Swansea City vs Leeds United - Issue 25

ISSUE 25

Free Digital Copy Swansea City v Leeds United Sunday, July 12 - Kick-off 1.30pm

Spanish company Joma, founded in 1965, SWANS v LEEDS UNITED strengthens its position in sport worldwide Joma’s sponsorship strategy continues to increase the brand’s presence in elite sport across the globe. Thanks to the incorporation of new teams and athletes, as well as the development of new exclusive products for major events, Joma is positioned among the top three most outstanding sports brands worldwide, and as the number one Spanish brand.

For Joma, the image of an athlete has always been the best representation, so for the next Olympic Games in Tokyo, the brand will dress 8 Committees, including the Spanish Olympic Committee. At the most important sporting event in the world, Joma will also be represented by a multitude of federations across various disciplines: the Spanish Athletics, Handball and Rugby Federations, among many others internationally.

We must of course mention football where, together with Nike, Joma has the largest number of sponsorships in the Spanish League, and in Italy with UC Sampdoria Torino FC and Atalanta BC, surpassing the presence of its main competitors. The brand also has sponsorship deals in Belgium, with RSC Anderlecht and TSG Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, which, together with teams from Romania, Ukraine and Honduras, totals more than 300 professional teams in the world of football.

In futsal, Joma sponsors the champions of the Italian, Brazilian and Spanish leagues, and has recently become the official ball supplier for the LNFS. This makes us the market leaders in Spain and the third brand globally, all thanks to the effort and support of thousands of professional and amateur athletes, who trust our brand more and more every day.

ALL FOR SPORT

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24 Match Reports

32 Meet the visitors

40 FreddieCenturion Woodman| Matt Grimes Swans

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Jack the Lad

Memory Lane

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Polite Warning: The British courts have now imposed a standard minimum three-year ban from all football grounds for football-related arrests – both inside and outside the ground. CCTV is currently in operation inside and outside the stadium, while police are also using handheld video cameras. Offences include: obscene or racist chanting or gesturing; consuming alcohol in seated areas; continual standing in seated areas; aggressive behaviour; going onto the pitch; throwing of items; drunk and disorderly behaviour or under the influence of drugs. Please note there is also a no-smoking policy within the stadium. If broken, you could be ejected. Sales of goods inside and outside the stadium is prohibited unless via official registered sellers. The club badge is a registered trademark and unauthorised use of it will not be permitted. High-quality cameras are not permitted inside the stadium.

SWANSEACITY.COM

SWANSEACITYFC

SWANSOFFICIAL

SWANSTV

Board Of Directors Chairman: Trevor Birch Directors: Romie Chaudhari, Bobby Hernreich, Huw Jenkins, Stephen Kaplan, Jason Levien, Stuart McDonald, Martin Morgan Honorary Club President: Alan Curtis; Associate Directors: David Morgan, Cath Dyer Behind the Team Head Coach: Steve Cooper Assistant First Team Coach: Mike Marsh Goalkeeping Coach: Martyn Margetson Head of Medicine: Dr Jez McCluskey Head of Performance Analysis: Steve Rands Head of Recruitment: Andy Scott Academy Manager: Nigel Rees Staff: David Tivey, Ritson Lloyd, Ailsa Jones, Matthew Murray, Adele Callaghan, Daniel Morris, Lee Watkins, Chris Watkins, Tom Jenkinson, Tom Goodall, Daniel Nisbett, Suzan Eames, Michael Eames, Shaun Baggridge, Huw Lake Club Staff Senior Management Group: Andrew Davies (Head of Operations, Facilities & Development); Gareth Davies (Chief Financial Officer); Rebecca Edwards-Symmons (Head of Commercial); Jonathan Wilsher (Head of Media & Communications) Club Secretary: Ben Greenwood Assistant Football Secretary: Rebecca Gigg Head of Retail: Andrea Morris Head of Hospitality & Customer Services: Catherine Thomas Legal Counsel, Head of Safeguarding: Rebeca Storer HR Manager: Nicola Butt Senior Commercial Sponsorship Manager: Lee Merrells Partnership Sales Manager: Cory Richards Media Manager: Chris Barney Marketing Manager: Julie Parienti Ticket Office Manager: Luke Hughes Operations & Events Manager: Matthew Daniel Facilities Manager: Gordon David Grounds Manager: Anthony Harry Health & Safety Manager: Richard Deakin Disability Access Officer: Mark Phillips Community Trust Manager: Helen Elton Club Chaplain: Kevin Johns MBE Club Ambassador: Lee Trundle Programme Production Contributors: Alex Bennett, Julie Kissick, Sioned Dafydd, Chris Barney, Andrew Gwilym, Jonathan Davies, Sophie Davis, Adil Guney Yurtlu, Ege Agar, Corey Hughes Photography: Athena Picture Agency, PA, REX, Natalie Davis, Ashley Crowden Designers: Callum Rothwell, Jordan Morcom Print: DWJ Group Ltd.

NEW BEGINNINGS: FOCUSSING ON OUR FANS AND OUR COMMUNITY. PUTTING THE CLUB AT THE HEART OF EVERY DECISION WE MAKE.

Swansea City AFC Liberty Stadium, Landore, Swansea, SA1 2FA Telephone: 01792 616 600 Ticket Office: 01792 616 400 Website: www.swanseacity.com Email: info@swanseacity.com

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STEVE COOPER G

ood afternoon everyone. I hope you’re looking forward to today ’s game as we host Leeds United at the Liberty Stadium.

I have to give credit to the lads because we made just one change and everyone showed the type of commitment , desire and effort required to wear the Swansea City shirt.

It’s certainly a fixture that we are all looking forward to as the Championship enters the final four games of the campaign.

Matt Grimes also made his 100th appearance for the club in that game, and he was outstanding along with the rest of the lads.

He’s experienced a lot since being here, but he’s shown his true quality both last season and in the current campaign.

The race for promotion and the play-off spots is providing fans up and down the country with huge hope, drama and excitement. That’s what football is all about.

He’s an intelligent footballer with a mature head, and that’s a big part of the reason why he is our captain. With 100 appearances behind him, I’m sure he can go on to make another few hundred appearances for this great club.

Each game that passes by I am asked what I think will be good enough for us to finish in the top six. It’s a boring reply, but I don’t look any further than the game in front of us.

When you start focusing on anything other than the most important game – that’s always our next match – then that’s where things can go wrong.

Despite falling behind in the first five minutes, we showed great heart and character to come back and dominate the game. It was a brilliant reaction from the boys. Goals can rock you, but the mindset was brilliant.

A s we’ ve seen in this crazy division on countless occasions this season, results are always unc er t ain no matter who you play.

And with a number of teams in the top half playing each other over the next few weeks, circumstances can change dramatically over the course of 24 hours. Hence my reason not to set targets.

I thought we were excellent first half in terms of our possession and our positioning, we looked a real threat.

We we r e m ov i n g B i r m i n g h a m a r o u n d a n d looking for the moment to create chances and get set-pieces, and we got the two goals. It was great to see Ben Cabango get his first goal for the club – he’s a great lad and a talented footballer, so it was a big moment for him.

We g o i nt o t h i s g a m e o n t h e b a c k of t wo consecutive victories.

Our win over Sheffield Wednesday here a week ago was a game of two halves in terms of our performance. I wasn’t happy with us in the first half, but we showed improvement in the second half and played some good football.

I really liked us in the first half and then, in the second half, the message was to keep it going, to play in their half and keep trying to create chances and we did that.

The three points were big for us, but it was important that we backed it up with another result at Birmingham City in midweek.

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We scored from a set play straight from the training ground, although Jay Fulton has had a few laughs about his scuffed finish, and then it’s difficult. Legs are so tired, it is game after game and the boys have played a lot of games, but we kept the ball out of the net.

Now we face another big challenge as Leeds United come to SA1, but again, it’s a test we are all really looking forward to.

The challenge for us is to continue backing up our run of wins with performances and results which make you proud.

I know you can’t be at the stadium for the game, but we appreciate the fanatical support you are showing from the safety of your homes around the world.

Keep shouting, keep supporting and enjoy the game,

SWANS v LEEDS UNITED

MATT GRIMES

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ood afternoon and welcome to everyone around the world tuning in for today ’s Championship showdown with Leeds United at the Liberty Stadium.

It will be a very hard test; Leeds are a very good side. But we are playing well at the moment, so I don’t think there’s a better time to play them and we’ll be going into the game full of confidence.

Obviously, we went to Elland Road and got all three points earlier in the season. If we put in a similar performance today, there is absolutely no reason why we can’t do it again.

We are coming into it off the back of a very good win against Birmingham City on Wednesday. It was a very good away performance. I thought we played some of the best stuff we’ve played all season – especially in the first half – and we were more than deserving of the three points.

Going away to a place like St Andrew’s, you are going to face tough tests from set-pieces. We conceded an early goal, but we didn’t let it affect us and kept playing our game. We implemented what we had worked on in training and carried it through really well. To score three goals in any game is good, but away from home is even better.

Obviously, the league position is in the back of people’s minds. You can look at it and start to get worked up about things, so we just need keep a cool head, keep taking each game as it comes and see where it takes us. If we keep playing well and giving everything, there is not much more we can do.

On an individual note, I was really pleased to see Ben Cabango score his first goal for the club. He looked as surprised as everyone when it hit the back of the net, but massive congratulations to him and, hopefully, it’s the first of many.

You may not be here in person, but I know you will all be watching and cheering us on from around the world again.

I hope you enjoy the game

As for myself, I was delighted to make my 100th Swansea appearance. I honestly had no idea that I had played that many games, but I feel very honoured to reach such a milestone with this club.

It is now all about momentum coming into these last few games of the season. We have had some really good performances since we returned, so we’re looking good and feeling sharp.

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SWANSEA CITY

SUPPORTERS TRUST W

elcome to the Supporters’ Trust page in this virtual matchday programme as we continue to come to terms with the “new normal”.

We’d like to remind fans that there is still time to participate in the Trust initiative to have their matchday flags placed around the Liberty Stadium during this time. This has generated quite a lot of interest already, including from further afield, with a number of flags from our Stateside Jacks.

We’d like to thank Swansea’s own Mr Flag for all his efforts in working with the Trust and supporters from across the world in getting their flags made and displayed on the East Stand. If you would like to know more, please go to https://www.swanstrust. co.uk/2020/06/21/swans-supporters-flags/.

There is something very different about watching games being played without any fans in attendance.

However, it’s noticeable how quickly we become used to things. A quick glance on social media will show how fans are just as engaged as ever, kicking every ball and sharing the same passions and frustrations as usual on a matchday. It isn’t the same of course, and we can’t wait to be back, but it’s good to still be able to enjoy watching the Swans.

Our members will also be aware that nominations for election to the Trust Board have recently closed and we are pleased to announce that Siân Davies, Ceri Stone and Rupert Thomas have been elected to the board for the next two years. Congratulations to all.

At the time of writing, we’re currently one point behind the last play-off place after an excellent 3-1 away win against Birmingham City (although that may change before you read this due to our promotion rivals playing before us this weekend).

Despite conceding a very rare set-piece goal within the first few minutes, we showed exceptional character to turn that around before comfortably closing out the game and bringing the three points back to SA1.

In the coming weeks we will also be advertising for applications for co-option to the Trust board. For those of you willing and able to help ensure the interests of the fans are represented within our club, please stay tuned for further details on the Trust website and our social media platforms.

