Vitor Matos says the 4-0 win over Blackburn showed the “identity” he wants from his Swans side, as well as the result.
It came a week after the 5-0 hammering at QPR, when Matos took responsibility for the performance.
‘I think we deserved the game, absolutely’
Matos said his side wanted to “react with a win”. “But more than that, it’s a reaction in terms of the identity, the way you want to compete, the character, the desire, the maturity,” he said.
He said the performance “says a lot about the boys”, adding: “I’m really happy for everyone. I think we deserved the game, absolutely.”
The Swans had a week to “really analyse” after QPR, and Matos said his players “put all on that pitch” with “a lot of desire and will”. He called it “one of the best, 100%”.
He was pleased with “a professional second half” too, as Blackburn sent on fresh players to try to get back into it.
Ross Stewart: ‘He’s training so hard’
Ross Stewart scored his first goal for the club on his first start, and Matos was asked how he had gone. “Really good,” he said.
Matos said Stewart puts “so much effort” into every session, and that the Blackburn game suited him.
Matos explained why he started him. “We thought the type of game is a type of game good for Ross,” he said.
He added that Stewart was “in a really good moment as well during the week”. “So, we used him, he scored.”
Matos was also pleased for Tiago Parente, who made his Swans debut off the bench. “I think it was an important message and feeling for him to have that, and I think he did really well.”
Filip Lissah: ‘It just creates more dreams in the kids’
Filip Lissah scored his first senior goal for his boyhood club, and Matos said keeping the academy pathway open matters to the Swans.
He called Lissah “one great example”. “Having him score, I think it just creates more dreams in the kids of the academy.”
Eustáquio and Lissah injury checks before Portsmouth and Birmingham
Matos will now check on Stephen Eustáquio, who felt his groin, and Lissah, who went off late on. “I hope nothing major, but we need to see it,” he said.
He confirmed Marko Stamenic missed the game after waking up with a fever.
The Swans now face two away games in quick succession. They are at Portsmouth’s Fratton Park on Tuesday 3 November (7.45pm), which Matos called “a really hard place to go”, then Birmingham at St Andrew’s on Saturday 7 November (3pm).
Discover more from Swansea Bay News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
