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Swansea City

  1. Leeds draw a lift as Sheehan's Swans seek final push

    Gareth Vincent
    BBC Sport Wales

    Alan Sheehan claps Swansea fans at Leeds Huw Evans Picture Agency

    Played 19 games, won 15 and lost only one, having scored a whopping 47 goals and conceded just nine along the way.

    Leeds United's home record in this Championship campaign before the weekend meant Swansea City travelled to Elland Road with hope rather than any great expectation.

    Yet Alan Sheehan's squad made the long trip home from Yorkshire with a point in their pocket and wind in their sails.

    A 96th-minute equaliser guarantees a psychological boost, as does avoiding defeat when facing one of the best sides in the division on their ground.

    So Saturday's 2-2 draw at Leeds – and the manner in which it was achieved – should be a fillip for Swansea as they attempt to finish another turbulent season in positive fashion.

    The gap to the bottom three now stands at seven points, though that could be cut to five should Derby County beat Preston North End on Wednesday.

    Even if the Rams lose, there is work to do before Swansea can begin planning with certainty for another season in the second tier.

    Derby, who are 22nd, come to the Swansea.com Stadium this Saturday, before bottom-club Plymouth Argyle follow four days later.

    Swansea celebrate Zan Vipotnik's late equaliser at LeedsHuw Evans Picture Agency

    If the Swans could dig out successive home victories, all relegation concerns would surely be eliminated.

    Sheehan, meanwhile, would have an impressive points-per-game ratio as Swansea's caretaker boss.

    During seven games in charge last season, the Irishman helped Swansea claim 11 points.

    This time around, his team claimed seven points in the initial block of five matches after Luke Williams departed in February.

    That was enough to convince Swansea to ask Sheehan to remain in charge for the remainder of the season, with the Leeds draw representing a rousing start to the final push in 2024-25.

    The fact that Sheehan has been given only a short-term deal indicates that Swansea's new-look hierarchy – led by American owners Brett Cravatt and Jason Cohen, plus director of football Richard Montague – are still weighing up their options when it comes to selecting the club's next permanent head coach.

    For Sheehan, who it seems is in the midst of a lengthy audition, more displays like Swansea's courageous effort at Leeds will do the cause no harm.

  3. A general view of the Swansea.com Stadium

  4. A tale of two es for 'top level' Allen

    Swansea players and staff celebrate their draw at Leeds Huw Evans Picture Agency

    Alan Sheehan paid tribute to Joe Allen's "top level" contribution to Swansea City's dramatic draw at Leeds United – at the end of the week in which the midfielder's error almost cost Wales in North Macedonia.

    Allen was in the headlines for the wrong reasons as his uncharacteristic misplaced led to North Macedonia's opening goal in Tuesday's World Cup qualifier in Skopje.

    But Allen's blushes were saved thanks to David Brooks' last-gasp Wales equaliser – and there was further redemption for the Swansea veteran at Elland Road.

    Sheehan's team were staring at what would have been a painful defeat after Wilfried Gnonto put Leeds 2-1 up in the closing stages of Saturday's Championship fixture.

    But Allen, 35, then produced a moment of quality to beat Ao Tanaka before rolling the ball through for Zan Vipotnik to lash home Swansea's 96th-minute leveller.

    "I suppose it's two es this week," said Swansea caretaker head coach Sheehan.

    "You are talking about the Joe made for Wales and then you are talking about that inch-perfect, weighted [for Vipotnik].

    "This is the detail you are talking about. He is leaving that there in the 96th minute at Elland Road so he can hit it first time… that's top level.

    "With some people, you'll need to take a touch there and then it changes. You are looking for those big moments and to be clinical like that."

  5. Tymon stepped up as Vipotnik was on bench - Sheehan

    Illan Meslier saves Josh Tymon's penaltyRex Features

    Alan Sheehan revealed Josh Tymon stepped up to take Swansea City's spot-kick at Leeds United because new regular penalty-taker Zan Vipotnik was on the bench.

    Long-serving club skipper Matt Grimes has been Swansea's preferred choice on penalties in recent years.

    But following Grimes' January move to Coventry City, Swansea needed a new man to take the responsibility from 12 yards after Leeds defender Joe Rodon was penalised for a foul on Lewis O'Brien.

    Left-wingback Tymon grabbed the ball – but was left with head in hands as Leeds keeper guessed right and saved a penalty which could have been struck more sweetly.

    Caretaker head coach Sheehan said it was left to the players on the pitch to decide who took the spot-kick – and insisted there would be no criticism of Tymon.

    "That's between the players. This is the leadership and ownership we want them to take," Sheehan said.

    "It's the first penalty since Grimesy left, Vipotnik would normally take it.

    "Anybody who has the courage to take a penalty at Elland Road, that's fine. It happens. We move on."

    The penalty miss came after Leeds went in front inside 35 seconds through Brenden Aaronson.

    Harry Darling made it 1-1 after the break only for Wilfried Gnonto to score what looked like being Leeds' winner four minutes from time – but substitute Vipotnik struck a dramatic 96th-minute equaliser to earn Swansea a draw which felt more like a victory.

  6. 'What a feeling' - Sheehan hails togetherness after Leeds draw

    Swansea celebrate Zan Vipotnik's late goal Getty Images

    Alan Sheehan said togetherness was key for Swansea City as they stunned Leeds United with a 96th-minute equaliser to claim a point at Elland Road.

    Swansea looked destined to get no reward for their spirited performance against one of the Championship's heavyweight clubs when Wilfried Gnonto put Leeds 2-1 ahead four minutes from the end of normal time.

    But there was a memorable climax to a dramatic game as Zan Vipotnik struck to ensure Swansea became only the fifth visiting side to avoid defeat at Leeds in the second tier this season.

    It was a sweet moment for caretaker head coach Sheehan after he agreed to remain in charge until the end of the season with the club declining to offer him a longer-term deal at this stage.

    "You see a togetherness and a character and how happy everybody is when we score," the Irishman said.

    "We said before the game, no individual can succeed at Elland Road.

    "It's got to be a team. Make sure we get to the end of the game and look to the left and the right and think 'you had my back today'. What a feeling that is, hey">