could send the Wales Under-21 international out on loan again during the January transfer window.

Cotterill has played 16 games for Rovers, with his one goal for the League Two strugglers coming in an FA Cup win at Bromley in November.

The 21-year-old started the Pirates' most recent game, a 3-0 win at Shrewsbury Town on New Year's Day, but has had his season-long loan cut short by Swansea.

Cotterill, who has played once for Swansea's senior side after coming through the club's academy, has had previous loan stints with Stockport County and Swindon Town.

The attacking midfielder is under contract at Swansea until 2027.

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Swansea City will face a West Bromwich Albion under new management in the FA Cup on Sunday (14:30 GMT) after the Baggies sacked Ryan Mason.

Head coach Mason has been relieved of his duties – as has his former Swansea coach Nigel Gibbs – following Albion's defeat at Leicester City on Monday.

West Brom had looked set to end a run of nine successive away defeats as they headed into added time at Leicester with the scores level at 1-1.

But a 94th-minute Foxes winner from Abdul Fatawu spelled the end for Mason, whose exit was confirmed on Tuesday.

Former West Brom midfielder James Morrison has taken interim charge of a side who are 10 points adrift of the Championship play-off spots – and seven clear of the drop zone – in 18th place.

The Hawthorns club say the process of appointing a new permanent boss is under way.

Swansea, who are 17th in the second tier, beat West Brom 1-0 in the league on New Year's Day thanks to Jay Fulton's late goal.

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Vitor Matos says Swansea City are "really happy" to have Lawrence Vigouroux in their ranks after the goalkeeper's stellar performance in Monday's 2-1 defeat at Millwall.

Vigouroux was left with head in hands after Caleb Taylor's 92nd-minute header gave the Lions victory at The Den.

Swansea had been on course to claim a hard-earned point thanks largely to the efforts of Vigouroux, who made a string of fine saves to keep his side in the contest.

"I think not only [against Millwall], he has been outstanding," said Swansea boss Matos.

"Defending, also attacking with the ball. [Vigouroux's performance at Millwall] was massive because it kept us in the game - we could compete.

"He made some really unbelievable saves and we were not fortunate enough to give him at least one point. I think he deserved it."

Vigouroux's defiant display at Millwall continued his fine form, with the Chile international barely putting a foot wrong during a season and a half as Swansea's number one.

"He is an experienced goalkeeper, a top character, top professional," Matos added.

"I like him a lot and the boys like him a lot. We are really happy to have him."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Vitor Matos says Swansea City's turnaround in form proves his players must not get carried away before Sunday's trip to Millwall (15:00 GMT).

Jay Fulton's spectacular late goal saw Swansea claim home victory over West Bromwich Albion on New Year's Day.

It was a fifth win in seven matches for a Swans side who had suffered five straight defeats before the upturn began when they overcame Oxford on 6 December.

Swansea were only outside the Championship's bottom three on goal difference after slumping to defeat at West Brom at the end of November.

But their triumph in the return fixture means 16th-placed Swansea are now eight points clear of the bottom three – and only eight points adrift of the top six.

"That's football, it can change pretty quickly and we know as well that it can change still," said Swansea head coach Matos.

"So it's important for us to stay focused on the process, focus on what we need to do to improve.

"[We need] to keep improving and keep doing the steps we want on the direction we believe is the best one."

After defeats in his first two games at the helm, Matos has rejuvenated a Swansea side who had lost their way under former boss Alan Sheehan.

But despite Swansea's healthier league position, the Portuguese insists there will be no reassessment of targets for the moment.

"I think what we can look at is in to two days, we play against Millwall," he said.

"We will try to find the best squad and the best 11 to start the game. We need to play every game like a final."