SWANS: Rampant Swansea cruise to comfortable victory at Derby

Swansea City dominated from start to finish as they maintained their unbeaten start to the Championship with a comfortable win at Derby County.

Some supporters were still taking their seats when summer signing Joseph Opoku put them in front, and Eom Ji-sung tapped in to double the lead just before the break.

There was also a debut for Canada international Stephen Eustáquio in the second half, before Brazilian Ronald added a third in stoppage time.

The opener owed something to fortune. Opoku’s effort deflected off two Derby defenders and past Jacob Widell Zetterstrom inside 90 seconds.

He continued to cause problems for the Rams’ defence, nearly scoring a second with an acrobatic volley before being forced off midway through the first half.

Without Carlton Morris, Derby struggled to create clear-cut chances, and were two down when Eom pounced on Adam Idah’s saved header to tap in from a yard.

John Eustace made attacking changes at the break, introducing Sammie Szmodics and Rhian Brewster, and while the Rams improved they were still unable to test Lawrence Vigouroux.

Swansea looked the likelier to score a third and were twice denied by Zetterstrom, before substitute Ronald drilled into the bottom corner to settle it.

Derby, who finished just short of the play-offs last season, still await their first win of the campaign. After draws in their opening two fixtures, their supporters will be disappointed by the manner of a defeat that arrived without an effort on target.

Vigouroux was largely a spectator at Pride Park.

The win lifts Swansea to third in the table, and it is their best start to a Championship season since 2020-21, two wins and a draw from three games.

That season ended in a play-off final defeat to Brentford after a fourth-place finish, and Vitor Matos will be striving for something similar.

Just as encouraging is the spread of goals. Zan Vipotnik scored 40% of Swansea’s league goals last season on his way to the golden boot. This time there have already been four different scorers in three games.

Eustáquio’s introduction came four days after his arrival from Porto, the midfielder having told Swansea Bay News he was “fully fit and prepared” and ready if the coach wanted him.

Swansea host Watford at the Swansea.com Stadium on Tuesday night.

Swansea City XI

Lawrence Vigouroux; Josh Key, Filip Lissah, Stephen Welsh, Josh Tymon; Jay Fulton (c) (Stephen Eustáquio 65), Marko Stamenic, Melker Widell (Elijah Just 65); Joseph Opoku (Moussa Yeo 23), Eom Ji-sung (Ronald 86), Adam Idah (Zan Vipotnik 65).