Swansea City

Four successive draws have seen Leicester fall five points behind Championship leaders Middlesbrough as they prepare to face Swansea City in South Wales.

The Swans are also proving to be draw specialists themselves with each of their past three home games in the league ending in stalemates.

• Swansea City have won just one of their past nine league meetings against Leicester City (D1 L7).

• The Foxes have won three of their four away league meetings at Swansea (L1), their last loss coming in the top flight in February 2017 (0-2) when they were reigning champions.

• Swansea City are unbeaten in their past eight home matches in the Championship (W4 D4), keeping four clean sheets in the process. This is the Swans' longest unbeaten home run since a run of 13 between October 2020 and February 2021.

• Leicester City have drawn each of their past four league matches, their longest run of consecutive draws since a run of six between October and November 2004.

• Ricardo Pereira's tally of two goals in five Championship matches this season is just one shy of the three goals he managed in 39 matches in his last campaign in the competition (2023-24).

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Alan Sheehan says he did not have to explain to Goncalo Franco why he was left out against Millwall last weekend – because the midfielder told him first.

Franco had started every Swansea City league game since Sheehan took charge in February until he was omitted against the Lions.

Sheehan was planning to break the news to Franco on the eve of the Millwall game, only for the player to take the lead in "a really honest conversation".

"I was going to tell him but then he told me instead," Swansea's head coach said.

"That's the kind of culture that you want to be a part of. He knows the competition. He was incredibly complimentary about his team-mates and how they're playing.

"That's how we want it - everybody supporting each other because everybody's not going to start every week."

Franco was an unused substitute against Millwall, when summer signings Ethan Galbraith (pictured below) – one of Swansea's star performers this season – Marko Stamenic and Malick Yalcouye started in Swansea's midfield.

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But the Portuguese was recalled for the midweek trip to Blackburn Rovers, where he scored his first goal of the season in spectacular fashion to help Swansea to a first win in four league games.

"Sometimes you need a little reset, sometimes when you're in the heat of the action you can't actually see what's going on," Sheehan added.

"We spoke about it and he knows exactly where he's at. He's an honest player. He knows what he does well, how important he is to the team.

"Sometimes it can be 'oh you're on the bench'. Yeah, but it's the team that finishes - we're seeing how important that is, in the Championship and in other leagues.

"You need massive impact off the bench and sometimes that can determine the scoreline."

Having returned successfully at Blackburn, Franco looks likely to keep his place when Swansea take on Leicester City on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

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Goncalo Franco's spectacular goal made the bigger headlines as Swansea City claimed victory at Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night.

But Liam Cullen provided the winner – and gave a reminder that he has plenty to offer in the process.

Only six weeks ago, Alan Sheehan gave his backing to Cullen, insisting Swansea would only sign a striker in the summer transfer window if they could find someone who was "better than what we have".

"When we talk about potential players coming in, the first person I think of is the nine that is playing in Liam Cullen, an absolute tireless worker for the team, somebody who's on my team sheet more than he's not," Swansea's head coach said on 21 August.

Cullen had started Swansea's opening two league games of the season, against Middlesbrough and Sheffield United, and then kept his place against Watford a couple of days later.

Since then, however, last season's 12-goal top scorer has been restricted to appearances from the bench.

Cullen's bit-part role has been the result of Zan Vipotnik's excellent goalscoring form and the deadline-day signing of Adam Idah.

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With those two vying to be Swansea's centre-forward, Cullen's recent opportunities have come in a less advanced role.

It is the same sort of position in which he has been deployed – and has impressed – in Craig Bellamy's Wales side.

In the short-term at least, playing off either Vipotnik or Idah seems like Cullen's best hope of forcing his way into Sheehan's team.

The issue is that competition this season is fierce, with Sheehan already wrestling with the problem of having Ethan Galbraith, Marko Stamenic, Malick Yalcouye and Franco - not to mention the likes of Melker Widell and Jay Fulton - competing for places in what is usually a three-man central midfield.