It was especially pleasing to see Ben Cabango cap off an excellent performance with his first senior goal, as well as the likes of Marc Guehi return to the starting line-up with two superb performances at the heart of a new defensive formation.

While we won’t be at the Trust Pod outside the West Stand today, we are still very active on social media through our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram portals, plus you can also contact us via our website or via email.

No doubt today’s game against table-topping Leeds United will be a different challenge altogether.

However, we all remember our excellent 1-0 win at Elland Road earlier in the season when we kept a clean sheet against an in-form opposition before Wayne Routledge scored a late winner to send the travelling fans (and Wyndham Evans in the commentary box) wild! Here’s hoping for a repeat result today as we look to continue our good run of results and move into the play-off places.

In closing, please continue to stay safe, follow local social distancing guidelines and continue to support the Swans even if that has to be done virtually for now!

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12 18+ only. Begambleaware.org.

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SWANSEA CITY AFC COMMUNITY TRUST FOCUS

ON THEIR IMPACT IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

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wansea City Community Trust is dedicated to offering inclusive provisions that enable individuals from a variety of backgrounds to take part in sport and physical activity.

Currently, people with disabilities are half as likely to take part in sport compared to non-disabled participants – the programme aims to break down some of these barriers to participation and encourage more disabled people to get involved.

To achieve this, the Community Trust deliver two programmes across south west Wales; ‘Every Player Counts’ - funded by the EFL Trust and Wembley National Stadium Trust - and ‘We Wear The Same Shirt’, an initiative delivered in partnership with the FAW.

Swansea City Community Trust deliver free weekly ‘Every Player Counts’ sessions at Pentrehafod Comprehensive School in Hafod, offering a lifeskills, classroom-based session followed by multisport activities for pan-disability participants aged from five years to adulthood.

‘Every Player Counts’ supports the EFL Trust’s aim of increasing sports participation for all and covers a wide range of disabilities with the simple aim of getting more people involved in sport.

The FAW-funded ‘We Wear The Same Shirt’ initiative is aimed at adults of all ages and abilities seeking to improve their physical and mental wellbeing. The weekly sessions provide a great opportunity to play football and socialise with others in a pressure-free, relaxed environment.

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Iwan Rhys Jones, a coach for the Community Trust, has played an integral part in developing the programme at Penlan Leisure Centre, with the introduction of walking football sessions.

“Iwan shows great commitment and professionalism each week,” he said.

“He plans and delivers high quality sessions which support the development of the participants. He also demonstrates fantastic people skills and engages very well with participants from a range of backgrounds.”

Iwan suffered a brain illness but refused to let it impede his ambitions to coach, and the walking football sessions allow him to pursue that dream.

“I became involved in these sessions when I had my brain illness. It has had a massive positive impact on my life, because one of the main worries was what I was going to do as a career,” he says.

Thanks to the support of organisations such as the FAW, Wembley Stadium Trust and the EFL Trust, Swansea City Community Trust are able to offer unique sporting opportunities to ensure that everyone in the community has the chance to take part.

“To be able to do something that I love is fantastic. It gives me something to do and it gives me a purpose.

For more information about these sessions, please contact Community Support Development Officer Stephen Greene via email (stephen@ scfccommunitytrust.co.uk)

“My aspirations for the future are to hopefully keep improving as a coach and to be able to pursue this as a full-time job.”

Stephen Greene, community sport development officer, has been delighted by Iwan’s contribution.

Dental Care Provider to

The Swans 01792 642 733

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CLUB CON ALAN CURTIS

The Welsh international striker was capped while at both Swansea City and Leeds United. Signing professionally at Vetch Field in July 1972, he was leading marksman in Swansea’s 1977-78 promotion success and moved to Leeds for £350,000 in June 1979. He netted five goals in 28 First Division outings while at Elland Road before re-joining Swansea in December 1980.

Helping clinch promotion to the top-flight that season, he joined Southampton in November 1983. He returned to Swansea from Cardiff City in October 1989 and scored 95 times in 364 league games overall.

TERRY CONNOR The former Leeds United striker had two spells at Swansea City. He turned professional at Elland Road in November 1979 and scored on his First Division debut in that month’s 1-0 win at home to West Brom. Netting 19 goals in 96 league games for hometown side Leeds, the England U-21 international was swapped for Brighton’s Andy Ritchie in March 1983. He joined Swansea from Portsmouth in August 1990 and helped win the Welsh Cup in 1991.

Moving to Bristol City in September 1991, he rejoined Swansea on loan in November 1992 and scored six times in 42 league games overall.

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NNECTION WILLIE HUMPHRIES

The ex-Leeds United winger gained the last two of his 14 Northern Ireland caps while at Swansea. Moving to Leeds from Ards in September 1958, he failed to settle at Elland Road and scored twice in 25 First Division games prior to re-joining Ards in November 1959. He joined Swansea from Coventry City for ÂŁ14,000 in March 1965 and featured in the 1966 Welsh Cup final triumph. Ever-present in 1966-67, he played against Arsenal in the 1967-68 FA Cup fourth round, netting 22 goals in 143 league outings while at Vetch Field before returning to Ards in June 1968.

ANDY ROBINSON Hugely popular winger scored 54 goals in 226 games during a five-year spell that included two promotions and a Football League Trophy triumph. Scored the final goal at the Vetch during the FAW Premier Cup final win over Wrexham. After starting his career in nonleague before joining hometown club Tranmere, Robinson enjoyed the best spell of his career in south west Wales. Joined Leeds in July 2008 and scored seven goals in 50 appearances at Elland Road. Later featured for Shrewsbury Town and Stockport County before lacing up his boots for Welsh League Division One outfit Ammanford Town.

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ALAN TATE Swans stalwart Alan Tate joined Leeds on loan on November 22, 2012 until January 2013. Tate represented the first signing

by Leeds after the takeover by GFH Capital the previous day. Tate made his debut for Leeds against Crystal Palace on November 24 and was handed squad number 15.

He received praise for his performance's against Crystal Palace and Leicester City, helping Leeds earn two wins in his first two matches. Leeds started negotiations with the Swans to sign Tate on a permanent deal, but it was not concluded and although he extended his loan spell at Leeds until January 26 he returned to the Swans after 10 appearances.

LEE TRUNDLE Swans star Trundle joined Leeds on a onemonth loan in January 2009 from Bristol City and was allocated the number 35 shirt.

Former Swansea team-mate Andy Robinson played a big part in recommending Leeds to Trundle. He made his debut for Leeds as a sec ond-half substit ute in the 2–0 loss to Carlisle United at Elland Road. He scored his only goal for the club on his first starting appearance in a 2–0 win at Brighton on January 17. Leeds extended Trundle's stay at Elland Road for a further month, but his loan expired on March 10, 2009 and he returned to Bristol City after 10 appearances before eventually fining himself back at the Swans.

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GARRY MONK The centre-back served the Swans with distinction and captained the club in all four divisions. Made 280 appearances in all competitions - scoring seven goals - and famously lifted the Championship PlayOff title and League Cup at Wembley. His block during the play-off final win at Wembley against Reading will forever be remembered by Swans fans, while his leadership and service to the club were also crucial in the club's rise. Monk joined from Barnsley on a free transfer in June 2004, and retired from football in February 2014 to take is first step into management following the sacking of Michael Laudrup. After winning his first game in charge - a 3-0 derby-day victory over Cardiff - Monk led the Swans to safety. In 2014-15 he managed the Swans to their best finish - eighth - and highest points total - 56 - in the Premier League. After leaving the club in December 2015, he went on to manage Leeds United, Middlesbrough, Birmingham City and Sheffield Wednesday.

MATT GRIMES Joined the Swans as a highly-rated youngster from Exeter in 2015, and made his debut in a Premier League victory over Hull City. Made seven appearances at the start of the 2015-16 season before a loan spell at Blackburn. Spent the next campaign at Elland Road where he made 12 appearances for Leeds on loan – where he was reunited with former Swans boss Garry Monk – before another temporary switch saw him spend 2017-18 at Northampton Town, Returned to the Liberty, where his career was reignited under then head coach Graham Potter, with Grimes making 50 appearances in all competitions and winning four separate accolades at the end-of-season awards dinner. Was named captain by new head coach Steve Cooper last summer and has been an ever present this season in the Championship.

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buy now at

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SWANSEA CITY REVEAL RETAINED LIST

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wansea City have offered first professional deals to six members of the club’s academy.

In the academy ranks Cameron Berry, Kees de Boer, Keiran Evans, Arnor Gudjohnsen, Tom Price and Marc Walsh have all left the club.

Ali Al-Hamadi, Ryan Bevan, Bradley Gibbings, Jacob Jones, Lewis Webb and Jake Thomas have all been offered 12-month professional deals following their performances for the under-18 and under-23 sides in recent seasons.

Everyone at Swansea City wishes them well in their future careers.

Joel Asoro

Jack Evans

Defender Cameron Evans, winger Mason JonesThomas and midfielder Daniel Williams have signed short-term extensions through to August 4.

Andre Ayew

Jay Fulton

Steven Benda

Jordon Garrick

In addition, 11 players have been offered scholarship terms.

Jake Bidwell

Josh Gould

Matthew Blake

Jordi Govea

Adrian Akande and Harry Jones are set to join subject to international clearance - after stints at Chelsea and Arsenal respectively.

George Byers

Matt Grimes

Ben Cabango

Declan John

Ryan Bassett, Cameron Congreve, Ruben Davies, Joshua Edwards, Tyler Evans, Aaron Hillier, Kian Jenkins, Kai Ludvigsen and Dylan Perkins have also been presented with terms.

Rio Campbell

Joe Lewis

Bersant Celina

Barrie McKay

Oli Cooper

Kristoffer Peterson

Several players have also left the club.

Brandon Cooper

Connor Roberts

Courtney Baker-Richardson and Jefferson Montero have seen their contracts come to an end.

Liam Cullen

Joe Rodon

Yan Dhanda

Tivonge Rushesha

Retained:

B aker-Richardson scored four goals in 21 appearances for the Swans having joined in 2017, while Ecuador winger Montero scored twice in 84 appearances over six seasons.

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PRIFYSGOL ABERTAWE SWANSEA UNIVERSITY DRWS I DDYFODOL DISGLAIR WHERE BRIGHT FUTURES BEGIN

YMGEISIWCH NAWR

abertawe.ac.uk/clirio swansea.ac.uk/clearing Teaching Excellence Framework Y dyfarniad uchaf (Aur) am ragoriaeth addysgu ym mhrifysgolion y DU

The highest award (Gold) for teaching excellence at UK Universities

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MIKE VAN DER HOORN READY TO PLAY PART IN PLAY-OFF PUSH

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ike van der Hoorn is ready to play a big part in Swansea City’s final four fixtures after he made his long-awaited return from injury last weekend.

“Of course, we don’t have weeks now, the games are coming quick. I felt good and know I can do this, so I look further ahead now.”

The former Ajax defender also credited the Swans’ physio team for helping him during his comeback.

The Dutchman came off the bench in the Swans’ 2-1 home win over Sheffield Wednesday seven days ago, playing just under half an hour as Steve Cooper’s men moved to within four points of the top six.

It looked likely that he would miss the rest of the season, prior to the coronavirus pandemic, but his return was boosted by their commitment to his rehabilitation.

Prior to that, the 27-year-old hadn’t played since the victory over Charlton on January 2 due to a knee problem which required an operation the following month.

