Match Highlights

WATCH HIGHLIGHTS

SWANSEA 2 SOUTHAMPTON 3

SWANSEA CITY EXITED THE FA CUP AS THEY LOST OUT TO SOUTHAMPTON AFTER EXTRA TIME IN AN ENTERTAINING THIRD-ROUND TIE AT THE SWANSEA.COM STADIUM.

TEAM LINEUPS

Swans: Ben Hamer; Ryan Bennett, Flynn Downes (captain), Brandon Cooper (Olivier Ntcham 61); Kyle Naughton, Korey Smith (Rhys Williams 113), Liam Walsh (Matt Grimes 61), Ryan Manning; Joel Piroe, Liam Cullen (Yan Dhanda 85); Michael Obafemi (Jay Fulton 91).

Subs not used: Steven Benda, Jake Bidwell, Dan Williams, Azeem Abdulai.

Southampton: Fraser Forster; Jan Valery, Jack Stephens, Jan Bednarek, Romain Perraud; Stuart Armstrong (Ibrahima Diallo 65), James WardProwse (captain), Oriol Romeu, Nathan Tella (Mohamed Elyounoussi 77); Nathan Redmond (Adam Armstrong 65), Armando Broja (Shane Long 77).

Subs not used: Willy Caballero, Lyanco Vojnovic, Dynel Simeu, Kgaogelo Chauke, Kazeem Olaigbe.

Referee: Simon Hooper

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WATCH HIGHLIGHTS

HUDDERSFIELD 1 SWANSEA 1

FLYNN DOWNES’ FIRST SWANSEA CITY GOAL CAPPED A SUPERB SECONDHALF PERFORMANCE TO EARN A POINT AT HIGH-FLYING HUDDERSFIELD.

TEAM LINEUPS

Huddersfield Town: Lee Nicholls; Ollie Turton (Jordan Rhodes 86), Matty Pearson, Tom Lees; Sorba Thomas, Jonathan Hogg (captain), Lewis O'Brien, Harry Toffolo; Danel Sinani (Scott High 46), Josh Koroma (Pipa 72); Danny Ward.

Subs not used: Nicholas Bilokapic, Josh Ruffels, Naby Sarr, Jon Russell.

Swans: Ben Hamer; Ben Cabango, Kyle Naughton, Ryan Manning; Cyrus Christie (Michael Obafemi 68), Flynn Downes, Matt Grimes (captain), Joel Latibeaudiere; Korey Smith, Olivier Ntcham (Kyle Joseph 88); Joel Piroe.

Subs not used: Andy Fisher, Ryan Bennett, Jay Fulton, Liam Walsh, Azeem Abdulai.

Referee: David Webb

Attendance: 20,535

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIE SECURES SWANS LOAN

Sw ansea City has completed the signing of defender Cyrus Christie on loan for the remainder of the 2021-22 season.

The experienced 29-yearold joins the Swans from Championship rivals Fulham, and adds to Russell Martin’s options following the recall of Ethan Laird by Manchester United.

Christie started his career in the youth ranks at Coventry City and went on to make over 100 league appearances for the Sky Blues – while also having loan spells at Nuneaton Town and Hinckley Borough – before making a move to Derby in 2014.

He was a regular over his three years with the Rams, helping them reach the play-offs in 2016 and making 119 appearances in all competitions.

A transfer to relegated Middlesbrough followed in 2017, and he subsequently joined Fulham in January of 2018. During his time with the Cottagers he has twice featured as a substitute in Championship play-off finals; coming off the bench in victories over Aston Villa and Brentford in 2018 and 2020 respectively.

Christie spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest, and made 44 appearances in all competitions, including both Championship games against the Swans.

Christie has won 29 caps for the Republic of Ireland, scoring two goals, and was part of their squad for the Euro 2016 finals in France.

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SWANS SIGN GLADBACH MIDFIELDER HANNES WOLF ON LOAN

Swansea City has completed the signing of Hannes Wolf on loan from Borussia Monchengladbach, subject to international clearance.

The 22-year-old midfielder links up with the Swans for the remainder of the 2021-22 Championship campaign, and will wear the number 13 shirt.

The Austrian is available to potentially make his debut in this weekend’s home fixture against Preston, as supporters return to the Swansea.com Stadium.

The Austria Under-21 international had been linked with a number of clubs during the January window, and becomes Russell Martin’s third signing of the month following the arrivals of Andy Fisher and Cyrus Christie.

Wolf played for a number of clubs in his homeland at junior level before joining Red Bull Salzburg in 2014.

His first senior appearances came for their reserve side, FC Liefering, in the Austrian second tier, where he scored seven goals in 35 league appearances.

That earned him an opportunity with the senior side, making four appearances during the 2016-17 season before becoming a regular over the following two campaigns.

He made 70 appearances in total, scoring 17 goals – briefly playing alongside Erling Haaland - before making the move to RB Leipzig but he suffered a broken leg while on international duty and missed the first few months of the season.

He returned to make five appearances, and bounced back impressively when loaned to fellow Bundesliga side Monchengladbach for the 2020-21 campaign as he made 41 appearances and scored four goals.

His performances saw the deal made permanent, but has not seen as much game time as he would have liked since the departure of coach Marco Rose – who Wolf previously worked with at RB Salzburg - to Borussia Dortmund.

STILETTOS AND STUDS BY JULIE KISSICK

I'm writing this column on Monday, the third Monday in January to be precise and the day dubbed ‘Blue Monday’. If you’re a social media user, you will have seen that it caused more outrage than usual on Twitter.

The day was labelled ‘Blue Monday’ because back in 2004 psychologist Cliff Arnall was asked to come up with a ‘scientific formula’ for the so-called ‘January blues’.