Cullen is a bigger goalscoring threat than any of those players, as he proved at Ewood Park with the cool, precise finish which brought his first goal since May and earned Swansea a first win in four Championship matches.

The question now is whether Sheehan will find a way to give Cullen more minutes, or continue to use him sparingly from the bench.

Head coach Alan Sheehan speaks to BBC Sport Wales after Swansea City's 2-1 victory at Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday.

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Alan Sheehan paid tribute to Goncalo Franco after the midfielder responded to being left out last weekend with a stunning goal in Swansea City's comeback win over Blackburn Rovers.

Franco paid the price for a slow start to the season as he was omitted from the Swansea side for Saturday's draw with Millwall.

The Portuguese, Swansea's player of the year in 2024-25, had previously started every league game since Sheehan took charge in February.

Having been recalled at Ewood Park on Tuesday, Franco marked his return by scoring just his third goal in 51 appearances since joining Swansea in 2024.

It was comfortably Franco's finest strike yet, the 24-year-old arriving at the far post to volley back across goal and into the net.

"Franco is a tireless worker for the team and sometimes the outcomes - goals and assists - don't look as big [from him]," said Swansea head coach Sheehan.

"For him to come out with that wonderful goal… that's what we want from our [number] eights."

Sheehan said he had spoken to Franco about his absence against Millwall, when Swansea started with Marko Stamenic, Ethan Galbraith and on-loan Brighton youngster Malick Yalcouye in midfield.

"We have great chats with these lads," Sheehan added.

"Franco knows exactly where he is and what he has to do. He [had] started every game under me in the league. The other day… it's not dropped, it's just changing for different games.

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"Malick came in, tonight was a night for Franco. You could see why – away to Blackburn on a Tuesday night, it's always going to be difficult."

Franco's goal drew Swansea level at Blackburn after Todd Cantwell's opener, with the visitors claiming victory thanks to Liam Cullen's second-half goal.

Rovers felt they were denied the chance to equalise from the spot late on when Cameron Burgess slid in on Cantwell.

"I didn't see it," Sheehan said. "I can't comment on that one, but we have had a few decisions that have gone against us. They have cost us points that would have put us higher in the table."

Swansea are up to seventh in the Championship table on the back of the Blackburn win.

They return to action with a home game against fifth-placed Leicester City on this coming Saturday.

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Former Swansea City defender Kyle Bartley says he will need a knee replacement because he has "no ligament left" in the joint.

Bartley, 34, retired on the eve of this season despite having another year to run on his contract at West Bromwich Albion.

He played 38 times for Swansea after joining from Arsenal in 2012, leaving for West Brom after the club's relegation from the Premier League in 2018.

Bartley suffered a number of knee problems during his career, including a five-month lay-off in his final season at Swansea.

"I'm left now with no ligament in my knee and need a knee replacement sooner or later," Bartley told BBC Radio WM.

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Alan Sheehan says Swansea City must keep on bouncing back if they are to thrive in the Championship this season.

Swansea go in search of a first league win in four games at Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday (19:45 BST).

The Swans were left frustrated after taking only one point against Millwall last Saturday, their third straight league draw on home soil.

Sheehan's side are down to 13th in the early-season table, having won only two – and lost only two – of their opening seven second-tier games.

With Leicester City to come at the weekend, Sheehan says his team's ability to continually recover and go again will be key to their chances of climbing the division.

"These draws feel like losses, albeit this league is so competitive right now and there are very fine margins in the game all across the league," the Swansea head coach said.

"I understand this league. It's about consistently bouncing back. Even when you win, you have to bounce back because every game is a different challenge – you have different teams you come up against.

"We go to Blackburn and then have Leicester. It's a really difficult week before we have [the international] break so our mentality has to be right."

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Swansea face Blackburn for the first time since Sheehan's first game at the helm following the departure of Luke Williams, which the Welsh side won 3-0.

Zan Vipotnik (pictured above), Myles Peart-Harris and Liam Cullen all scored that day, but Swansea have won only once at Ewood Park since the early 1970s.

Blackburn are 20th in the table having won twice and lost four times in six league games so far this season.