“It was tough. I worked for two months and was back to it, but broke down during my first rehab and had to do another one. It was two in one really,” added van der Hoorn.

But van der Hoorn banked some invaluable gametime against the Owls as he replaced Wayne Routledge for the last 27 minutes.

“The most frustrating thing is that I was almost back for the West Brom game in February. I did something wrong in my rehab and needed surgery.

That was a big disappointment.

“I’m very happy to be back, play without pain and to win. Everything is good,” said the centre-back.

“I said to the gaffer that was my quad was a bit tight, so I could have started but would have had to come off after 45 minutes. I wouldn’t take that risk.

“But the people around me helped me to look at things in a positive way. Credit to the Swans medical staff, they’ve kept me in good spirits and wanted to treat me during lockdown.

“Also, I’ve been out for a long time, so a start would have been a bit too much. Mentally, this is a big step for me and I’m working for more minutes now.

“They could have said no, so I respect that. I was in two or three times a week and that helped me a lot to recover from my injury.”

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SWANSEA CITY 2 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 1 DATE: SUNDAY, JULY 5 VENUE: LIBERTY STADIUM ATTENDANCE: N/A REFEREE: STEPHEN MARTIN

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ec ond-half goals from Rhian Brewster and Andre Ayew saw Swansea City keep themselves in the Championship play-off hunt with victory over Sheffield Wednesday.

SWANSEA CITY 2

The Swans endured a difficult opening half, but were much-improved after the break as their top two marksmen struck to ensure Atdhe Nuhiu’s stoppage time header was a mere consolation for Garry Monk’s Owls.

Nuhiu 90+4'

Brewster 52', Ayew 66' pen

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 1 Swans: Freddie Woodman; Connor Roberts, Kyle Naughton, Marc Guehi, Jake Bidwell; Jay Fulton, Matt Grimes (captain); Andre Ayew, Conor Gallagher (George Byers 69), Wayne Routledge (Mike van der Hoorn 63); Rhian Brewster (Liam Cullen 88).

For Swans boss Steve Cooper there was also the positive sight of Marc Guehi performing strongly in his first start since February, while Mike van der Hoorn made his first appearance since January 2 from the bench.

Subs not used: Erwin Mulder, Ben Cabango, Yan Dhanda, Bersant Celina, Nathan Dyer, Aldo Kalulu.

Cooper had opted for a three-man defence in the wake of injuries to Ben Wilmot and Joe Rodon, while Ben Cabango nursed a hernia problem, and it took his side time to settle into the new shape.

Sheff Weds: Joe Wildsmith, Liam Palmer, Dominic Iorfa, Julian Borner; Jacob Murphy, Kieran Lee (Alex Hunt 46), Barry Bannan (captain), Massimo Luongo (Atdhe Nuhiu 70), Adam Reach (Kadeem Harris 67); Alessio Da Cruz (Jordan Rhodes 79), Connor Wickham.

Wednesday had the better of the opening half with Jacob Murphy blazing over a clear sight of goal at the far post, while Alessio Da Cruz was denied by a Guehi block before wastefully heading over.

Subs not used: Cameron Dawson, Joey Pelupessy, Moses Odubajo, Ben Hughes, Liam Shaw.

It was goalless at the break, but it was the Swans who got on the front foot at the start of the sec ond period, Ayew seeing a freekick saved before a quick throw was turned into the box by Connor Roberts and Brewster reacted first to slam home his seventh goal of the season.

Key quote:

"WE HAVE TO TRUST OURSELVES, BUT OUR HEART AND SOUL AND COMMITMENT TODAY WAS FANTASTIC. “TO TURN AN AVERAGE FIRST-HALF PERFORMANCE INTO A WIN IS PLEASING.” STEVE COOPER

C o n o r G a l l a g h e r wo r ke d O w l s ke e p e r J o e Wildsmith from distance before the Swans doubled their lead as Roberts was needlessly fouled by Adam Reach in the area.

Ayew made no mistake in netting his 16th goal of the campaign from the spot, and Nuhiu’s emphatic late header was not enough for the visitors as the Swans claimed three crucial points.

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BIRMINGHAM CITY 1 SWANSEA CITY 3 DATE: WEDNESDAY, JULY 8 ˚ VENUE: ST. ANDREWS ˚ ATTENDANCE: N/A ˚ REFEREE: JARRED GILLETT

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wansea City climbed to within one point and one place of the Championship places as they came from behind to claim a comfortable victory at Birmingham.

BIRMINGHAM CITY 1

The Swans had trailed early at St Andrew ’s Trillion Trophy Stadium, with Lukas Jutkiewicz heading home in just the fifth minute for the hosts.

Brewster 12', Cabango 45', Fulton 52'

Jutkiewicz 5'

SWANSEA CITY 3

But the visitors responded superbly, with goals from Rhian Brewster, Ben Cabango and Jay Fulton ensuring their record back-to-back wins for the first time since December.

Birmingham: Lee Camp, Maxime Colin (captain), Marc Roberts, Jake ClarkeSalter, Kristian Pedersen; Dan Crowley, Gary Gardner, Ivan Sunjic, Jeremie Bela (Jayden Reid 78); Scott Hogan (Jude Bellingham 46), Lukas Jutkiewicz.

Head coach Steve Cooper has spoken of the need to back up the win over Sheffield Wednesday, but his side got off to a far from ideal start.

Subs not used: Connal Trueman, Wes Harding, Maikel Kieftenbeld, Harlee Dean, Caolan Boyd Munce, Ryan Stirk, Nico Gordon.

J a ke C l a r ke - S a l t e r n o d d e d a c o r n e r b a c k across goal, and Jutkiewicz was on hand to head the ball beyond Freddie Woodman.But Swansea made light of the setback, dominating the game and levelling just seven minutes later.

Swans: Freddie Woodman; Kyle Naughton, Marc Guehi, Ben Cabango; Connor Roberts, Jay Fulton, Matt Grimes (captain), Jake Bidwell; Conor Gallagher, Andre Ayew; Rhian Brewster (Wayne Routledge 82).

Connor Roberts knocked down a cross from C o n o r G a l l a g h e r, a n d B r e w s t e r c l i n i c a l l y volleyed in his eighth goal in 16 appearances for the club.

Subs not used: Erwin Mulder, Mike van der Hoorn, George Byers, Bersant Celina, Nathan Dyer, Aldo Kalulu, Yan Dhanda, Liam Cullen.

It got even better on the stroke of half-time when Roberts got into space on the right and his deflected cross fell for Cabango to score his first Swansea goal from close range.

Key quote:

"THE THREE POINTS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT AT THIS STAGE OF THE SEASON, SO THE RESULT WAS EXCELLENT. “IT WAS A DIFFICULT START, WE NEVER WANT TO CONCEDE, PARTICULARLY FROM A SET PLAY EARLY ON, SO WE WERE NOT HAPPY WITH THAT, BUT IT WAS A BRILLIANT REACTION FROM THE BOYS." STEVE COOPER

Birmingham sent on teenage prodigy Jude Bellingham at the break and the midfielder missed a chance to equaliser shortly after the break.

Instead, it was the Swans who opened up a two-goal cushion as Fulton’s miscue from a Matt Grimes corner found its way past L ee Camp and into the top corner. Brewster missed a chance to add to his tally late on, but it did not detract from a fine away performance.

27

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SWANS v LEEDS UNITED

STILETTOS AND STUDS REGULAR COLUMNIST JULIE KISSICK GIVES HER TAKE ON THE RECENT EVENTS SURROUNDING SWANSEA CITY

I

That’s 63 points with another 12 to play for. We finished last season on 65 and Daniel James (now with Manchester United) and Oli McBurnie (now Sheffield United) were first-team regulars.

don’t need to tell any Swansea City, or Leeds United fan, that this game is a really mouthwatering prospect.

Not that we will be worried about serving up the football equivalent of posh nosh this lunchtime – good old cockles and laverbread will suffice, as long as it’s accompanied by three points.

That is some achievement, and whatever happens as we approach the end of the campaign, we cannot underestimate that.

It has been a good season – and it isn’t over yet. Remember, Graham Potter was replaced by Steve Cooper, a manager with no experience at league level, we saw big name departures and a combination of youth, experience and loanees have made up the side for the majority of the season.

Nothing about this ‘mini season’, in July, is predictable, but if you’re a supporter of our visitors, you’ll be hoping the remaining four games don’t leave you with bellyache.

Our neighbours in the capital delivered quite the upset when they beat the Whites 2-0 and Marcelo Bielsa’s men won’t want their return visit to south Wales to end in similar fashion.

And here we are, about to take on the big boys, promotion favourites, and very much in with a shout of making the play-offs ourselves. Happy days Jacks!

No question then, this as another ‘must win’ game – for both sides.

And in other news … if you watched the Birmingham game on SwansTV on Wednesday evening, you would have heard Kristian O’Leary alongside commentator Anthony O’Connell.

Leeds have a habit of falling at the final hurdle and at the time of writing, they were second in the table, having been overtaken by West Brom thanks to the Baggies’ 2-0 win over Derby in midweek.

SwansTV has been a godsend during these lockdown days with the experienced O’Connell, a very familiar voice to Swansea Sound and The Wave listeners, guiding us through the action alongside a host of Swans favourites.

After a 16-year absence from the Premier League, Leeds will be desperate to avoid a repeat of last season where they picked up a single point from their last four games, despite spending the majority of the campaign in the top two.

O’Leary made more than 300 appearances for the Swans as a player and was part of Garry Monk’s coaching staff in the year we finished eighth in the Premier League.

Former Swan Pablo Hernandez has been a welcome return to the squad following injury and Leeds will be hoping for the 35-year-old to be back to full fitness as they approach the final stage of the season.

He and O’Connell were a great combination, with O’Leary offering a balance of footballing insight and anecdotes – those little pearls you can only impart if you’ve been there and done it and know those currently in that position.

For us, this clash comes hot on the heels of an impressive 3-1 victory against Birmingham, which saw Rhian Brewster net his eighth goal and Ben Cabango get his first. Jay Fulton added to the tally.

It was a great listen. Let’s hope he’s been signed up for the remainder of the campaign.

29

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SWANS v LEEDS UNITED

ERTHYGLAU CYMRAEG ALUN RHYS CHIVERS, GOLWG

M

ae’r ras am y gemau ail gyfle’n poethi. “One team on a mission,” ys dywed Rhian Brewster wedi’r fuddugoliaeth yn Birmingham nos Fercher.

Roedd y gêm gyfartal ym Millwall yn destun siom, ond mae’r fuddugoliaeth ddiweddaraf ar ôl yr un flaenorol gartref dros Sheffield Wednesday, yn cynnig llygedyn o obaith i dîm Steve Cooper gyda phedair gêm i’w chwarae. Ond y gwir amdani bellach yw mai prin y gall yr Elyrch ollwng pwyntiau am weddill y tymor – haws dweud na gwneud pan mai Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Bristol City a Reading yw’r gwrthwynebwyr sydd i ddod.

gemau anodd yn erbyn Leeds heddiw a Bristol City ddydd Sadwrn i ddod yn y Liberty. Ond o leia’ maen nhw wedi dangos eu bod nhw’n gallu ennill gemau anodd a phwysig dan bwysau.

