Matt Grimes | 300 not out

Swansea City skipper Matt Grimes brought up 300 appearances for the club in Saturday's Championship clash at Norwich City.

The 28-year-old has once again been the model of consistency for the Swans, continuing a run of excellent showings stretching back to the 2018-19 campaign.

Overall, he has missed just 271 minutes of Championship play since a defeat at Aston Villa in October 2018.

That means he has played in all bar one of Swansea’s last 162 Championship and play-off games.

Here, we look back at some of the memorable moments from his time in Swansea colours.

Debut

Swansea City 3 Hull City 1 – Premier League, April 4 2015

Swansea City remained on course for their best Premier League finish as a Bafetimbi Gomis double helped them see of relegation-threatened Hull at the Liberty Stadium, with January signing Grimes making a late debut from the bench.

Garry Monk's men took an 18th minute league when Ki Sung-yueng tapped the ball home after Allan McGregor had only been able to parry a Jonjo Shelvey drive into the path of the South Korea international.

The hosts extended their lead eight minutes before the break with a spectacular strike from Gomis, as he swivelled to smash an acrobatic overhead kick into the top corner.

Hull responded with Paul McShane pulling a goal back five minutes after the interval, but they were soon down to 10-men when David Meyler was shown a straight red for a poor challenge on Kyle Naughton.

And Gomis made sure of the points as he went through and calmly lofted the ball over McGregor late on.

First goal

Swansea City 3 York City 0 – League Cup, August 25 2015

The Swans advanced to the Capital One Cup third round after goals from Nathan Dyer, Grimes - his first for the club - and sub Marvin Emnes saw off York City.

Dyer opened the scoring after just 82 seconds as he slotted home after Eder was denied by keeper Scott Flinders.

The Swans had a number of chances to double their advantage before the break, with Flinders making a couple of inspired saves for the visitors.

It took until the 64th minute for the Swans to double their lead as Grimes’ deflected shot found the net via the post.

And Emnes ensured the 2013 winners were in the draw for the third round as he fired home in the final moments to finish off a brave effort from the League Two side.

Halfway to 100

Swansea City 3 Middlesbrough 1 – Championship, April 6 2019

Swansea City made it two emphatic home wins in the space of four days as they completely dominated Middlesbrough on home turf.

Grimes netted a penalty on his 50th Swans appearance and Wayne Routledge’s slick finish put the hosts in control at the break, with Connor Roberts putting the seal on victory with a close-range effort.

George Saville rifled home for the visitors, but the result was beyond doubt by then.

In truth, such was the Swans’ superiority the margin of victory could have been far greater, with Daniel James, Nathan Dyer and Bersant Celina all failing to convert from excellent positions.

But Graham Potter was delighted with the authority and fluency in his side’s play against a Middlesbrough outfit who had been firmly among the promotion contenders all season.

First game as captain

Swansea City 2 Hull City 1 – Championship, August 3 2019

Grimes’ tenure as captain got off to a winning start as Swansea City scored two second-half goals in the space of two minutes to secure three points against Hull.

The Swans had trailed at the interval as Kamil Grosicki’s deflected strike gave the Tigers an early lead they trained with relative comfort.

But it all changed in the first four minutes of the second period as Borja Baston’s first Swansea goal in 1,022 days levelled matters, before Mike van der Hoorn nodded in what proved to be the winner.

It gave Swansea a first win in seven attempts against the team from East Yorkshire and a second successive opening-day triumph having seen off Sheffield United by the same scoreline 12 months previously.

Ton up

Birmingham City 1 Swansea City 3 – Championship, July 8 2020

Swansea City moved to within a point of the Championship play-off places as they came from behind to secure a comfortable victory at Birmingham City.

Steve Cooper’s side had trailed after just five minutes when Lukas Jutkiewicz headed the hosts in front at St Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium.

But they responded in fine style with a confident display and led at the break thanks to Rhian Brewster’s eighth goal of the season and Ben Cabango’s first strike for the Swans.

Jay Fulton extended their advantage early in the second half as the visitors eased to a win that moved them up to seventh in the table with four games to go.

150 in the books

Swansea City 2 Wycombe Wanderers 2 – Championship, April 17 2021

A late Swansea City fightback saw Steve Cooper’s side earn a point against Wycombe Wanderers and close the gap to the automatic promotion spots.