They are yet to win at home in 2025-26 having been beaten by Birmingham and Norwich – and Bradford in the Carabao Cup – though they were leading Ipswich Town 1-0 10 days ago when that match was abandoned late on because of a waterlogged pitch.

Sheehan says his team must "control moments better" if they are to add to Blackburn's home disappointments.

"We are simmering... now it's [about finding] that killer edge," he added.

"We have got to chase that next goal. Whether we are 1-0 up or 1-0 down, we have to go after that next goal – and then finish off halves as well."

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We asked you, Swansea City's fans, for your thoughts on Alan Sheehan's side – and to forecast how many points they will get from this week's Championship games against Blackburn Rovers and Leicester City.

Swansea, who are 13th in the early-season table after their weekend draw with Millwall, go to Blackburn on Tuesday (19:45 BST) before Leicester visit on Saturday.

Here are some of your views.

Ianto - It's so difficult to predict Swans' results at the moment. As strong as the squad is on paper, the team is still yet to fire on all cylinders so Alan Sheehan's team selection for this week's fixtures will be interesting. Four points would be great.

JACK2AKING - I would like to get six points but as we all know the Championship is a very competitive league and anyone can beat anyone on any given day, so would take four out of the six points available.

Chris - I don't think the no win in three league games is a fair reflection on performances. Dare I say it, the performances of officials and some key decisions have not gone our way. Yes we could be more clinical but an onside goal and a clear penalty would have changed that outlook. I trust the players to bounce back against Blackburn.

Richard - Swans still don't score enough goals and can't keep a clean sheet. I predicted a few weeks ago that a top-half finish is more realistic than a play-off place.

Paul - Unfortunately I think the team were poor at times against a standard Millwall side. Blackburn and Leicester will be too strong for us. Definitely a penalty [against Millwall] though. Poor ref.

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Danny - We definitely need a win on Tuesday night. It's been very frustrating in the last three games to drop points. I'll be at Blackburn. COYS!

Clare - Can see Swansea City picking up something at Blackburn and against Leicester City but need to stop conceding injury-time goals. Hopefully the dubious decisions by the match officials in the last two games will even themselves out and we won't be talking about the officials at full-time.

Steve - The standard of play from the Swans this season is such a marked improvement on last. I think it's only a matter of time before the team gels. Sheehan has given us lots of hope.

Gary - Hopefully six points but it'll probably be two. I keep saying it but the midfield isn't working. [Goncalo] Franco was underperforming but [Marko] Stamenic played far too deep on Saturday. [Malick] Yalcouye isn't strong enough on the ball, Anyway, onwards and hopefully upwards.

Gareth - Rovers and Leicester could be six points but Swansea seem to be a club who lose to teams that haven't won a game in an age. Hopefully, we'll break that cycle and get all six points. Realistically Swansea are in transition and although I'm not worried at all about relegation this season, I think we are too far off Premier League ready. But boy do I have hopes for next season because only a fool couldn't see this team's potential. Come on!

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

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A little over a month ago, Zan Vipotnik's future as a Swansea City player was in considerable doubt.

Swansea spent the summer chasing a new centre-forward, eventually getting their man when Adam Idah signed from Celtic on transfer deadline day.

Heading into the final weeks of the window, there was interest from Europe in Vipotnik and there was a realistic possibility that the Slovenian international would be moved on.

Yet Vipotnik's sharp form in August – which has continued throughout September – convinced Swansea that he could not be allowed to leave.

If the 23-year-old can maintain the standards set in the early stages of the season across the course of 2025-26, Swansea's decision not to sell may prove the most significant of all the club's recent transfer calls.

Vipotnik, after all, looks a player transformed. He is scoring goals and, not only that, is offering the sort of presence Swansea have craved up front for some time.

As a result, Idah has been a restricted to substitute appearances in the Championship so far, the Republic of Ireland international watching on like everyone else as Vipotnik has delivered for Alan Sheehan.

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Vipotnik's stylish finish against Millwall on Saturday means he has six goals in nine Swansea appearances – only six of which have been starts – in all competitions so far this season.

