It may well be a huge sigh of relief from both Swans head coach Alan Sheehan and his assistant Darren O’Dea. However, questions were still being asked after a second half performance bar a wonder goal from hitman Vipotnik that resembled so many this season. That isn’t to say anything other than if Sheehan gets the criticism for losing then today he gets the plaudits for winning.

Swansea City started this game like a runaway train, the pressure on every Norwich player causing them to become nervous of a challenge from any angle and in turn setting the Swans up for their first goal after six minutes. Marko Stamenic with a free role to menace the opposition burst forwards fending off his challengers then cleverly slipped the ball to Vipotnik. He in turn took one touch and hit an unstoppable shot at an angle into the Canaries net. Harry Darling was turned inside out by that Stamenic pass and his challenge was literally hopeless to take out the goalscorer.

It was a fantastic start.

That tactic continued with Eom bursting into the Norwich area and really should have done better slipping as he turned inside to shoot when a goal looked obvious. The good football continued with Ronald being an outlet via some excellent midfield play by Stamenic and Ethan Galbraith. He managed to get away on several occasions using his pace but was finding it difficult to create clear chances. The first fifteen minutes was all Swansea City, but everyone knew the home side had to take advantage of this fantastic start.

On twenty three minutes Ronald did find space on the Swans right, his measured shot beat the Norwich keeper who may well have claimed a hand to the ball, nudging it on to the post as it conveniently rebounded back into his hands. This again came from great work by Stamenic in the build up play.

The first opportunity for Norwich to stake a claim in this game came on twenty five minutes from Kenny McLean who scuffed a shot wide. That was their total contribution to date.The only Swansea concern was the fact Ronald despite finding space simply couldn’t get a decent cross in from the right hand side of the pitch. Those opportunities really should have resulted in a lot more.

As the half hour mark past it was noticeable the early pressure on Norwich players had dropped off a level and this was allowing the visitors to create more chances. This was evident when 22 found space just outside the Swans area, fortunately Vigouroux in the Swans goal saved well. It was clear now the Swans had decided to stand off their opponents which in turn allowed Norwich to press higher. We often say referees can change a game and his decision to penalise Liam Cullen for what looked a decent challenge and pull him back just as the forward shot was annoying.

A nasty challenge on Cullen went unpunished on thirty eight minutes leaving him grounded, play went on but Norwich failed to capitalise. Another feature of the referee misjudging tackles. The Canaries first corner kick came on forty one minutes out on the Swans left. McLean took it, Burgess competently headed clear. From that though the Swansea curse happened again. With Burgess caught out - a ball chipped over Vigouroux fell conveniently to Jovon Makama who tapped the ball home. Did Norwich deserve it ? Not really. Were Swansea sleeping again in defence ? Definitely.

Frustration spilled over for Cullen who was carded as we went into two minutes of added time.

Norwich will have been delighted that they had made it to half time all square. Especially after being under the cosh for half an hour. The performance was there for the Swans, a late corner though was poorly taken and the sides went in level at the break.

The first ten minutes of the second forty five saw a more even start with both sides again feeling each other out. Eom was an outlet but moves were breaking down. The first chance of the half fell to substitute Schlupp who drove a shot at the Swansea goal which Vigouroux tipped over the bar. With the lack of press, or should it be said the lack of effort to press, Norwich were able to find their men easily. Vigouroux was down on fifty nine minutes again with an ankle injury as Sheehan desperately engaged with his players on the sidelines.

Vigouroux was soon up thankfully.

And it was noticeable the crowd wanted a change again after more misplaced passes. As we saw on Wednesday night Ronald cannot get a cross in from the majority of angles. The Swans had gone off the boil, they again looked mundane and slow in thought and positional awareness. The crowd were not happy. A free kick taken by Tymon on sixty five minutes was headed clear, Ronald met it on the volley but his shot was blocked. The frustration at the low key performance saw Stamenic booked on sixty six minutes.

A lovely run by Eom fed Tymon a minute later, his low and dangerous cross evading a white shirt as the Norwich keeper took possession of the ball. But then ‘Zān the hitman’ took control of the game. He picked the ball up midway in the Norwich half seizing on to a misplaced pass. Surrounded by defenders he tapped the ball to his right. The man who can do nothing wrong with the ball at his feet struck a shot with so much velocity it had to be a goal. He was at least twenty five yards out. It was a beauty. Two better goals you will not see this weekend. It nestled into the Norwich net as if guided by modern technology. The man who could do right last season was now a special operative in the Swans make up, a danger man and a striker with a cause.

His right foot is a missile launcher.

What we needed to see now was definitely not a return to the cautious Sheehan approach. On seventy three minutes the Swans two better players, Stamenic and Eom were replaced by Melker Widell and Gonçalo Franco. Just prior to to Vipotnik’s second goal Adam Idah was about to come on. He returned to the bench.

The plan seemed to be to exert more pressure on the visitors, but there was no evidence of any high press. However, Galbraith (below) was now in charge, his relentless running ensuring opportunities were available. Cullen went down after a low cross was put in by the west Walian. Idah was back up on his feet. And then the caution. Jay Fulton a defensive midfielder came on for Cullen and goalscorer Zân Vipotnik was off for Idah. Once again Sheehan settling for a more conservative end to the game.