Interestingly, it was a travel company that made the request, and the cynics among us won’t be at all surprised to learn that. Clearly, it would be in the interests of the industry to get people believing they were in dire need of an escape to warmer, sunnier climes and the best way to do that is reinforce the message that they’re miserable where they are.

It’s another example of a PR stunt people buy into needlessly.

Don’t get me wrong, I know it has been difficult over the last 22 months to find the positives, but we are, hopefully, on the cusp of a much better time in terms of Covid, the restrictions we’ve all endured and we’re already half way through January, which means longer days, more natural light and better weather is on its way.

And, the return of fans to stadiums in Wales is a huge positive. The most recent ban was much shorter than feared and let’s hope there is no need for a repeat this season, (or ever again).

There is a lot to look forward. We know we’re in a building process as a team and time is needed to put the foundations in place. Let’s approach the second half of the season with renewed optimism - and a decent dose of realism - as we support Russell Martin and the 11 he selects to have the privilege of wearing the colours of our club. As many of you know, I’ve been interviewing former players who have signed up to the Swansea City Former Players’ Association and it has been emotional to hear some of their recollections of life as a Swan.

Being a professional footballer means living a life of uncertainty and sometimes having to make tough decisions about your future.

As fans, our loyalty is constant. Players can’t operate like that, even though many of them fall in love with one club and have a real affinity to it that lasts way beyond their playing days.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading their stories as much as I’ve enjoyed writing them. I’ve had times when I’ve felt like Davina McCall from Long Lost Family because you start talking to former players and invariably, they want to know if you’ve spoken to their ex room-mate or a friend who became estranged simply because life made it too difficult for them to remain in touch.

Do check the stories out on the club website. They’re HERE and I’m adding to them weekly. It’s a wonderful opportunity to be nostalgic and to look at how far we’ve come as a club.

WELSH COLUMN BY ALUN RHYS CHIVERS, GOLWG

O’r diwedd, bydd cefnogwyr Abertawe yn ôl lle mae nhw’n perthyn y prynhawn yma.

Mae'n teimlo fel oes yn ôl mai tîm Steve Cooper o Nottingham Forest a achosodd y golled gartref drymaf yn y tymor i'r Elyrch.

Chwe wythnos ar ôl y prynhawn diflas hwnnw, mae'r llun yn sydyn yn edrych ac yn teimlo'n wahanol iawn.

Dyw tîm Russell Martin ddim wedi bod mewn cyflwr da o ran canlyniadau pan maen nhw wedi llwyddo i fynd ar y cae ers mis Tachwedd.

Ond roedd gêm gyfartal 1-1 dydd Sadwrn gyda Huddersfield Town yn rhoi llawer iawn o bethau cadarnhaol, nid lleiaf ymdrechion yr Elyrch yn yr ail hanner.

Roedd hi'n addas hefyd i Flynn Downes daro'r gôl a ddaeth â rhediad Abertawe o bedair colled yn olynol i ben.

Roedd o'n capten i Abertawe am y tro cyntaf yn erbyn Southampton yng Nghwpan FA Lloegr yn gynharach y mis hwn, ac mae Russell Martin yn llygad ei le i siarad am gyn chwaraewr canol cae Ipswich Town mewn termau mor ddisglair.

"Mae ganddo'r holl gynhwysion sydd eu hangen arno i chwarae ar y brig. Mae'n gwybod sut rydw i'n teimlo amdano a sut rydyn ni'n teimlo amdano fel staff hyfforddi a beth all ei nenfwd fod. Rwy'n meddwl y gall fynd i chwarae lle bynnag y mae eisiau yn y pen draw," meddai prif hyfforddwr Abertawe. Wrth gwrs, mae pethau y tu ôl i'r llenni wedi torri rhywfaint yn y cyfnod cyn gêm heddiw gyda Preston North End sydd eu hunain wedi gwella'n sylweddol o dan gyn-reolwr Plymouth Argyle Ryan Lowe.

Ond mae perfformiad dydd Sadwrn diwethaf yn cynnig digon o obaith ar gyfer y flwyddyn sydd i ddod, ac un y gall cefnogwyr Abertawe obeithio bod yn rhan arwyddocaol ohoni unwaith eto.

Wrth gwrs, mae mwy nag wythnos ar ôl o hyd yn ffenestr drosglwyddo mis Ionawr.

Ar adeg ysgrifennu, mae Abertawe eisoes wedi dod â’r golwr Andy Fisher o MK Dons a’r amddiffynnwr Cyrus Christie i mewn ar fenthyg o Fulham.

Mae'r clwb yn obeithiol o gynnal mwy o fusnes, yn enwedig o ystyried y nifer sylweddol o ymadawiadau yn yr wythnosau diwethaf.

Mae Morgan Whittaker, Dan Williams, Liam Cullen, Steven Benda a Lewis Webb i gyd wedi mynd allan ar fenthyg tra bod Ethan Laird a Jake Bidwell wedi symud ymlaen.

Mae wedi gadael Abertawe yn brin o ran niferoedd mewn rhai meysydd, yn enwedig o ystyried y ffaith y gallai mwy o chwaraewyr gael eu gwerthu y mis hwn.

Y gobaith yw y gall y clwb ddod â mwy o berlau fel Flynn Downes, Joel Piroe ac Olivier Ntcham i fewn i sicrhau bod canlyniadau yn gwella rhwng nawr a mis Mai.

Gyda haf mawr arall o'n blaenau, fe allai tymor 2022/23 fod yn un lle mae Abertawe'n dechrau dangos ffrwyth eu llafur o dan Russell Martin a'i staff hyfforddi.