Promise, depth and a sticky spell - Swansea's season so far

At the 10-game landmark in 2026-27, Swansea City were basking in the glory of the club's best start to a league campaign in more than a century. Five matches later, the mood is less buoyant but the outlook - as things stand - remains bright. Swansea banked 23 from their first 10 league fixtures of the campaign, the club's best return – when counting three points for a win in every season – at that stage since 1923. A review of how things were going after victory at Millwall a month ago – which left Swansea two points clear at the top of the table - would have struggled to find many faults. Since then, however, Vitor Matos' team have hit problems. A run of four defeats – and 11 goals conceded along the way – in five games has served as a reminder of how difficult it will be to sustain a push for automatic promotion in a division packed with contenders. Nevertheless, Swansea remain in the logjam at the top-end of the table, meaning dreams of doing something special this season remain intact. Swansea are in the Championship for a ninth successive season. In the past five of those, mid-table has become home. For Matos, in his first full campaign at the helm, the challenge is to ensure the Swans are playing for something come next spring. With the teams finishing seventh and eighth reaching the play-offs for the first time this season, a host of second-tier clubs started out in August believing opportunity knocks. Swansea were among those eyeing a top-eight place, even if they have not finished higher than 11th since they said farewell to Premier League parachute payments in 2021. Yet the form of the first two months of the campaign led some to believe Matos' squad could contend for the top two rather than the top eight. Swansea are down to sixth in the table on the back of last weekend's defeat at Birmingham City, who are the latest leaders in a fiercely contested race at the top. With only three points between them and the Blues, Swansea are right in the mix with almost a third of the season played. A strong squad – but defence on transfer agenda Losing the influential Ethan Galbraith was hardly ideal, but Swansea emerged from another busy summer transfer window feeling their squad was stronger than it had been at the end of 2025-26. The evidence of the season so far suggests they are right, with plenty of depth in midfield and more advanced areas. When Stephen Eustaquio, Marko Stamenic, Goncalo Franco, Melker Widell and the evergreen Jay Fulton are fit – and free from suspension – Matos is spoiled for choice in the middle of the pitch. Swansea have successfully addressed their issues out wide, with summer signings Moussa Yeo and Joseph Opoku impressing while also bringing the best out of Eom Jisung and Ronald. Up front, meanwhile, Matos has a trio of options that would make many Championship bosses envious in Adam Idah, Ross Stewart and Zan Vipotnik. Right now, the issue for Swansea's head coach is at the back, with Cameron Burgess' season-ending injury meaning resources are a little thin. While Swansea will not be busy in January, a defensive addition could well be on the agenda. Swans CEO on transfers, finances and Snoop's next visit Stamenic banned after failed red card appeal Swansea's increased depth has allowed Matos to make regular changes to his starting line-up – and to consistently empty his bench. While some fans have questioned the need for so much rotation, there were no complaints as Swansea cruised through the early stages of the campaign, when Matos' combination of purpose in possession and pressing off the ball delivered seven wins in 10 league outings. The Portuguese coach's side have played some spectacular football in spells, while also showing the resilience - at times - to deliver results in testing circumstances on the road. One question mark has been whether Swansea have the quality to compete continually with the Championship's best sides. Six of their eight league wins to date have come against teams currently in the bottom half of the table. Swansea have played eight of the clubs who are with them in the top half as things stand. They have beaten only two of them, Stoke City and Norwich City, and lost to five. The chance to improve that particular statistic comes immediately after the international break, when Swansea will attempt to rediscover peak form against West Brom, who are fifth, and then at second-placed Middlesbrough a little over 72 hours later. A midweek trip to the Riverside is not the fixture Swansea would have wanted before the first south Wales derby of the season, with Cardiff City making the short journey down the M4 the following Sunday. Two promotion contenders followed by their neighbours represents as demanding a spell as Matos' side will face all season, particularly after their recent setbacks. How Swansea cope will offer a clue as to what the rest of the campaign might bring. Swansea must dig deep to keep chins up after Blues defeat Latest Swansea City news, analysis and fan views Listen to the latest Swansea City interviews, news and discussion on BBC Sounds