There was clearly going to be some decent added time to end this game. Subs all round as an apprehensive Swansea support constantly checked watches. If this game remained the same then all good, if Norwich were to get something you could only guess the reaction. Fulton was busy in midfield and you had to congratulate him for being on the pitch for over five minutes without a booking. The Swans though were not playing like a side who wanted a third goal. Norwich fans in and around four hundred of them were now calling for Liam Manning’s head despite the fact they were now the team with more attacking intent.

Just.

The Swans were now defending very deep with six minutes added time ahead of us. Little can be said if this half. Kaelan Casey came on for Ronald. The Swans had a corner on their left. With five minutes to go a short corner just isn’t the right option. Not with such an amount of time to go. Franco who hadn’t been at his best it has to be said again went down for a Swans free kick as we now had three minutes to go. Burgess and Tymon were not going to play it into the area that was for sure. The determination not to go for goal even when Widell was in the area was only tempered by the fact that Norwich when in possession couldn’t achieve anything to threaten the Swans.

Time was up, the game continued. Burgess was carded, then the whistle went. The Swans had won at home for the first time since August. The second half wasn’t pretty, it was typical Alan Sheehan, sometimes it works sometimes it doesn’t. A more positive approach would have seen more than two goals scored today for the Swans. It’s a lovely three points but Swans fans will still be split on the future of Alan Sheehan.

The best fixture for the Swans is a hit or miss fourth round League Cup tie at the swansea.com However, the more important test comes away at Charlton Athletic next Saturday. The Swans have to push on and show more signs of improvement.

⚽️ Swans : Lawrence Vigouroux 7 Josh Key 5 Ben Cabango (C) 6 Cameron Burgess 6 Josh Tymon 7 Marko Stamenic 8 (Goncalo Franco 75) 4 Ethan Galbraith 8 Liam Cullen 6 (Jay Fulton 79) 6 Ronald 6 Jisung Eom 8 (Melker Widell 75) 6 Zân Vipotnik 9 (Adam Idah 79) 5 (Kaelan Casey 91).

Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Ishe Samuels-Smith, Manuel Benson, Zeidane Inoussa.

⚽️ Canaries : : Vladan Kovacevic, Jack Stacey, Jakov Medic, Harry Darling, Pelle Mattsson, Liam Gibbs (Emiliano Marcondes 70), Josh Sargent (Mathias Kvistgaarden 70), Mirko Topic (Jacob Wright 46), Kenny McLean (C) Jovon Makama (Matej Jurasek 82), Oscar Schwartau (Jeffrey Schlupp 46).

Unused Substitutes: Daniel Grimshaw, Ruairi McConville, Kellen Fisher, Errol Mundle-Smith

⚽️ Referee: Adam Herczeg. First time reffing the Swans, wasn’t as bad as we’ve seen of late 6/10.

Attendance: 14,729
426 away.

⚽️ Indy thoughts : The start or should we say the first half an hour saw the Swans how the Jack Army know they can play. The press couldn’t be kept up of course but during that time Swansea could have been three up. The supply from Ronald is a concern but his work rate cannot be criticised. It was Zân Vipotnik who saved the day with two goals of such a high class his transfer fee must have doubled after today. Ethan Galbraith continues to be a stand out player but for many today the revelation was Marko Stamenic. A completely different Marko today also ensured the Swans won this game. There is plenty to be pleased about but that second half was again far too cautious and negative. The Swans had the weaponry to take Norwich apart today. In the second half they withdrew into themselves and that was clearly coming from the sidelines. On a number of occasions we saw Sheehan and O’Dea in deep and intense discussions, clearly in disagreement. That has to be dealt with quickly, this is potentially their last chance to get the Swans flying. Another run as we have seen over the season will not do. Not after the investments made and the club desperately looking for an entertaining side that wins games. Today was wonderful at times but overall as has been stated, a number of Swans fans are still not convinced.

Photographs Licensed : tag:reuters.com,2025:newsml_MT1IMGOSP000TF3XBU:1520668284 & tag:reuters.com,2025:newsml_MT1IMGOSP000TF3DY8:1251214623 + Swansea Independent

johnjubal1958 added 19:26 - Oct 25 To boy's can take a lot of confidence from that win that will allows more freedom. Towards the end of the first half we began to back pedal because they got a little to,nervous! After VP's 2nd Sheezy made some excellent changes in the middle of the park. Windell was outstanding and unlike the first half they got closer to the Norwich offence quickly that disrupted their game which was needed! I couldn't sum up VP's two better 😁, we can expect others to chip in now that we will have this important win under our belt! Come On Ye Swans 🦢⚽⚽👏👏👌!

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dangermouse added 20:27 - Oct 25 that people are as you say 'split' on Alan Sheehan forget the run of last season when the fans were eulogising about him.. the lack of patience from fans in a league where no game is given on a plate, is typical these days. Hero if you're winning villain if you're not. Was a well earned 3pts against a side in some desperation in their own right. Obviously in a false position. it's a long haul. another four games in the next 2 weeks. Gruelling.

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