Roedd pedwar allan o’r pum gwrthwynebydd cyntaf ers ailddechrau’r tymor yn hanner isa’r tabl ac efallai y dylai’r Elyrch fod wedi perfformio’n well yn erbyn Millwall a Luton. Ond fe fydd y momentwm a’r ysbryd yn dilyn y ddwy gêm ddiwethaf yn hollbwysig wrth i’r tymor dynnu tua’i derfyn.

Siom o’r mwyaf oedd colli Joe Rodon a Ben Wilmot am weddill y tymor, ond fe fydd cael Mike van der Hoorn yn ôl yn iach yn sicr yn hwb i Steve Cooper.

A llongyfarchiadau gwresog hefyd i Ben Cabango ar ei gôl gyntaf i’r Elyrch. Mae ei berfformiadau hyd yn hyn yn argoeli’n dda ar gyfer y dyfodol, nid lleiaf gyda’r Ewros ar y gorwel y flwyddyn nesa’.

Roedd dechrau’n ôl ar ôl ar y seibiant yn anodd i bob tim. Ond roedd gan yr Elyrch un o’r pellteroedd mwyaf i deithio i Middlesbrough, a’r trefniadau’n dra gwahanol i’r arfer – teithio ar fysus ac awyren mewn sawl grŵp, aros mewn ystafelloedd ar wahân yn y gwesty a wedyn gorfod ymdopi ag amodau gwahanol iawn yn y stadiwm.

Ond os oes yna un ffactor fydd yn bwysicach na’r gweddill i’r Elyrch rhwng nawr a diwedd y tymor, ysbryd y chwaraewyr fydd hwnnw. Ers y golled yn erbyn Luton, roedd y dyfalbarhad yn amlwg i bawb wrth sicrhau pwynt ym Millwall ar ôl bod ar ei hôl hi, ac roedd y buddugoliaeth o’r bron yn Hillsborough a St. Andrew’s yn rhai cadarn, gyda Rhian Brewster yn parhau i danio o flaen y gôl.

Prin y gallai neb fod wedi disgwyl y fath berfformiad a chanlyniad rhagorol, gan ennill o 3-0. A dyna, efallai, ychwanegodd at y siom wedyn o golli o 1-0 yn erbyn Luton yn y gêm gyntaf yn y Liberty.

Doedden nhw ddim wedi gallu tynnu ar y profiad anodd o fynd i ogledd-ddwyrain Lloegr er mwyn creu sefyllfa anodd wrth groesawu Luton. Mae’r canlyniadau ar eu tomen eu hunain yn broblem hirdymor i’r Elyrch, ac mae’n ymddangos hyd yn hyn nad yw Steve Cooper ychwaith wedi gallu cynnig atebion i’r broblem honno.

Un pwynt sy’n gwahanu’r Elyrch a’r safleoedd ail gyfle ar hyn o bryd, ac mae digon o bwyntiau i’w hennill. Pwy, ar ddechrau’r tymor, fyddai wedi dychmygu y gallai fod yn ras am y lle olaf yn y gemau ail gyfle yn erbyn Caerdydd?

Mae yna ddihareb ym myd y campau fod rhaid curo’r goreuon er mwyn cyrraedd y brig. Dyma gyfle euraid heddiw i brofi’r ddamcaniaeth honno. Hatric amdani?

Os yw’r patrwm hwnnw am barhau, fe fydd y teithiau i Nottingham Forest a Reading yn allweddol, gyda

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SWANS v LEEDS UNITED

LEEDS UNITED

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MARCELO BIELSA T

h e A r g e n t i n i a n i s a man whose coaching methods have been hailed by the likes of Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino.

The 63-year-old retired young as a player and began a coaching career which has included stints in charge of a host of clubs including Newell’s Old Boys, Espanyol, Athletic Bilbao and Lille.

He has also had lengthy stints in charge of Argentina and Chile.

He memorably led Bilbao to the 2012 Europa League final, with their breathless, high-octane style seeing them dump out Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United along the way.

Former Swans striker Fernando Llorente, who played for Bielsa at the Basque club, called him a genius.

Bielsa has garnered a reputation for exhaustive indepth analysis, lengthy tactically-detailed training sessions and extended press conferences, and he has certainly made a big impression in Yorkshire.

32

SWANS v LEEDS UNITED WHAT'S THEIR STORY? One of the best-supported clubs in the land, Leeds are close to ending their 16-year absence from the Premier League.

After suffering play-off heartbreak at the hands of Derby last season, the finish line is in sight for Marcelo Bielsa’s side this time around.

They have three league titles, as well as an FA Cup and League Cup in the trophy cabinet, while they were beaten European Cup finalists in 1975.

Their last First Division title came in 1992 and they were a top-flight force around the turn of the Millennium, while reaching the Champions League semi-finals in 2001.

However, they have since spent three seasons in League One and supporters are desperately hoping this 10th successive year in the second tier will not lead to an 11th.

HOW'S THEIR FORM?

WHO ARE THE KEY MEN?

Despite a 2-0 defeat at Cardiff on their return to action, they have followed up with three wins and a draw from their last four games.

Leading marksman Patrick Bamford carries Leeds’ main goalscoring threat, having netted 16 times in the Championship this season.

They reclaimed top spot in the Championship with an emphatic 5-0 win over Stoke in midweek, courtesy of a superb second-half display against the Potters.

On-loan Manchester City winger Jack Harrison is one of several dynamic options Leeds have down the flanks, along with the likes of Stuart Dallas, Ezgjan Alioski and Wolves loanee Helder Costa.

They have also been strong on the road in recent times, winning three of their last four games away from Elland Road – scoring eight goals along the way.

Pablo Hernandez and Mateusz Klich generally pull the strings in the heart of midfield, while local lad Kalvin Phillips keeps things ticking over in a deeper role.

However, you have to go back to April 1964 for the last time they tasted victory in Swansea

At the back, Brighton loanee Ben White has been an ever-present in the heart of defence and formed a strong partnership with captain Liam Cooper.

Meanwhile, French youth international Illan Meslier – on loan from Lorient – has kept goal in each of Leeds’ last seven games due to the suspension of former Real Madrid stopper Kiko Casilla.

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SWANS v LEEDS UNITED

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SWANS v LEEDS UNITED

PAST MEETINGS Here, we recall past encounters in the Championship, League One and the old First Division.

Swans 2 Leeds United 2 Championship – August 21, 2018

Swans 3 Leeds United 2 League One – December 29, 2007

The Swans were pegged back twice as they shared the spoils with Leeds at the Liberty.

The Swans came out on top in a classic encounter between two sides battling for League One promotion.

Oli McBurnie scored both goals against his home-city club, but it wasn't enough to ensure victory in a thrilling encounter in SA1.

Roberto Martinez’s men were flying high at the top of the table and went ahead early on thanks to Andy Robinson’s free-kick, but Dennis Wise’s Leeds levelled thanks to a fine Jermaine Beckford goal.

The striker poked home the opener after 24 minutes, only for Kemar Roofe to level before the break.

Garry Monk then put the Swans back ahead with a header before Ferrie Bodde was dismissed for a rash tackle on Jonny Howson. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the 10 men extended their lead just before half-time through Jason Scotland.

Graham Potter's side were full of energy and creativity, and they were back ahead in the 51st minute when McBurnie nodded in from Martin Olsson's cross.

But former Swan Pablo Hernandez ensured a point for the visitors as he guided home Patrick Bamford's 79th-minute cross.

Although Alan Thompson’s free-kick reduced the arrears at the start of the second period, the Swans held on for a thrilling victory.

Swans 3 Leeds United 0 Championship – February 26, 2011

Swans 5 Leeds United 1 First Division – August 29, 1981

Brendan Rodgers’ Swans stepped up their promotion charge as they dismantled Leeds in clinical fashion.

Even those Swans fans who are too young to have been there will not need to be told too much about this memorable contest. Leeds were the opponents in the Swans’ first ever top-flight game, and they were ripped apart in the August sunshine at Vetch Field.

Scott Sinclair put the hosts in front after latching on to Luke Moore’s backheel in the 13th minute.

The winger claimed his second from the penalty spot after Nathan Dyer, who was making his 100th Swansea appearance, was brought down by Max Gradel.

Jeremy Charles put the hosts in front early on only for Derek Parlane to make it 1-1 at the break. But the Swans took the game away from the visitors as Bob Latchford scored a nineminute hat-trick right at the start of the second half.

Moore then wrapped up the point 18 minutes from the end after a sweet pass from Stephen Dobbie.

And Alan Curtis, who had rejoined the Swans after an unhappy spell at Leeds, rounded off the win with a brilliant individual goal 20 minutes from the end.

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ONES TO WATCH

SWANS v LEEDS UNITED

Luke Ayling Age: 28 Position: Defender

Kalvin Phillips Age: 24 Position: Midfielder

An integral part of the squad, Ayling joined the Whites from Bristol City in the summer of 2018. After beginning his career at Arsenal, the full-back moved to Yeovil Town where he helped the Glovers achieve promotion to the Championship in 2013.

The Lambeth-born defender has made over 130 appearances for Leeds and has twice been named EFL Championship Player of the Month this season.

A product of Leeds’ academy, Phillips joined the club as a 14-year-old and has gone on to become a key member of Bielsa’s squad. The central midfielder has over 150 senior appearances for the Whites to his name and has attracted Premier League attention after being lauded for his ability to start attacks whilst covering his defensive duties. Phillips has scored twice this season, including a fine free-kick against Blackburn last weekend

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SWANS v LEEDS UNITED

Mateusz Klich Age: 30 Position: Midfielder

Pablo Hernandez Age: 35 Position: Midfielder

Patrick Bamford Age: 26 Position: Forward

Polish international Klich joined the Whites from Dutch outfit FC Twente in the summer of 2017.

After a difficult start to life at Elland Road, the midfielder has started Leeds’ last 90 league games following the arrival of Marcelo Bielsa and is just four games away from starting every single league game for two consecutive seasons. Klich won the Sky Bet Championship Goal of the Month award in November for his terrific long-range strike against Middlesbrough.

The Spanish attacking midfielder needs little introduction to Swans fans after making 57 league appearances for the Swans between 2012 and 2014. Hernandez, who initially signed for Leeds on loan in 2016, came through the ranks at Valencia and also had spells at Getafe and Rayo Vallecano. The 35-year-old is in fine form for the Elland Road club with his creativity on the ball and sharp passes, netting seven goals and managing seven assists so far this season.

The top scorer for Bielsa’s side with 16 goals so far in the 2019-20 campaign, Bamford began his career with Nottingham Forest before making the switch to Chelsea. A number of loan spells followed before a permanent move to Middlesbrough in 2017. Despite being forced to spend most of last season on the sidelines due to injury, the England youth international scored 10 goals in all competitions.

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SWANS v LEEDS UNITED

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SWANS v LEEDS UNITED

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SWANS v LEEDS UNITED

MATT GRIMES | SWANS CENTURION W

When Grimes joined the Swans in January 2015, it was seen as a major coup for the club.

hen Matt Grimes led Swansea City out at St Andrew’s on Wednesday evening, he brought up a milestone that he himself knows appeared highly unlikely not so long ago.

The then-Exeter youngster had been attracting the attentions of a number of Premier League clubs, he was an England youth international and comparisons had been drawn with the classy elegance of Glenn Hoddle.

The midfielder is the Swans captain and one of the first names on Steve Cooper’s teamsheet, indeed he has been an ever-present in the Championship this term.

But, after the initial encouragement of seeing Premier League action during his first half-season in SA1, what followed would be a severe test of the young playmaker.

