SWANS: Comeback win sends Swansea top of the Championship at Lincoln

Swansea City head into the international break top of the Championship after a battling second-half comeback earned a 2-1 win at Lincoln City.

Goals from Moussa Yeo and Stephen Eustáquio inside six minutes after the restart overturned Reeco Hackett’s first-half penalty at the ProAmpac Stadium, sealing a third away win in four for Vitor Matos’ side.

The result sent Swansea to the summit, two points clear of West Ham after the Hammers could only draw 2-2 with Millwall in the day’s early kick-off, a fitting way to end a run that had already returned them to the automatic places with the win over Burnley.

Matos had warned his players to expect a physical battle at Lincoln, and flagged one of the best defences in the league, but for 45 minutes the Swans struggled to cope with a barrage of long throws and long balls.

Hackett punishes a sluggish start

The hosts flew out of the blocks, Lawrence Vigouroux forced into an early save to push Conor McGrandless’ bobbling strike around the post.

Hackett might have scored sooner, Ryley Towler’s long ball leaving the Swansea rearguard scrambling, but the winger’s attempted lob was gathered by Vigouroux. He rattled another effort into the side netting before, after Josh Tymon tangled with Freddie Draper, he sent an emphatic penalty past Vigouroux to put Lincoln ahead.

Swansea dominated first-half possession but managed only one shot of note, an audacious Elijah Just effort from halfway that George Wickens gathered at the second attempt.

A quickfire double turns it around

The visitors were transformed after the break, and the rewards came almost instantly.

Melker Widell created the leveller, bursting into the area before his cross was turned home from point-blank range by Yeo.

The winner followed within six minutes. Filip Lissah advanced down the right and squared for Eustáquio, whose 20-yard drive ricocheted off Towler and beyond the helpless Wickens.

Lincoln huffed and puffed in search of a response, but it was Swansea who came closest to a third, substitute Ronald’s late drive beaten away by Wickens.

The win caps a strong first block of the season for Matos’ side, who return to action at home to Norwich City on Saturday 10 October.

Swansea City

Lawrence Vigouroux; Filip Lissah, Ben Cabango (c), Stephen Welsh (Jenson Seelt 82), Josh Tymon; Marko Stamenic, Stephen Eustáquio (Goncalo Franco 77), Elijah Just (Joseph Opoku 60); Melker Widell, Moussa Yeo (Ronald 60), Adam Idah (Zan Vipotnik 60).

Lincoln City

George Wickens; Adam Reach (Chiedozie Ogbene 64), Andrei Coubis, Ryley Towler (Rob Street 77), Sonny Bradley (c), Deji Elerewe; Tom Bayliss, Conor McGrandless; Reeco Hackett, Ben House (Mikkel Ladefoged 64), Freddie Draper.

Author

Richard Bond

Swansea-based sports journalist.
Twitter: @RichBond00
Email: RichardBond@swanseabaynews.com