The duo combined for the only goal at the Kassam Stadium with forward Vipotnik burying Tymon’s pin-point cross on the quarter-hour mark. The Slovenian’s 12th goal of the season.
The Swans would have further chances to extend their lead with Eom Jisung’s long-range effort beaten away, whilst Melker Widell and substitute Goncalo Franco all came close, but it would be a fine performance from the visitors who picked up their first win on the road since September.
The Welsh side climb to 18th, seven points clear of the bottom three, after a fourth victory in their past six matches.
Swans boss Matos’ hailed the team performance but picked out the on-form consistent duo for special praise.
“It was a really good goal, set pieces are massive in the league and we need to keep improving on that,” said Matos.
“The effort Vipi [ Zan Vipotnik] put in was unbelievable today, so I am really happy with him.
“We are really happy for him. After the last game he deserved that goal.
“He is a brilliant kid Tymo [Josh Tymon]. He doesn’t speak a lot, but he speaks with his feet and that is good to see.
“The consistency he is showing is massive and I am really happy with him. He is a brilliant player and a really good professional.
“It was a great win and massive to get the clean sheet, as well.
“We’ve had two difficult away games, Coventry and Oxford, and this was a massive win for us.
“The concentration of the team was brilliant.
“I think there were moments in the first half where we struggled a little bit, but in the second half we did really well with our defending and were very concentrated, putting pressure on them and keeping compact at the same time. We also had moments with the ball.
“We need to keep going with this mentality in how we defend, and how it can help us in how we attack.
“Tonight, the mentality was right, the desire was right, and the hunger was there as well.
“We knew it would be important to have the intensity, because it was going to be a hard game with a lot of second balls playing against a team wanting to play in behind the lines.
“I was really pleased with how we handled that; it is something we wanted to have. We need these foundations in terms of how we want to play and that is what I want to see more than anything.
“We need to keep building from this.as there are a lot more games ahead, but we are really happy.
“It’s not about having a first away win for me; it’s about the team having the right mindset. We need to keep pushing and moving forward.”
Vipotnik can expect another long shift when Swansea face West Brom on New Year’s Day – and potentially at Millwall three days later – given Matos’ lack of options up front.
Swansea are yet to clarify how long the hamstring injury Adam Idah suffered in training will keep him out for but Matos says the prognosis is not good.
The Portuguese is however more optimistic over Liam Cullen’s availability after the Wales forward missed the Oxford trip.
“He [Cullen] felt after the [Coventry] game a little bit of soft tissue in the calf, not massive, but he was not available today,” continued Matos.
“Adam’s [Idah] hamstring injury means he will be out for a long time, but we will seek clarity in the next few days.”
[Lead image: Swansea City FC]