And he reached a century of appearances for the club during the 3-1 win over Birmingham City.

But the journey to this point has been far from straightforward.

40

SWANS v LEEDS UNITED Spells out on loan at Blackburn and Leeds proved tough, particularly the latter, and Swansea’s fight for Premier League survival meant Grimes was almost out of sight and out of mind.

The skipper admits he had fallen out of love with football at that time, unable to bring himself to even watch Match of the Day. But, when he returned to the club in the summer of 2018 after being rejuvenated by a fine loan spell with Northampton – despite their relegation – things began to change.

He made 50 appearances across all competitions as the Swans finished 10th in the Championship and reached the FA Cup quarter-finals, while his consistently high performance levels were rewarded when he scooped four accolades at the end-of-season Player of the Year awards.

He kicked off the 2018-19 campaign as left-back cover but was soon handed the chance in his preferred midfield role, and he wasted no time making his mark.

Grimes has been an integral part of the Swansea side ever since, something highlighted by Steve Cooper’s decision to hand him the armband at the start of this campaign.

“To be honest, I was a bit of a non-entity coming into last year,” he chuckles.

“Because I had been on loan to a League One team that got relegated the previous season, nobody really expected much.

It has been a time that has tested his resolve and determination, and his 93 appearances since the start of last term attest to how he has bounced back.

“So to come in, play well and stay in the team for that long and be consistent throughout the whole season is what merited the awards.

“It’s been a long old journey and one that I’m proud of. When I look back now, I have had to overcome quite a lot to get to where I am today,” he said.

“Obviously, I played in a few different positions.

While playing at left-back wasn’t my ideal position, I knew I had to play well and show the manager I could be trusted.

“After the first year or two, I didn’t make too many appearances and then went out on loan a couple of times, so it was a difficult start.

“But the last couple of years, I have played game after game after game and I have now hit 100, which I’m obviously very pleased about.

“When he moved me into the middle, I knew it was my chance and I had to play well. I took that into each game until the point where he fully trusted me and wanted me in his starting team.

“It’s a little bit surreal, to be honest. I honestly did not have a clue that I had reached 100, but I am obviously very honoured.

“Even then, I was just telling myself to stay in the team and keep doing what I had been.

“To win that many awards was a huge honour.”

“I’m very grateful to everyone who helped me along the journey and I’m very pleased with where I am now.”

Things got even better for Grimes when he was named captain by new head coach Cooper in the summer of 2019.

The pendulum began to swing in Grimes’ favour following the appointment of Graham Potter ahead of last season.

CONTINUES ON NEXT PAGE...

41

SWANS v LEEDS UNITED He continued to impress in the heart of midfield before the season was suspended indefinitely in March due to the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic.

“At this stage of the season, it’s all about momentum and if you can just keep winning,” he said.

“Obviously, playing well is the main factor in that but if you’re not, then you just need to try to keep picking up points.

The 24-year-old then went from slicing passes through opposition midfields to cutting his way through everything from fringes to mullets, as the enforced break presented him with the perfect opportunity to pursue his hobby away from the field.

“In the position we are, we need to hope other teams drop points as well, but we just need to focus on ourselves.”

Grimes participated in an online barbering course, spending three hours a day honing his skills with the scissors and learning and practising different techniques on a provided doll head.

Grimes has already witnessed the emotional rollercoaster and stark contrast in fortunes that post-season football has to offer, having recently watched Northampton overcome Exeter 4-0 in the League Two play-off final at Wembley.

The extent of his passion for barbering is evident by the fact that while still in the early stages of his football career, he already has a good idea of the avenue he would like to explore after hanging up his boots.

Two clubs very close to his heart and both having provided hugely important periods in his journey to date, the Swansea skipper admits his allegiances were well and truly divided.

“My barber ran an online class to me and a couple of other lads,” he explained.

“It was a tough one to call. Both clubs have really helped me kick on in my career, so it was a very split-loyalty final for me,” he said.

“Every morning, he taught us the techniques and we attempted to apply them on our doll heads.

“Obviously, Exeter are my hometown club so I’m always going to support them. They gave me my opportunity in football, so they’re a team very close to my heart.

“We started off doing long hair, then into medium hair and mullets, then into medium swooped hair and finally into shorter cuts.

“Obviously, the hair on the doll doesn’t grow back so you learned all the techniques with long hair, shortened it up, then did the same for medium and shorter hair.

“On the other hand, Northampton helped me fall back in love with football after my torrid loan spell at Leeds. Plus, two of my best mates in football still play there so I want them to better their careers and be as successful as possible.

“Because I’ve had that many haircuts, I’m quite inquisitive about how they do it. I started off asking my barber questions about how he did things.

“I certainly didn’t expect it to go the way it did; I was expecting it to be a tight affair.”

The 24-year-old now looks to help the Swans enjoy a play-off fairy-tale of their own this season.

“It’s something I’d quite like to do after football so, while we were in lockdown and not training, I thought I’d start it up.”

On a personal note, he has become one of only five players in the current squad to join the century club, along with Nathan Dyer, Wayne Routledge, Kyle Naughton and Mike van der Hoorn.

He may have half an eye on the future, but Grimes’ focus is very much on the present with he and his team-mates just a point outside the play-off places with four games remaining.

He has a long way to go before reaching the heights of Dyer and Routledge – who boast 347 and 281 appearances respectively – but admits that those are the numbers he is striving to emulate.

The Swans head into today’s showdown with Leeds off the back of consecutive wins over Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham, and the midfielder feels that momentum is key as they aim to ensure post-season football at the Liberty.

42

SWANS v LEEDS UNITED “You look up to players like Nath and Wayne. Both of them have been fantastic servants to this club,” he acknowledged.

“I like to base my game on consistency. I think that is a lot to ask for these days,” he said.

“I like to think any manager who has worked with me or is working with me in the future knows exactly what they’re getting from me week in week out.

“They’ve been fantastic during my time here – not just on the pitch, but off it as well.

“Those types of players are exactly what you want to be as a senior pro. The number of games they have played is ridiculous.

“I’m probably not everyone’s cup of tea or the most exciting player to watch like some of the lads we’ve got going forward. But I like to keep things ticking over and stay consistent.

“Any footballer trying to make it has to look at those sorts of figures and try to emulate it.

“I feel like I’ve done that over the past couple of years, which is probably why I’ve made so many appearances.

“Obviously, I’m on my way but I still have a long way to go.”

“To be consistent in anything you do in life is massively important to be successful.

Fair to say it has been quite a journey for Grimes to this point, with plenty of ups and downs along the way.

“I’ve just taken each game at a time and focused on playing well and helping the team. That’s obviously taken me to where I am today.”

But for all his achievements in more recent times, he highlighted the importance of one key factor along the way.

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SWANS v LEEDS UNITED

GALLERY

GRIMES

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SWANS v LEEDS UNITED

45

Autograph:

THE BIG PICTURE

SWANS v SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

JACK THE LAD N

o disrespect to any of the teams we have played since football's fan-less return, but the prospect of Leeds United's visit is the one that has really made me miss being at a game.

Yo u j u s t k n o w t h e L i b e r t y Stadium would be absolutely rocking for a match which is vital for the visitors' automatic promotion hopes as well as keeping the Swans' ambitions of a play-off place alive.

There would be a big and noisy travelling support down from Yorkshire and the home fans would be particularly vociferous in reply.

It's hard to imagine such a huge game being played in the eerie silence of an empty stadium.

E s p e c i a l l y w h e n yo u t h i n k back to some of the classic encounters played out between the two clubs over the years.

The summer of 1981 seemed to be the longest I had ever experienced in my 14-and-a-half years on the planet to date.

One of the advantages of being a certain age, means I've had the opportunity to see a lot of football.

The almost four months between the final whistle of the Swans’ promotion-clinching victory against Preston on May 2 and the Division One kick off against Leeds on August 29 seemed to last an eternity.

And clashes between the Swans and Leeds will always hold a particularly fond place in my heart.

One of my favourite memories in more than 40 years of following the Swans is their match against Leeds United on the first day of the 1981-82 season.

I had never been so excited to be going to a football match in my entire life.

48

With it being an oddnumbered year, there wasn't even a World Cup, European Championship, Olympic Games or Commonwealth Games during that summer to help pass the time.

There was a decent cricket Test Series between England and Australia you may have heard of.

SWANS v SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY But even Ian Botham's heroics in the Headingly Test during the Ashes series, which would go down in history, wasn't enough to help pass the time any faster.

Pakistan's brilliant batsman Javed Miandad tried to help by smashing century after century for G lamorgan during that summer, but the last Saturday in August just couldn't come quickly enough.

I even had to put up with the seemingly endless build up to a Royal wedding.

I know for many it was an occasion to be celebrated, but for a football-loving 14-yearold it really wasn't the kind of distraction I was looking for during that summer - although it did mean my parents finally bought our first colour TV! At least I'd be able to watch the Swans on Match of the Day and the Big Match in full Technicolor when the season finally got underway.

T here was, however, some f o o t b a l l t o e n j o y, a Wa l e s team featuring Swans players Leighton Phillips, David Giles and Leighton James beat Iceland 4-0 in Reykjavik in a World Cup qualifier.

But my main attention was focussed on trawling newspaper articles and radio reports (no internet updates, Swans website or Sky Sports News in those days) for any rumours of new signings coming in ready for the Swans’ first season in the top flight.

We weren't disappointed on that front to be fair.

T h e f i r st s i g n i n g c e r t a i n l y upped the growing excitement when England international centre forward Bob Latchford was bought from Everton for £125,000.

L at chford was a big-name signing and it certainly confirmed manager John Toshack's intent to make good on his promise that the Swans weren't going into the first division "just to make the numbers up".

Another experienced international was the next to sign in the shape of Wales' recordbreaking goalkeeper and former Swan Dai Davies.

I have to admit, despite Dai being from my native Amman Valley, his wasn't the most popular signing of the summer as far as I was concerned because he would replace one of my favourite players - Dave Stewart.

The former Leeds United and Scotland stopper had enjoyed an outstanding promotion season and I had been looking forward to seeing him grace the First Division.

But my disappointment was short-lived as the Swans doubled their previous record transfer spend to splash out £350,000 on hugely promising Liverpool defender Colin Irwin.

By the time the season-opener came around, my excitement was at fever pitch.

When August 29 dawned to be a gloriously sunny summer's day, everything seemed to be perfectly in place for what would be the biggest day in the Swans' history so far.

But even I couldn't have dreamt just how perfect that day would turn out to be.

Although, the Swans had pretty much been written off in many circles as cannon fodder for mighty L eeds who had dominated English football a decade before, the home side produced one of the club's greatest performances under a perfect summer sky.

Home grown hero Jeremy Charles - the latest in City's prolific footballing dynasty - opened the scoring for the Swans.

Latchford produced a fairytale hat-trick on his league debut to put the Swans firmly in control.

And then, Alan Curtis - who had been taunted as a "Leeds reject" earlier in the match by the visiting fans - scored an unforgettable individual goal to send me and the vast majority of the 23,489 crowd into absolute ecstasy.

I don't know whether it was the heat, the packed North Bank or the sheer overwhelming excitement of the occasion , but I thought I was going to pass out as Curtis launched into his iconic celebration.

CONTINUES ON NEXT PAGE...

