Sheffield Wednesday set an unwanted club record of nine league games without conceding as Swansea cruised to a 4-0 Sky Bet Championship victory.
Gonzalo Franco put Swansea ahead in the 19th minute, and Zan Vipotnik further strengthened his status as the Championship’s top scorer with a second-half double.
Vipotnik took a free kick from the edge of the box and scored his 15th league goal of the season and 17th goal in all competitions.
Substitute Malick Yarkoué dribbled through the scoring with two minutes remaining to score Swansea’s first goal, sealing the Welsh club’s biggest win of the season.
Zan Vipotnik (right) scored twice in Swansea’s win over Sheffield on Wednesday.
Swansea’s sixth home win in seven league games lifted them into 15th place, their highest position since early November and five points clear of the play-off places.
Swansea will be hoping to make a push for a top-six finish in the final stages of the season, but Wednesday’s fate is already sealed.
The Owls’ total remains in the negative column, with 18 points left them far behind the rest of the Championship, entering administration and breaching the EFL’s regulations regarding payment obligations.
Bailey Cadamartelli scored his last goal on Boxing Day and the young striker was sold to Wrexham on deadline day this week.
The scoreless game against South Wales ended the Owls’ run of eight consecutive games in March and April 1975, and on Wednesday extended their run of scoreless runs in front of goal to 14 hours.
Josh Tymon tested Murphy Cooper from 25 yards seven minutes later, and Marko Stamenic fired a shot wide before Wednesday’s defense was breached.
Brazilian winger Ronaldo, who was making his full debut after joining on loan from Brentford, and Gustavo Nunez came on, with Liam Cullen setting Timon’s provocative cross inside the six-yard box.
Franco scored his fourth goal of the season, and the Portuguese celebrated along with his Brazilian team-mates.
Swansea almost doubled their lead after Vipotnik’s snap shot went narrowly wide.
A wayward shot from Jarvis Thornton looked like a goal on Wednesday, but it was mostly one-way traffic and Tymon found the Owls’ side netting.
Timon’s attacks from the left flank were a feature of the first half, and he came close to contributing to his second goal in first-half stoppage time.
The left-back found Cullen’s deft run to the near post and the Wales international sent the free-kick over the crossbar.
Swansea’s second goal was a question of when, as Nunez fired straight at Cooper and Vipotnik headed Timon’s free kick wide.
But the Slovenian striker was undeterred and after 70 minutes he won the ball after Jarkue was tipped over and beat Cooper with a powerful free-kick that went over the keeper’s head.
Vipotnik scored nine minutes later from a Ronaldo cross, but Yakoue remained calm and condemned Wednesday to their second heaviest defeat of the season.
managers
Swansea’s Vitor Matos:
“The most important thing, and I’ve said it from day one, is that the team has a lot of potential.
“We needed to make our team the best it can be to compete. That’s what we’re still working on. That’s what we’re striving for, that’s what drives us.”
“That’s the championship this season as well. If we win one game, you think we’re close to the playoffs.
“I think if we lose one game we are close to relegation.
“So being emotionally stable is very important. That’s the mindset we need to have.”
Henrik Pedersen of Sheffield Wednesday:
“During training, we start scoring goals. It’s still difficult for them to bring it from training to games, but we’re working on it.”
“When we want the ball, we press with players higher up. That’s the most important message I gave to the players before we went on the pitch.”
“Go out there and express yourself. Go out there and once you’re one, take this risk and bring in an extra person in the box. I know it’s there.”
