Swansea return to top after Lincoln comeback as Matos urges focus
Swansea City came from behind to beat Lincoln City at Sincil Bank on Saturday and returned to the top of the Championship, with head coach Vitor Matos admitting the result felt good but urging his players to remain focused.
Matos, who left Portuguese side Maritimo to take charge at Swansea last November, has spent 10 months as the club's head coach and repeatedly declined to discuss the league table, at times saying he does not know Swansea's position. That stance has persisted despite supporters singing about being on top of the league; Matos has preferred to steer attention towards the next match rather than reflect on standings. After guiding Swansea away from the relegation picture into mid-table at the end of last season, he entered this campaign with a pledge to pursue consistent performances rather than make bold claims about objectives.
The Lincoln victory featured a comeback and an important contribution from Stephen Eustaquio, whose winning goal was his first since joining Swansea from Porto this summer, while Moussa Yeo scored his second goal in as many games. The hosts had taken the lead from a Reeco Hackett penalty awarded by referee Anthony Backhouse, a decision described in the match report as debatable, and Swansea goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux had no chance with that spot-kick. Swansea have now recorded two comeback wins this season, the other coming at Stoke City, and the Lincoln success followed a run of positive results away from home.
Asked about his team's league position after the game, Matos said: "It's good," he said of his side's league placing. "It doesn't mean a lot, but it's a good feeling for everyone. "I think it's a feeling that we are taking the right steps. What we need to do [now] is keep focused." The Swans had been briefly displaced at the top after a defeat at Southampton earlier this month but moved back in front courtesy of successive victories against Burnley and Lincoln, with the Championship then pausing for a three-week international break after eight league games played.
Defensively Swansea have shown solidity, with Vigouroux having conceded only six second-tier goals this season — the best record in the division — and central figures such as Stephen Welsh and Filip Lissah praised for their displays. The squad's midfield mix has been reshaped since the summer exit of Ethan Galbraith, with Stephen Eustaquio joining the likes of Marko Stamenic, Goncalo Franco, Melker Widell and Jay Fulton in providing options across the middle of the park.
Options out wide and in attack have also bolstered Matos's selection choices; loan signing Jeremy Monga from Manchester City has been unable to find a place on the bench, while Elijah Just produced what the report described as perhaps his best Swansea performance yet operating behind the striker at Lincoln. Up front, Zan Vipotnik — last season's Championship top scorer — has so far played second fiddle to the in-form Adam Idah, with Ross Stewart still to be integrated into the setup.
Swansea are due to return to action against Norwich City on Saturday, 10 October, with the club hoping Ross Stewart will be available after his injury absence. The report notes, however, that given current performance levels in the squad, Stewart "may have to wait for a chance in the team."