After a goalless first half, the visitors struck twice inside the first six minutes of the second half as Admiral Muskwe and Garath McCleary found the net.

That left the hosts facing an uphill struggle, but a Jamal Lowe penalty and a header from Liam Cullen saw the spoils shared.

And Watford’s defeat at Luton meant the gap between the Swans and the Hornets was down to six points with four games of the season remaining.

Both sides had a number of chances, with Lowe, Connor Roberts and Wayne Routledge all denied by a combination of saves and clearances for the Swans.

The day marked Routledge’s 300th appearance, while for Grimes this was outing number 150.

Play-off hero

Swansea City 1 Barnsley 1 - Championship play-off semi-final, second leg, May 22 2021

A moment of magic from Grimes sent Swansea City to Wembley as the skipper’s first-half strike helped the hosts through to the Championship play-off final.

In another tight, hard-fought contest with the Tykes, skipper Grimes put the hosts in control as he curled a wonderful strike into the far corner seven minutes before the break.

That gave the Swans a 2-0 aggregate lead following their first-leg win at Oakwell, as they were roared on by the returning Jack Army.

Cauley Woodrow levelled on the night with 20 minutes left to set up a nervy finish, but Swansea showed character and nerve to ensure they would face Brentford at Wembley with a place in the Premier League on the line.

200 up

Swansea City 1 Barnsley 1 – Championship, April 15 2022

Olivier Ntcham’s stunning strike helped Swansea City come from behind to earn a point against Barnsley and extend their unbeaten run to six games at the Swansea.com Stadium.

The midfielder, on as a second-half substitute sent a brilliant first-time effort looping over the head of Barnsley keeper Jack Walton and into the net for his fourth goal of the season.

That cancelled out Claudio Gomes’ opener for the Tykes and the Swans pushed and pushed in search of a winner with Joel Piroe, Michael Obafemi, Ntcham and Hannes Wolf all going close.

But a winner was not to be as the hosts were unable to mark skipper Grimes’ 200th appearance in Swansea colours with a win.

Four in a row

Cardiff City 2 Swansea City 3 - Championship, April 1 2023

Ben Cabango struck a last-gasp winner as Swansea City made more south Wales derby history by recording a fourth-straight victory in the fixture at the Cardiff City Stadium.

The Swans, who had won the previous three derbies without conceding, swept into an early lead when Joel Piroe fired home from the first meaningful attack of the contest at Cardiff City Stadium.

Liam Cullen headed home a rebound for the second in the 34th minute, but any thoughts of a comfortable afternoon when Jaden Philogene immediately responded with a solo goal for the home side.

The second half was an altogether more cagey affair, but the hosts looked set to secure a point when Sory Kaba headed them level with seven minutes to go.

However, Swansea swept forward in search of a winner - with Grimes, skipper for all four derby wins - striking the bar with a stunning volley from outside the area.

But Cabango scrambled the ball home after a Jay Fulton strike had cannoned back off the post in the final seconds of stoppage time.

250 up

Hull City 1 Swansea City 1 - Championship, April 29 2023

Grimes reached 250 appearances for the club as Swansea City stretched their unbeaten run to eight games after Luke Cundle earned them a point against Hull City at the MKM Stadium.

The Swans had trailed early to a Ben Cabango own goal, but grew into the game and levelled when Cundle finished off a wonderful flowing move.

There were chances at both ends in the second half, but neither side could find a winner.

The result ended Swansea’s outside chances of reaching the play-offs, but continued a sequence of results that has made them the form team in the division over this closing period of the campaign.

300 in the books

Norwich City 2 Swansea City 2 - Championship, April 27 2024

Goals from Jamie Paterson and Matt Grimes saw Swansea City continue their strong end to the season with a draw at play-off hopefuls Norwich City.

The Swans had taken the lead at Carrow Road courtesy of an emphatic finish from Paterson at the end of a crisp flowing attack.

Norwich responded with a brilliant goal from Gabriel Sara before Josh Sargent headed the hosts ahead in first-half stoppage time.

But the visitors hit back as Grimes scored from the spot on his 300th appearance for the Swans.

The display saw Luke Williams’ squad heed to head coach’s desire for them to embrace the challenge of going into a hostile environment against a Norwich side chasing a play-off place and being brave enough to go toe to toe.

And it extended their unbeaten run to four games.