Report | Swansea City 1 Bristol City 1
Ben Cabango’s close-range finish was not enough to give Swansea City a third win in a row as Bristol City fought back to claim a point at the Swansea.com Stadium.
The Wales international turned in a Jisung Eom corner early on in an entertaining first half and it looked like it would prove to be the winner, although Ollie Cooper and Žan Vipotnik had gone close to extending the Swansea lead.
Lawrence Vigouroux made important saves from Yu Hirakawa and Sinclair Armstrong, and the home side once again showed no shortage of defensive grit and desire, but the visitors claimed a point when Jason Knight headed in a corner with 15 minutes to go.
The Swans remain unbeaten on home soil in the league, and again showed plenty of encouraging signs with and without the ball, but head coach Luke Williams will be frustrated at the two points dropped when his side had been on course for a third victory in succession.
The Swans had shown two changes from the win at Coventry City as Vipotnik and Kyle Naughton came in for illness victim Liam Cullen and Josh Key respectively.
The hosts opened with real confidence, a wonderful ball from Harry Darling sending Eom into space on the left. The Korean cut inside and his pull-back was hacked clear as white shirts arrived into the area.
The Robins responded, Scott Twine forcing a magnificent save from Lawrence Vigouroux after Yu Hirakawa’s break down the right.
It was proving an entertaining contest, and a lovely flowing Swansea move saw Cooper send Ronald into space and Vipotnik volleyed wide when Bristol City were unable to clear the Brazilian’s delivery.
And from the resulting Eom corner Cabango was on hand to turn the ball home at the far post to give the Swans the lead.
They nearly doubled their advantage thanks to excellent pressing work from Ollie Cooper, who shut down Luke McNally’s attempted pass, and his block – with keeper Max O’Leary positioned out of his goal – looked set to find the net, only for the woodwork to spare visiting blushes.
Eom then fired high and wide after Goncalo Franco had worked his way into room on the right and swept a pass to the edge of the penalty area.
The Swans continued to carve out the better chances, O’Leary making a brilliant reaction save to keep out Franco’s ferocious volley before, at the other end, Cabango made an important clearance as a deflected Hirakawa cross bobbled around the box.
The hosts led at the interval but needed Vigouroux to make an important save when the home side got Sinclair Armstrong in on goal, with the Chilean international standing tall to save the striker’s effort with his leg.
Vigouroux then held Twine’s free-kick before a wonderful piece of skill from Eom quickly got Swansea back on the front foot.
Bristol City had penalty appeals waved away as Naughton and Anis Mehmeti came together as a long ball forward cleared the pair.
An already sodden afternoon became even more challenging as the rain intensified with just over an hour gone.
The Swans threatened again, lovely work from Ronald, Cooper and Franco ending with the former flashing a strike well wide.
At the other end Cabango made a tremendous interception to cut out a fizzing cross, with centre-half partner Darling nodding away a follow-up delivery.
But they could not prevent Knight from levelling the scores when he headed in from a corner with 15 minutes remaining as it ended all-square in SA1.
Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux, Kyle Naughton (Josh Key 60), Ben Cabango, Harry Darling, Josh Tymon; Matt Grimes (captain), Goncalo Franco (Joe Allen 73), Ollie Cooper; Ronald, Žan Vipotnik (Myles Peart-Harris 73), Jisung Eom (Azeem Abdulai 89).
Unused Substitutes: Jon McLaughlin, Jay Fulton, Florian Bianchini, Nathan Tjoe-A-On, Nelson Abbey.
Bristol City: Max O'Leary, Max Bird (Joe Williams 57), Yu Hirakawa (Mark Sykes 57), Scott Twine (Fally Mayulu 86), Anis Mehmeti, Jason Knight (captain), Zak Vyner, Luke McNally, George Tanner, Haydon Roberts (Cameron Pring 57), Sinclair Armstrong (Nahki Wells 68).
Unused Substitutes: Stefan Bajic, Kal Naismith, Marcus McGuane, George Earthy.
Referee: Andrew Kitchen
Attendance: 16,328