Last year, having signed from Bordeaux on the eve of the campaign, he managed a total of seven goals in 44 Swansea appearances, including 26 starts.

The contrast in Vipotnik's contribution is stark – and his figures for this campaign might easily have been even more impressive.

He had what looked a perfectly good goal chalked off for offside at Birmingham City nine days ago, after all, and was contentiously denied a penalty – which he would presumably have taken – late on in the Millwall game.

Some chances have gone begging, too, but Vipotnik has looked far more capable of cutting the mustard at Championship level in the last five or so weeks than he did at any point last season.

"He is in the right areas and is attracting the ball," says Sheehan.

"He is regimental in his work for the team. I think we are playing some wonderful football through him - there is a lot of trust building up to play through him.

"Right now, Vipi (Vipotnik) is doing wonderfully well."

And long may it continue, the hope for Sheehan's Swansea will be.

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Swansea City's Carabao Cup fourth-round tie with Manchester City will be played on Wednesday, 29 October (19:45 GMT).

Swansea will host Pep Guardiola's side in the last 16 having come through ties against Crawley Town, Plymouth Argyle and Nottingham Forest.

Manchester City, who have won the League Cup on eight occasions, entered this year's competition at the third-round stage, seeing off Huddersfield Town to set up their trip to Wales.

Swansea, the 2013 League Cup winners, are through to last 16 of the competition for the eighth time in their history.

The visit of Manchester City comes after a home league game against Norwich City on Saturday, 25 October and before a trip to Charlton Athletic the following Saturday.

For Manchester City, the Swansea trip is sandwiched by Premier League games at Aston Villa (Sunday, 26 October) and at home to Bournemouth (Sunday, 2 November).

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Blackburn return to Ewood Park on Tuesday hoping to finally end their home duck as Swansea are the visitors (19:45 BST).

Rovers lost their first three games of the season in all competitions in front of their own fans, but were leading 1-0 against Ipswich in the closing stages when the game was abandoned on 20 September, and will have to replay the full 90 minutes.

Valerien Ismael's side are seeking to bounce back from a 3-0 defeat at Charlton on Saturday while the Swans were pegged back to draw 1-1 at home to Millwall.

The Welsh side have a pretty dismal record at Ewood Park, with just one win in the past 53 years, but would be right back in the play-off pack should they pick up all three points on Tuesday.

• Blackburn have lost just two of their 24 previous home league games against Swansea (W17 D5), going down 1-2 in 1971-72 and 0-1 in 2023-24.

• Swansea have won three of their past four Championship games against Blackburn (L1), more than their previous nine beforehand (W2 D4 L3).

• Blackburn have lost both of their past two home league games, last losing three in a row in March 2019, while they have only lost their opening three at home in a league campaign in 1956-57 and 1996-97.

• Swansea have lost three of their past four away league outings (W1), failing to score in all three defeats.

• Blackburn's Valerien Ismael has won just one of his five previous Championship games against Swansea (D1 L3), a 1-0 win with Watford in October 2023.

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Swansea City are without a Championship win in three matches as they prepare to face Blackburn Rovers and Leicester City prior to the penultimate international break of the year.

But how many points do you think Alan Sheehan's side will collect against Rovers and the Foxes this week?

Have your say here!

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You have to go back to February for when Goncalo Franco was last left out of a Swansea City starting line-up for a Championship match.

But the Portuguese midfielder had to make do with a place on the bench for the Swans' 1-1 draw with Millwall on Saturday.

Franco was voted by Swansea fans as their player of the season for the 2024-25 campaign, and he picked up the same award voted by his team-mates.

But with summer signings Ethan Galbraith, Marko Stamenic and Malick Yalcouye preferred against Millwall, Franco missed out.

"It was very difficult," said head coach Alan Sheehan. "I think Franco has started every league game for me so far.

"He's a wonderful player, somebody that I love and just for this game we wanted different relationships and felt that we had to negate their direct play and set-pieces.