49

learning & development

Commercial Training Across South Wales

Centres in Swansea, Cardiff, & Carmarthen MMERCIAL CO

CERTIFIED O

PER TOR A

SWANS v SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

The long summer wait for the Swans' first top-flight match had been worth every single second.

Since then, the Swans have enjoyed other notable wins over Leeds. I'm sure many fans would pick out the emphatic 3-0 win at the Liberty in 2011, which helped the Swans on their way to promotion to the Premier League for the first time.

But the match I particularly enjoyed came in 2007, when third-placed Leeds arrived at a sold-out Liberty to take on top-of-the-table Swans in a League One clash four days after Christmas.

The match had absolutely everything. Brilliant goals, a sending off, Leeds boss Dennis W ise losing his rag on the touchline and, of course, a thrilling Swans win.

By far the most memorable moment of the match for me came just before half-time.

The Swans were 2-1 up at the time thanks to a typically brilliant

Andy Robinson free-kick and a thumping Garry Monk header, but they had been reduced to 10-men when Ferrie Bodde was sent off after 38 minutes.

The Liberty was a cauldron of emotion and Leeds sensed a way back into the game following the departure of the influential Bodde.

Enter Jason Scotland, who outmuscled two Leeds defenders to run through on goal and put the Swans 3-1 up just before half-time, sparking wild scenes of celebration on three sides of the packed Liberty.

Although Leeds pulled a goal back within a minute of the restart, the home side went on to register a sixth straight win to cement their place at the top of the table.

The victory over a major rival was seen as a huge step on the Swans' march to what would ultimately be a runaway League One championship title.

51

A nd if we're t alking about memorable matches against Leeds, the one that is freshest in the memory of course came earlier this season as the Swans produced the ultimate smashand-grab win when Wayne Routledge grabbed an injurytime winner at Elland Road.

Although that win is the most recent of those I've recalled here, it now seems like an awful long time ago given what we have all been through since then.

The wait to get back into the stands will be long. But just like that interminable wait between May and August in 1981 was worth it, this delay will be more than worth it because of the vital importance of the reason we are doing it.

Until then, we may not be in the stadium, but the Jack Army will be just as passionate in their support for the team wherever they are watching or listening to the game.

C'mon you Swans!

CHAMPIONSHIP 19-20 STATS APPEARANCES: WHOSCORED.COM RATING:

25 (7) 6.74

FULTON'S STRENGTHS

BLOCKING STRONG TACKLING STRONG INTERCEPTIONS STRONG CONCENTRATION STRONG

FULTON'S STYLE OF PLAY

LIKES TO PLAY SHORT PASSES LIKE TO TACKLE

SWANS HOME MEETINGS VS LEEDS UNITED

SWANS 2 - 2 LEEDS UNITED SWANS 3 - 0 LEEDS UNITED SWANS 3 - 2 LEEDS UNITED

SWANS 19-20 MOST TACKLES PER 90

JAY FULTON MATT GRIMES JORDAN GARRICK GEORGE BYERS

3.0 2.9 2.7 2.5

TALKING TACTICS: JAY FULTON R

esults very much went in Swansea City’s favour in midweek. Coupled with their 3-1 win at Birmimgham, Cardiff fell to defeat at the hands of Blackburn and it leaves the Swans just one point and one place off the play-offs going into the weekend's round of games.

However, Steve Cooper and his players have a tough test to navigate over the weekend. They welcome title-chasing Leeds to the Liberty Stadium in a bid to keep their play-off hopes alive.

T he Championship leader s romped to a 5-0 win over lowly Stoke on Thursday night to continue their march towards the Premier League and it'll take a big effort from the Swans to keep Leeds at bay.

Swansea, though, can at least call upon home advantage in their bid to better Leeds. Indeed, the Swans are unbeaten in their last three home meetings with the Yorkshire powerhouse, winning two, and secured a late 1-0 win over the Whites in the reverse fixture.

It was a victory Jay Fulton played a huge role in, earning a WhoScored.com rating of 7.08, and the 26-year-old will be key again in this clash.

Leeds have scored the joint-most away goals in the Championship this season with 33, so Fulton's work off the ball will be crucial in Swansea's bid to deny Leeds the chance to add to that return.

Boasting statistically-calculated W h o S c o r e d .c o m s t r e n g t h s of 'ball interception' and 'tackling', Fulton has the means to minimise Leeds' attacking impact. Fulton ranks first for tackles per 90 of all Swansea players in the Championship this season, and given one of Leeds' styles of play is 'opponents play aggressively against them', the midfielder is aware he will need to operate tirelessly out of possession to limit Marcelo Bielsa's side in the final third.

Alongside captain Matt Grimes in the middle of the park, the pair have the defensive nous help keep the Swansea defence shielded, with Fulton the ball winner in this duo that will aid Swansea's quest to secure another vital win in the race for a play-off finish.

With creative dynamo Pablo Hernandez set to return to the starting XI having only featured from the bench against Stoke on Thursday, Fulton will very much have his hands full in his efforts to stop the former Swans star.

In his 45 minutes of action, Hernandez chipped in with a goal and an assist against Stoke, and boasting statistically-calculated WhoScored.com strengths of 'key passes' and 'finishing', the Spanish international has an eye for prying apart a defence and going for goal himself.

However, if Fulton can keep the 35-year-old quiet in south Wales, then Swansea's chances of another victory increases significantly

SWANS v LEEDS UNITED

SWANS LADIES 2019-

A

s a successful season has now drawn to a close for Swansea City Ladies, we look back on how it panned out for Ian Owen’s title winners.

Swa n s e a C i t y L a d i e s we nt o n e st e p f u r t h e r t h a n l a st season as they put their 2019 disappointment behind them and added a fourth league title to the club’s name courtesy of an impressive unbeaten record.

It was a title awarded in unusual circumstances - with the Welsh Premier Women’s League being concluded early as the FAW curtailed all domestic football in Wales due to the Coronavirus pandemic - however, but there

was no denying the Swans were worthy champions.

Ian Owen’s side managed to avoid defeat for the whole campaign winning 10 of their 11 league matches, with the only draw of the campaign coming against their South Wales rivals Cardiff City.

Coming into the season, the squad was strengthened by the likes of goalkeeper Deanna Lewis, Chloe Chivers, Pheobe Ware, Emily Haywood, Brooke L lewelyn, while O wen was also able to welcome back Tija Richardson from Cardiff Met.

56

There would be no easing into the new campaign as the Swans opened up by facing defending champions Cardiff Met away from home.

But they came through the test with a 1-0 victory thanks to a 66th minute strike from the Swans’ eventual top goal scorer in the league Stacey John-Davis, who netted 11 times over the course of the campaign.

The first team to pay a visit to Llandarcy were newly-promoted outfit of Aberystwyth Town, but the Swans were clinical in their attack and claimed their first home win of the season.

SWANS v LEEDS UNITED

-20 SEASON REVIEW Those first two victories were just the beginning of an extremely pleasing campaign.

narrowly secure the double over Cardiff Met and create a healthy lead at the top of the pile.

Following the triumph over Met, the Swans made another statement and saw off expected title contenders Cardiff City with Katy Hosford and John-Davis scoring the crucial goals on home soil.

Midway through the campaign the Ladies had to say goodbye to integral figures Smith and Shaunna Jenkins, but they showed no signs of slowing up.

In the run up to Christmas, Owen’s side were finding the back of the net with ease and scored on 12 occasions against Abergavenny, Port Talbot and Cyncoed; putting the latter to the sword with a 7-0 success at USW Sport Park.

Coming into the new year they made a huge step towards lifting the title, as Lauren Smith’s shot on the turn was enough to

T he Swans fate was firmly in their own hands, and they showed no signs of feeling any pressure as they increased their impressive goal tally by convincingly defeating local rivals Briton Ferry at Old Road 4-0, with Hosford (who scored seven goals in total) and JohnDavis further enhancing their prolific form of the season.

It took until the beginning of February for Swansea’s perfect defensive record to be broken in keeper Lewis’ debut season, as defensive solidity proved a fine foundation for a potent attacking unit.

Aberystwyth were the only team to score a goal against the Swans in the league and it was a wakeup call as Libby Isaac broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute for the Seasiders.

But Swansea’s professional attitude was crucial as they wasted no time in levelling the score at a cold, wet and windy Park Avenue, going on to run away with it in the final 15 minutes to eventually win 5-1.

57

Owen’s side looked to be in a strong position to go the whole season with a perfect record, and were still on course for cup success to.

However, they were held to a goalless draw at Cardiff City, who still had glimmer of hope of winning the title themselves.

Unbeknownst to Owen and his players, their last match of the season would soon follow with a solid performance and victory away to Abergavenny.

A solid performance in Monmouthshire was rewarded with a 2-0 win to move to the brink of the title, four points ahead of Cardiff Met. Matches were due to be played against Cyncoed and Briton Ferry, however, the season was cut short as the Swans claimed the title and a place in next season’s Champions League.

SWANS v LEEDS UNITED

THE VETCH FIELD A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE A

Here, we bring you the final three parts of the series, including interviews with the likes of Alan Tate, Garry Monk and Kris O’Leary.

s you will have seen in our most recent matchday programme, we have put together a series of features looking back at Swansea City’s memorable final season at the Vetch as a promotion and FAW Premier Cup double was claimed by Kenny Jackett’s side.

58

SWANS v LEEDS UNITED

PART FOUR | PLAY-OFF PACESETTERS

The Swans had been among the automatic promotion pacesetters in League Two for much of the season, but a difficult run of form sees them drop into the play-off places.

How did the squad respond, and why did one club legend find himself out of the side and squad from this point on?

CLICK HERE TO WATCH PART FOUR

PART FIVE | A FITTING FAREWELL?

It all comes down to this. An emotional final league game against Shrewsbury at The Vetch. Promotion is still on the line, and there is a sense of hype and expectation as the final farewell nears.

Can the Swans get the win they need, and give their old home a fitting farewell?

CLICK HERE TO WATCH PART FIVE

PART SIX | DOWN TO THE WIRE It goes down to the wire as the Swans head to Bury seeking the win that could see them promoted.

Go behind the scenes of the celebrations, the reserve team game that sobered up on Swans star, and the midweek finale against Wrexham.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH PART SIX 59

SWANS v LEEDS UNITED

60

SWANS v LEEDS UNITED

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SWANS v LEEDS UNITED

THE BIG QUIZ

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF BOTH SIDES WITH TODAY’S TEASERS.

ROUND

ONE

ROUND

ROUND

TODAY’S VISITORS

A FOOT IN BOTH CAMPS

PAST MEETINGS

2. And which German side beat them 2-0 in Paris?

3. Who replaced Don Revie as Leeds’ new manager in 1974?

4. How many days did he last in the job?

1. In what year did former Swans and Leeds defender Terry Phelan win the FA Cup with Wimbledon?

2. Which Swansea legend scored six times for Leeds between 1979 and 1980?

3. How many appearances did Alan Tate make on loan at Leeds during the 2012-13 season?

4. Which former Swans striker won the First Division title with Leeds in 1992?

THREE 1. What was the score when the sides faced off here in August 2018?

2. Which former Swan was on target for Leeds that day?

3. How many minutes did it take Bob Latchford to complete his hattrick in the Swans’ 5-1 win over Leeds in August 1981?

4. Who scored the late winner when the sides met at Elland Road last August?

Round One: 1) 1975. 2) Bayern Munich. 3) Brian Clough. 4) 44.

