After starring throughout his first season with the Swans, Franco has not quite reached the levels that gained the Portuguese midfielder the club’s player of the season award last summer.
The 25-year-old, however, would produce one of his best performances in a Swans shirt to dominate proceedings in the engine room with an industrious box-to-box display.
It would be Franco’s pin-point delivery after hustling a Birmingham defender off the ball that would set up top scorer Zan Vipotnik to net his 13th goal of the season and give the Swans the lead in the first quarter of the game.
The Swans would have further chances to win the match, hitting the woodwork multiple times, and ultimately paid for a lack of cutting-edge. Brum attacker Patrick Roberts’ powerful finish midway through the second half ending hopes of a fifth home league win in a row, earning the visitors a share of the spoils.
Despite the home side failing to take the three points, in an all-action performance, the midfielder would be one of the difference makers on the day.
A strong performance seeing Franco both hitting the Birmingham crossbar with a shot of his own and provide an important physical presence in the centre of the pitch. Something that would not go unnoticed by Swans boss Matos.
“I like him so much,” said Matos on Franco after the match.
“I don’t know how to say it properly, but he has energy on the pitch. He reflects that everywhere.
“He’s improving as well. He’s understanding the position that I want for him more. I think he’s getting the right timings and he offers so much.
“I think the goal is a good example of what he can offer, so I’m really happy for him.
Matos was also pleased with his side’s collective physical intent which he believes is making Swansea a more difficult prospect for visiting sides to face.
“I thought we were sharp, we were dominant, we were aggressive, and we controlled the game,” coninued Matos.
“But in the second half, Birmingham became more intense and more aggressive as well.
“But we didn’t lose our organisation, which is important.
“It’s good to see that we are creating more chances, and from the chances we are creating, we are becoming a dangerous team, an aggressive team.
“At this moment, we got a point, we will grab that point, we grab the performance and we move on. I think we are [going] in the right direction.”
[Lead image: Swansea City FC]