"We had to negate their direct play and set-pieces but, within that, we felt like we would have more of the ball and we wanted to be attacking. Within that we had Malick and Marko and Gally, and some of the play between them today was exceptional.

"These are difficult decisions. We're looking at the right formulas for the right games, different games, different combinations if you want to say so, but look for the first half today, the only critical thing you can say is we need to go in [at half-time] 2-0 or 1-0 up."

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Steven Benda returns to Swansea City on Saturday (12:30 BST) with Alan Sheehan in no doubt about what to expect as his team take on Millwall.

Goalkeeper Benda, 26, should start for the Lions having played in all six of their Championship games so far this season.

Benda joined Millwall on loan from Fulham in the summer, a move which has given the German a first chance to play regular football since he suffered a serious knee injury playing for Swansea in January 2023.

Benda, who moved to Wales on the recommendation of League Cup-winning former Swansea keeper Gerhard Tremmel, made 31 appearances for the Swans before joining Fulham in August 2023.

He has played four cup games for the Premier League side, but has returned to playing league football with a Millwall side who are one place better off than Swansea in the early-season league table.

Alex Neil's team beat Swansea in April, one of just five defeats Sheehan has suffered since taking charge in February.

And the Swansea head coach is expecting another "very difficult game" this weekend.

"They are in every game [they play]," Sheehan added.

"They are a very big, physical team. We know exactly how hard it's going to be, we know what is coming, but it's another thing dealing with it.

"They play quite direct, create that forward momentum and are a big set-piece team. They are very effective."

Swansea City will look to extend their undefeated home record to an eighth Championship game when they welcome Millwall on Saturday (12:30 BST).

The Swans are enjoying a superb spell on home ground, last beating Premier League side Nottingham Forest there in the Carabao Cup before suffering the hangover of their mighty win by losing to Birmingham City at St Andrew's.

Though the Lions are faring well on the road this season and will be hoping that they will be the ones to put an end to Swansea's unblemished home record.

• Swansea have lost their last two home league games against Millwall – they've never lost three in a row against the Lions before.

• Millwall have won four of their last five league games against Swansea (L1), including each of the last three by a 1-0 scoreline.

• Swansea are unbeaten in their last seven home league games (W4 D3) since a 2-0 loss to Burnley in March. They last had a longer run between October 2020 and February 2021 (13).

• Millwall are unbeaten in their three away league games this season (W2 D1), last having a longer run from the start of a second-tier campaign in 1995-96 (9).

• Millwall's Mihailo Ivanovic has had more shots without scoring than any other player in the Championship this season (14). Last season he had the third-best conversion rate of any player with 50+ shots in the division (23.1%).

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Swansea City have played 11 home games since Alan Sheehan took the reins in February and have lost only one.

There have been a couple of frustrating draws during that sequence, when late goals from visiting sides have left Swansea with one point after three had been in their grasp.

But there have been six league wins – against Blackburn, Middlesbrough, Derby, Plymouth and Hull last season and Sheffield United in this campaign – as well as the three Carabao Cup successes which have set up next month's mouthwatering meeting with Manchester City.

Only Burnley have won in Swansea since Sheehan succeeded Luke Williams, a record which makes good reading for a club whose home form has so often been too inconsistent in recent years.

Yet after back-to-back league draws at the Swansea.com Stadium, against Watford and Hull, the Swans may feel home Championship win number two of this season is due when they take on Millwall this Saturday (12:30 BST).

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"I think the home form has been good but we can't take it for granted," Sheehan said.

"We don't just show up and win games at home - we need the fans behind us.

"They have been wonderful for us and hopefully we can give them something to get behind early in the game while understanding it will be a difficult test."

Millwall under Alex Neil are not a side who tend to make life easy for their opponents, as their record this season proves.

They are yet to lose an away league game in 2025-26, having won at Norwich City and Sheffield United and drawn at Charlton Athletic.

The Lions also triumphed at Newport County in the Carabao Cup, with their solitary reverse on the road coming in the third round of that competition at Premier League Crystal Palace – and even then they were only beaten on penalties.