Round Two: 1) 1988. 2) Alan Curtis. 3) 11. 4) Lee Chapman.

Round Three: 1) 2-2. 2) Pablo Hernandez. 3) Nine. 4) Wayne Routledge.

1. In what year did Leeds reach the European Cup final?

TWO

63

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SEASON 2019-20 FIXTURE

Match Statistics

Key

Goal = ●

Captain = C

Sub = 2 (number denotes player replaced)

Booked =

DATE

ATT. TEAM

Hull City H W 2-1

Sat, Aug 3, 3pm

15,741

Woodman

Roberts

v.d. Hoorn ●

Rodon

Bidwell

Fulton

Derby County A D 0-0

Sat, Aug 10, 3pm

27,337

Woodman

Roberts

v.d.Hoorn

Rodon

Bidwell

Fulton

N'ton Town (CC R1) H W 3-1

Tues, Aug 13, 7.45pm

8,058

Nordfeldt

Naughton C

Cabango

Wilmot

John

Byers ●

Preston North End H W 3-2

Sat, Aug 17, 3pm

15,250

Woodman

Roberts

v.d.Hoorn

Rodon

Bidwell

Fulton

QPR A W 1-3

Wed, Aug 21, 7.45pm

12,287

Woodman

Roberts

v.d.Hoorn

Rodon

Bidwell

Fulton

Birmingham City H W 3-0

Sun, Aug 25, 12pm

17,277

Woodman

Roberts

v.d.Hoorn

Rodon

Bidwell 1

Fulton

Cambridge United (CC R2) H W 6-0

Wed, Aug 28, 7.45pm

8,763

Nordfeldt

Naughton C 2

Cabango

Wilmot

John

Byers ●

Leeds United A W 0-1

Sat, Aug 31, 3pm

34,935

Woodman

Roberts

v.d.Hoorn

Rodon

Bidwell

Fulton

Nottingham Forest H L 0-1

Sat, Sep 14, 3pm

17,102

Woodman

Roberts

v.d.Hoorn

Rodon

Bidwell

Fulton

Bristol City A D 0-0

Sat, Sep 21, 3pm

22,885

Woodman

Naughton

v.d.Hoorn

Rodon

Bidwell

Fulton

Watford (CC R3) A L 2-1

Tues, Sep 24, 7.45pm

8,903

Nordfeldt

Roberts

v.d.Hoorn

Cabango

John

Byers

Reading H D 1-1

Sat, Sep 28, 3pm

16,036

Woodman

Roberts

v.d.Hoorn

Rodon

Naughton

Fulton 3

Charlton Athletic A W 1-2

Wed, Oct 2, 7.45pm

15,741

Woodman

Roberts

v.d.Hoorn

Rodon

Naughton

Fulton

Stoke City H L 1-2

Sat, Oct 5, 3pm

16,612

Woodman

Roberts

v.d.Hoorn

Rodon

Naughton 1

Fulton 2

Barnsley A D 1-1

Sat, Oct 19, 3pm

12,424

Woodman

Naughton

v.d.Hoorn

Rodon 1

Bidwell

Carroll

Brentford H L 0-3

Tues, Oct 22, 7.45pm

15,875

Woodman

Roberts

v.d.Hoorn

Rodon

Bidwell

Fulton 1

Cardiff City H W 1-0

Sun, Oct 27, 12pm

20,270

Woodman

Naughton

v.d.Hoorn

Wilmot ●

Bidwell

Byers

Wigan Athletic A W 1-2

Sat, Nov 2, 12.30pm

9,080

Woodman

Naughton

v.d.Hoorn

Wilmot

Bidwell

Byers

Sheffield Weds A D 2-2

Sat, Nov 9, 3pm

23,073

Woodman

Naughton

v.d.Hoorn

Wilmot ●

Bidwell

Byers

Millwall H L 0-1

Sat, Nov 23, 3pm

16,840

Woodman

Naughton

v.d.Hoorn

Wilmot

Bidwell

Byers

Huddersfield Town A D 1-1

Tues, Nov 26, 7.45pm

20,062

Woodman

Roberts

v.d.Hoorn 1

Wilmot

Bidwell

Fulton ●

Fulham H L 1-2

Fri, Nov 29, 7.45pm

16,024

Woodman

Roberts

v.d.Hoorn

Wilmot

Naughton

Fulton 2

West Brom A L 5-1

Sun, Dec 8, 12pm

22,927

Woodman

Roberts

v.d.Hoorn

Wilmot

Naughton

Fulton

Blackburn Rovers H D 1-1

Wed, Dec 11, 7.45pm

14,162

Woodman

Roberts

v.d.Hoorn

Cabango

Bidwell

Carroll

Middlesbrough H W 3-1

Sat, Dec 14, 3pm

14,625

Woodman

Roberts

v.d.Hoorn

Cabango

Bidwell

Byers 1

Luton Town A W 0-1

Sat, Dec 21, 3pm

10,062

Woodman

Roberts

v.d.Hoorn

Wilmot

Bidwell

Byers

Brentford A L 3-1

Thu, Dec 26, 3pm

11,848

Woodman

Roberts

Cabango

Wilmot

Bidwell

Byers 3

Barnsley H D 0-0

Sun, Dec 29, 3pm

17,097

Woodman

Naughton

Cabango

Wilmot

Bidwell

Fulton

Charlton Athletic H W 1-0

Thu, Jan 2, 7.45pm

15,352

Woodman

Roberts

v.d.Hoorn 1

Cabango

Naughton

Byers

QPR (FA R3) A L 5-1

Sun, Jan 5, 2.01pm

6,712

Nordfeldt

Roberts

Cooper

Bidwell

John

Fulton

Cardiff City A D 0-0

Sun, Jan 12, 12pm

28,529

Woodman

Naughton

Cabango

Wilmot

Naughton

Byers

Wigan Athletic H W 2-1

Sat, Jan 18, 3pm

15,659

Woodman

Roberts

Cabango

Wilmot

Naughton

Byers 1

Stoke City A L 2-0

Sat, Jan 25, 3pm

22,593

Woodman

Roberts 1

Cabango

Guehi

Bidwell 3

Byers 2

Preston North End A D 1-1

Sat, Feb 1, 3pm

12,502

Woodman

Naughton

Guehi

Rodon

Bidwell

Byers 1

Derby County H L 2-3

Sat, Feb 8, 3pm

16,230

Woodman

Roberts

Guehi

Rodon

Naughton ●

Byers 1

QPR H D 0-0

Tues, Feb 11, 7.45pm

14,778

Woodman

Roberts

Guehi

Rodon

Naughton

Gallagher Fulton 1

Hull City A D 4-4

Fri, Feb 14, 7.45pm

9,757

Woodman

Naughton ●

Guehi

Wilmot

Bidwell

Huddersfield Town H W 3-1

Sat, Feb 22, 3pm

15,148

Woodman

Naughton

Cabango

Rodon

Bidwell

Fulton ● 2

Fulham A L 1-0

Weds, Feb 26, 7.45pm

17,626

Woodman

Naughton

Cabango

Rodon

Bidwell

Fulton 2

Blackburn Rovers A D 2-2

Sat, Feb 29, 3pm

13,099

Woodman

Naughton

Cabango

Rodon

Bidwell

Fulton

West Brom H D 0-0

Sat, Mar 7, 3pm

16,788

Woodman

Naughton

Cabango

Rodon

Bidwell

Fulton

Middlesbrough A W 0-3

Sat, Jun 20, 12.30pm

N/A

Woodman

Roberts

Cabango

Wilmot

Bidwell

Fulton 2

Luton Town H L 0-1

Sat, Jun 27, 12.30pm

N/A

Woodman

Roberts

Cabango 3

Wilmot

Bidwell

Fulton 2

Millwall A D 1-1

Tues, Jun 30, 5pm

N/A

Woodman

Naughton

Cabango

Wilmot 2

Bidwell

Byers

Sheffield Weds H W 2-1

Sun, Jul 5, 12pm

N/A

Woodman

Roberts

Bidwell

Guehi

Naughton

Fulton

Birmingham City A W 1-3

Wed, Jul 8, 6pm

N/A

Woodman

Roberts

Cabango ●

Guehi

Naughton

Bidwell

Leeds United H

Sun, Jul 12, 1.30pm

Nottingham Forest A

Wed, Jul 15, 6pm

Bristol City H

Sat, Jul 18, 3pm

Reading A

Wed, Jul 22, 7.30pm

2

Sent off =

CC = Carabao Cup

FA = FA Cup

Correct as of July 10, 2020

SUBSTITUTES Grimes C

Dyer 2

Byers 1

Celina

Borja ●

Grimes C

Dyer 1

Celina

Kalulu 2

Borja 3

Nordfeldt, Naughton, Wilmot, Dhanda 2, Byers, Peterson 1, Surridge 3

Dhanda 3

Routledge

McKay 2

Peterson 1

Surridge

Mulder, Cooper, Rushesha, De Boer 3, Garrick 2, A. Ayew 1●●, Cullen

Grimes C

Dyer 1

Celina

Kalulu 2

Borja 3 ●●

Nordfeldt, Naughton, Wilmot, Byers 2 ●, A. Ayew 1, Peterson, Surridge 3

Grimes C

A. Ayew 3

Byers 1

Celina ●

Borja 2 ●

Nordfeldt, Naughton 3, Wilmot, Byers, Kalulu, Garrick 1, Surridge 2 ●

Grimes C

A. Ayew

Celina ● 2

Dhanda

Borja ●

Nordfeldt, Naughton 1 ●, Wilmot, Byers 3, Routledge, Garrick 2, Surridge

Carroll 3

Garrick ● 1

Routledge ●

Peterson ●

Surridge ●●

Nordfeldt, Rushesha 2, Cooper, Evans 3, Dhanda, McKay 1, Cullen

Grimes C

A. Ayew 3

Dhanda 2

Celina

Borja 1

Nordfeldt, Naughton, Wilmot, Byers 3 , Garrick, Routledge 2 ●, Surridge 1

Grimes C

A. Ayew

Celina 1

Routledge 3

Borja 2

Nordfeldt, Naughton, Wilmot, Byers 1, Dyer 3, Peterson, Surridge 2

Grimes C

A. Ayew

Byers 2

Celina

Borja 1

Nordfeldt, Roberts 2, Cabango, Dhanda, Dyer, Routledge, Surridge 1

Grimes C

Dyer 3

Dhanda 1

Peterson 2

Surridge ●

Mulder, Cooper, Carroll, McKay 2, Garrick 3 Routledge 1, Borja

Grimes C

A. Ayew

Byers

Celina 2

Borja 1 ●

Mulder, Wilmot, Carroll 3, Dhanda, Dyer, Garrick 2, Surridge 1

Grimes C

A. Ayew ●

Dhanda 1 ●

Celina 2

Borja

Mulder, Wilmot 2, John, Carroll 1, Routledge, Garrick, Surridge

Grimes C

A. Ayew ●

Dhanda

Celina 3

Borja

Mulder, Bidwell 1, Byers 2, Carroll, Routledge 3, Garrick, Surridge

Grimes C

A. Ayew ●

Byers

Celina

Surridge 2

Nordfeldt, Roberts, Wilmot 1, Routledge, Peterson, Garrick 3, Borja 2

Grimes C

A. Ayew

Dhanda 2

Peterson

Borja 3

Nordfeldt, Naughton, Wilmot, Byers 1, Celina 2, Routledge, Surridge 3

Grimes C

Dyer 1

Celina

Routledge

A. Ayew

Nordfeldt, Roberts, Cabango, Fulton, Peterson, Borja, Surridge 1

Grimes C

Dyer 1 ●

Celina 3

Routledge 2

A. Ayew

Nordfeldt, Roberts 1, Cabango, Fulton 3, Peterson, Borja, Surridge 2 ●

Grimes C

Dyer 1

Celina 2

Routledge 3

A. Ayew ●

Nordfeldt, Roberts 1, Cabango, Fulton 2, Peterson, Borja, Surridge 3

Grimes C

Dyer 2

Celina 3

Routledge 1

A. Ayew

Nordfeldt, Roberts, Cabango, Fulton, Peterson 1, Borja 2, Surridge 3

Grimes C

Ayew

Celina 2

Peterson 3

Borja

Nordfeldt, Naughton, Cabango 1, Byers 2 , McKay, Dhanda, Surridge 3

Grimes C

Ayew

Byers ●

Peterson 1

Surridge 3

