Matos Urges Swansea to Channel West Ham Frustration Into Promotion Push
Swansea City's four-match winning run ended with a home defeat to West Ham United, but head coach Vitor Matos says the frustration should fuel the Championship leaders' promotion bid.
Swansea City's four-game winning streak came to an end as they suffered only their second league defeat of the season, losing at home to West Ham United courtesy of Divine Mukasa's first-half goal. Despite the setback, the Swans remain top of the Championship table, with West Ham climbing to second after becoming the first visiting side since Southampton in April to win a league game at Swansea.
Head coach Vitor Matos stressed that the manner of the loss should not derail his side's early-season momentum. He said the overriding feeling after the final whistle was that Swansea could have taken something from the match, and he wants that sense of frustration to drive improved standards in training and continued progress.
Swansea's best opportunities fell to centre-back Ben Cabango from set-pieces. He struck the woodwork with one effort and dragged another wide when he appeared destined to equalise. At the other end, goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux made second-half saves from Jarrod Bowen, twice, and from Pablo as West Ham pushed for further goals.
Matos framed the contest as evidence that Swansea can compete with the division's strongest sides. He described West Ham as one of the main contenders for promotion to the Premier League and said his players showed they are capable of matching and beating such opposition, even though they ultimately came away empty-handed.
The defeat was Swansea's first league loss on their own ground since April. Matos added that his team must keep pushing to beat the best teams in the league, and acknowledged that against West Ham they tried but could not take anything from the game.
Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency / BBC Sport
