Wetin dey happen for Swansea.com Stadium today na serious gist o. Swansea City don restore parity against high-flying Middlesbrough after Alex Bangura put the visitors in front early for the match. The game dey live on Sky Sports Main Event, but if you no get TV, no worry, we dey here to yarn you everything wey dey happen.
Bangura put Boro in front after 12 minutes. The man just collect pass from Tommy Conway, race away and lash home with one very good finish. Swansea defence just open like market that time. Parker and Bangura seize the opportunity, give am to Conway, who roll am back. Bangura no waste time at all.
But Zan Vipotnik, for the second game in a row, don level from the spot. The Championship top scorer keep im cool to level am up. That na 19 goals for the Slovenian striker this season. Eddie Odhiambo, former Oxford defender wey dey on BBC Radio Oxford, talk say na Vipotnik you go want for that kind chance. Stonewall penalty that one. Bangura slide in on Cullen as both of dem try to reach loose ball after Tymon cross.
Swansea dey look to end run of three league games without win. Dem sensationally battle to entertaining 3-3 draw at Sheffield United last time. Vitor Matos make four changes from that outing at Bramall Lane. Sam Parker get start today – im first league start since January 2024. The 19-year-old last start league game for Swans back for January 2024 where im play 65 minutes in 2-2 draw with Birmingham City.
After promising debut against Coventry City, people bin think say im fit nail down first team place, but im breakthrough stunted by serious hamstring injury. Today na opportunity for am to make statement. Other changes na Jay Fulton, Eom Jisung and Liam Cullen start from off here. Ricardo Santos dey among subs today.
For Boro side, Middlesbrough dey without Matt Targett today. The man miss out through injury. Alex Bangura come in at left-back as one of two changes. Jeremy Sarmiento also start from the off, replacing Dael Fry – the match-winner when these sides face off all the way back in August.
Swans face visitors on opening day of season. Dael Fry score only goal as Teessiders claim 1-0 win at Riverside. For another life, Kim Hellberg for fit dey take im place for home dugout today. The Swede bin be top candidate to take over Swans following sacking of Alan Sheehan, before Swans swoop for Vitor Matos.
This clash important for Matos after Millwall defeat wey im admit carry pretty hefty sting. “It’s my responsibility to lift the players,” im talk. “It’s all about my way of seeing things. It’s all about my way of helping them. And that’s the main message.” Im talk say im job na to try do am better because players dey give everything dem fit for this shirt and for club.
Swansea City boss Vitor Matos talk say Ethan Galbraith set to miss rest of season. The Northern Irishman miss dramatic 3-3 draw with Sheffield United due to calf problem. Matos now reveal say midfielder unlikely to play again this season. Galbraith pick up problem during recent international break where im play against both Italy and Wales.
“Ethan get calf strain so im really unlikely to play again this season,” Matos tell BBC. “It go be around six to eight weeks. Nothing I fit control – it happen during international period.”
Adam Idah return to action with Swans no fit better on Good Friday. The Irish international bag goal and assist after coming off bench, and im keen to keep pushing before end of season. “Not many people know, I fracture my foot when I just sign, so that one tough,” forward tell BBC Sport Wales.
Vitor Matos clearly heartened by nature of im side fightback against Sheffield United, but im urge im Swansea City side to continue pushing as dem approach finishing line of season. “We all need understand say process of building something no get start and end, e dey always happen,” im talk.
“People fit ask about looking to next season, but process dey happen now every time we train and every time we play. E no start for pre-season, e be about now. E be about how we represent this club, how we represent our fans and I really like mentality we show to fight back on Friday.”
Meanwhile, for Boro side, Hayden Hackney dey attract growing interest for move to Premier League with Nottingham Forest now consider move for Middlesbrough star. The 23-year-old don dey heavily linked with move away from Riverside Stadium this summer with number of top division clubs tracking im progress.
Whether Middlesbrough fit keep hold of am go depend largely on whether dem achieve promotion, and dem bid don collect new blow after 2-1 defeat to Millwall. Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown tell Football Insider say e fit be impossible for Boro to keep Hackney if dem remain for Championship next season.
That don put Vitor Pereira side, among others, on alert as dem aim to bolster their midfield for what fit be important transfer window for Nottingham Forest. Brown talk say Middlesbrough dey confident of keeping Hackney if dem secure promotion to Premier League this summer.
But tricky run of form don make Millwall leapfrog dem into second automatic promotion place, and dem fit need rely on playoffs. Forest see offer for midfielder rebuffed by Boro on deadline day for mid-season window, but that situation expected to change for summer.
“The Millwall loss na big blow for Middlesbrough,” Brown talk. “E far from over yet and e fit even change on Monday when another round of fixtures dey, because you never know for Championship. But if dem no get promotion to Premier League, e fit be impossible to keep Hackney.”
“Nottingham Forest need midfielder and Hackney na somebody dem bin keen on for January, dem see am as probably best midfielder for Championship. So if Middlesbrough still dey second division next season, im go dey keen to make step up, and Forest go be good destination for am.”
Nottingham Forest no be only club wey express interest for signing Hackney. West Ham and Aston Villa also dey keep tabs. Brown talk say Man United dey interested in Hackney and dem considered favourites to agree deal with Middlesbrough. The 23-year-old performances for Championship don impress watching scouts, including those at United.
Hackney play under Michael Carrick during boss time at Boro, and quickly become key part of im side. Carrick believe don talk to United recruitment team about bringing midfielder to Old Trafford as dem aim to revamp their options.
Back to match now. Swansea shape look small chaotic at the moment. Think say Cullen suppose dey play out for right, but im dey drift inside plenty. E dey leave that right side far too exposed at the moment. Play dey go on as both teams dey fight for control.
Browne cross into box but Vigouroux dey there this time to gather. Browne dink ball over top of Swans defence to find Brittain. Swansea scramble as Sarmiento no quite fit get shot away, before eventually clearing their lines. Match dey live wire!
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