Nordfeldt, Bidwell, Cabango, Carroll 2, McKay 1, Celina, Borja 3

3

3

Nordfeldt, Naughton 2, Wilmot, Dhanda, Peterson 1, McKay, B-Richardson

Grimes C

Ayew 3

Byers 2

Peterson 1

Surridge ●

Nordfeldt, Bidwell, Cabango, Carroll, McKay 2, Dyer 1, Kalulu 3

Grimes C

Ayew ●

Byers

Celina 1

Surridge

Nordfeldt, Naughton, Wilmot, Fulton, McKay, Kalulu 1, Borja

Grimes C

Ayew ●●

Dhanda

Nordfeldt, John 3, Naughton, Fulton 1, McKay 2, Kalulu, Borja

Grimes C

Ayew

Carroll

Grimes C

Ayew

Carroll 1

Grimes C

Ayew

Carroll

Celina

Surridge 2

Nordfeldt, John, Roberts, Byers 1, McKay, Routledge 2, Borja

Grimes C

Ayew

Dhanda ●2

Routledge

Borja 3

Nordfeldt, John, Wilmot 1, Fulton 3, McKay, Celina 2, Kalulu

Carroll

Dyer 3

McKay 1

Peterson 2

Kalulu

Mulder, Naughton, Cabango, Byers 2 ●, Dhanda, Celina 1, Borja 3

Grimes C

Routledge

Ayew

Celina

Brewster

Nordfeldt, Bidwell, Guehi, Fulton, Dhanda, Kalulu, Borja

Grimes C

Ayew ●

Gallagher

Celina

Brewster ● 2

Mulder, Bidwell, Guehi, Fulton 1, Dhanda, Routledge 2, Borja

Grimes C

Ayew

Gallagher

Celina

Brewster

Grimes C

Ayew

Gallagher

Celina

Brewster ●

Grimes C

Ayew

Gallagher

Routledge 2

Brewster

Mulder, Bidwell, Wilmot, Fulton, Dyer, Dhanda 1 ●, Cullen 2

Grimes C

Ayew

Dhanda 1

Celina

Brewster

Mulder, Bidwell, Cabango, Fulton, Routledge, Kalulu 1, Cullen

Grimes C

Routledge●2

Gallagher

Celina 3

Ayew

Mulder, Roberts, Cabango, Dyer, Dhanda 1, Garrick 3 ●, Brewster 2 ●

Grimes C

Ayew ●

Gallagher

Kalulu 1

Brewster 3

Mulder, Roberts 3, Wilmot 2, Dhanda, Celina, Garrick 1 ●, Cullen

Grimes C

Ayew

Gallagher

Kalulu 1

Brewster

Mulder, Roberts 2, Wilmot, Dhanda, Celina, Garrick 1, Cullen

Grimes C

Ayew ●

Gallagher 2

Garrick

Grimes C

Ayew

Gallagher

Kalulu

Grimes C

Ayew ●5

Gallagher 4

Kalulu

Grimes C

Ayew

Gallagher

Kalulu 1

Grimes C

Ayew

Gallagher

Grimes C

Routledge

Grimes C

Fulton ●

1

2 1

1

Celina 3

Surridge ●

Celina 3

Borja 2

Nordfeldt, Cooper, Naughton 3, Fulton 1, McKay, Kalulu, Routledge 2

Celina

Surridge 2

Nordfeldt, Naughton, Fulton, McKay 3, Routledge, Kalulu 1, Borja 2

1

Mulder, Rodon 1, Wilmot, Fulton, Dhanda 2, Routledge, Borja 3 2

Mulder, Cabango, Wilmot, Fulton 1, Routledge, Dhanda, Cullen 2

Brewster ●

Mulder, Roberts 1, Wilmot 2, Dhanda, Celina, Kalulu, Cullen

1

Brewster

Mulder, Roberts, Wilmot, Dhanda, Dyer 1, Cullen

1

Brewster ●●3

Mulder, Naughton, Guehi, Byers 2, Dhanda 3, Dyer, Routledge 3, Garrick 1, Celina 3

Brewster

Mulder, Naughton, Guehi, Rodon, Byers 2, Dyer, Routledge 3, Dhanda, Garrick 1

Dhanda 1

Brewster

Mulder, Roberts, Guehi 2, Fulton, Dyer, Routledge, Celina 1, Kalulu, Cullen

Ayew ●

Gallagher 2

Brewster ●2

Mulder, Cabango, v.d.Hoorn 1, Byer 2, Dhanda, Dyer, Celina, Kalulu, Cullen 3

Ayew

Gallagher

Brewster ●1

Mulder, v.d. Hoorn, Byers, Dhanda, Dyer, Routledge 1, Celina, Kalulu, Cullen

19-20 SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE Pos 1

Team Leeds United

UPCOMING FIXTURES

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

42

24

9

9

68

34

34

81

2

West Bromwich Albion

42

22

14

6

73

40

33

80

3

Brentford

42

22

9

11

75

34

41

75

4

Fulham

42

21

10

11

56

44

12

73

5

Nottingham Forest

42

18

14

10

54

42

12

68

6

Cardiff City

42

16

16

10

60

54

6

64

7

Swansea City

42

16

15

11

55

49

6

63

8

Preston North End

42

17

10

15

55

51

4

61

9 10

Derby County

42

16

13

13

56

55

1

61

Blackburn Rovers

42

16

11

15

59

55

4

59

11

Millwall

42

14

17

11

48

46

2

59

12

Bristol City

42

16

10

16

55

61

-6

58

13

Reading

42

14

11

17

53

48

5

53

14

Queens Park Rangers

42

15

8

19

60

67

-7

53

15

Wigan Athletic

42

14

11

17

46

53

-7

53

16

Sheffield Wednesday

42

14

10

18

51

59

-8

52

17

Birmingham City

42

12

13

17

52

67

-15

49

18

Middlesbrough

42

11

14

17

42

53

-11

47

19

Huddersfield Town

42

12

11

19

49

63

-14

47

20

Charlton Athletic

42

12

10

20

47

57

-10

46

21

Stoke City

42

13

7

22

54

66

-12

46

22

Hull City

42

12

9

21

57

74

-17

45

23

Barnsley

42

10

12

20

46

67

-21

42

24

Luton Town

42

11

8

23

47

79

-32

41

social distancing

Leeds United (H) Sunday, July 12, 1.30pm Nottingham Forest (A) Wednesday, July 15, 6pm Bristol City (H) Saturday, July 18, 3pm Reading (A) Wednesday, July 22, 7.30pm

Correct as of July 10, 2020

equipment sanitisation 1

fully contactless

2

digital hiredesk now open

EASY AS 1, 2, 3..

1 SELECT YOUR HIRE PRODUCTS 2 DELIVERY OR COLLECTION? 3 done in 60 seconds

available across south wales

69

order today at www.mileshire.co.uk

3

SWANS v LEEDS UNITED

NEXT UP AT HOME OPPOSITION Bristol City

DATE

KICK-OFF TIME

Saturday, July 18

3pm

68 MEETINGS

ABOUT THE OPPOSITION Despite a strong start to the season, Bristol City have struggled for form heading into the final stretch.

A regular feature in and around the play-off places for much of the campaign, a run of nine games without a win has almost seen them slip into the bottom half of the table.

Four consecutive defeats since their return to action resulted in the departure of Lee Johnson after four years in charge at Ashton Gate.

20

Although, they stopped the rot on Wednesday with interim boss Dean Holden overseeing a 2-1 victory over Hull City that keeps their faint playoff hopes alive.

SWANS

28 BRISTOL CITY

20 DRAWS

SWANSEA CITY 0 BRISTOL CITY 1 AUGUST 21, 2019 The Swans fell to their first defeat of the season as Andreas Weimann’s goal after 30 seconds earned Bristol City victory at the Liberty.

The crucial moment of the game came inside the opening minute as the visitors made a stunning start with Niclas Eliasson’s low cross been turned in by Weimann.

Graham Potter’s men did not hit the performance levels they would have wanted against the Robins, who looked the better side throughout the contest.

The Swans went close to equalising through Mike van der Hoorn and Matt Grimes, but were unable to find a way through as they suffered their first loss under Potter.

70

SWANSEA CITY XI:

Erwin Mulder, Connor Roberts, Mike van der Hoorn (capt), Joe Rodon, Martin Olsson, Jay Fulton, Tom Carroll (Matt Grimes, ht), Bersant Celina, Joel Asoro (Jefferson Montero, ht), Barrie McKay, Oli McBurnie (Leroy Fer, 71).

BRISTOL CITY XI:

Niki Maenpaa, Jack Hunt (Eros Pisano, 83), Tomas Kalas, Adam Webster, Lloyd Kelly, Marley Watkins (Callum O’Dowda, 31), Marlon Pack (capt), Josh Brownhill, Niclas Eliasson (Jamie Paterson, 80), Matty Taylor, Andreas Weimann.

SWANS v LEEDS UNITED

71

THEv LEEDS TEAMS SWANS UNITED

SWANSEA CITY HEAD COACH: STEVE COOPER

LEEDS UNITED MANAGER: MARCELO BIELSA

XI SB GS 2 4 5 6 8 10 12 15 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 32 33 41 44

XI SB GS

Marc Guéhi Joe Rodon Mike van der Hoorn Jay Fulton Matt Grimes Bersant Celina Nathan Dyer Wayne Routledge Aldo Kalulu Rhian Brewster Ben Wilmot Yan Dhanda André Ayew Connor Roberts Jake Bidwell Erwin Mulder Kyle Naughton Freddie Woodman George Byers Liam Cullen Conor Gallagher Jordon Garrick Ben Cabango

Illan Meslier Luke Ayling Barry Douglas Adam Forshaw Ben White Liam Cooper Ian Poveda Patrick Bamford Ezgjan Alioski Tyler Roberts Kiko Casilla Stuart Dallas Helder Costa Pablo Hernandez Jack Harrison Kalvin Phillips Elia Caprile Gaetano Berardi Kamil Miazek Bryce Hosannah Pascal Struijk Robbie Gotts Alfie McCalmont Leif Davis Mateusz Klich Mateusz Bogusz Jamie Shackleton Jordan Stevens Oliver Casey

THE MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE: KEITH STROUD ASSISTANT REFEREES: NIK BARNARD AND NICK GREENHALGH FOURTH OFFICIAL: PETER WRIGHT OFFICIAL MAIN SPONSORS

72

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