Swansea City secured a vital 1-0 victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, with Ben Cabango netting the winning goal. The Swans, under caretaker head coach Alan Sheehan, have now amassed 17 points from their last nine league matches, propelling them to 12th place with four games remaining in the Championship season.
Cabango’s decisive goal, his second of the campaign, dashed Sunderland’s hopes of clinching a win at home and dealt a blow to their promotion aspirations. Despite the Black Cats making three changes to their lineup, including handing a first Championship start to teenager Harrison Jones, they struggled to find their rhythm throughout the game.
Swansea showed early intent with Lewis O’Brien testing the Sunderland goalkeeper, Anthony Patterson, prompting the visitors to push forward with confidence. Although Sunderland enjoyed spells of possession, they failed to create clear-cut chances, with their best opportunity coming from Tommy Watson’s effort saved by Swansea’s Lawrence Vigouroux.
The stalemate was broken in the 58th minute when Cabango capitalised on a defensive mix-up following Eom Ji-Sung’s free-kick, ultimately finding the back of the net after Harry Darling’s header rebounded off the crossbar. This goal injected Swansea with further belief as they looked to secure all three points on Wearside.
Despite Sunderland introducing fresh legs in a bid to salvage a result, Swansea’s resolute defence held firm, limiting the home side’s attacking threats. Trai Hume came closest to levelling the score for Sunderland, but his tame effort was comfortably saved by Vigouroux.
As the game entered its closing stages, there was a moment of contention when Eliezer Mayenda went down in the box under a challenge, but referee Farai Hallam waved away appeals for a penalty. Sheehan’s side saw out the match to claim their third consecutive victory and keep their faint hopes of a play-off spot alive.
The win for Swansea City showcased their resilience and determination under interim boss Sheehan, highlighting their ability to compete with playoff contenders like Sunderland. With their recent run of form, the Swans will be aiming to finish the season strongly and build momentum heading into the next campaign.