Swansea City continued their impressive late-season form with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road on Monday, April 21, 2025. This win marks Swansea's fifth consecutive triumph in the Championship, solidifying their position in the mid-table and enhancing caretaker manager Alan Sheehan's chances of securing the role permanently.
The match, attended by 16,351 fans, saw Swansea take control early on, with QPR defender Morgan Fox inadvertently putting the visitors ahead in the 29th minute. Fox, who was a late addition to the starting lineup after Jonathan Varane suffered a muscle injury during the warm-up, attempted to clear a cross from Josh Tymon but instead turned it into his own net.
Swansea's confidence grew following the opening goal, and they doubled their lead shortly after halftime. Harry Darling, who has been in fine form lately, scored his third goal in six matches, capitalizing on a half-cleared free-kick and finishing from close range.
Despite Swansea's dominance, QPR managed to pull one back in the 72nd minute. Substitute Karamoko Dembele, who was introduced to the game in the second half, found the net with a well-placed shot after receiving a precise pass from Nicolas Madsen. This marked QPR's first effort on target during the match.
However, Swansea's defense held firm for the remainder of the game, ensuring they secured all three points. This victory is particularly significant for Sheehan, who has overseen seven wins and just two defeats in his 11 matches since taking over from Luke Williams in February 2025. Under his guidance, Swansea has accumulated 23 points in their last 11 matches, a remarkable turnaround for a team that was only six points clear of the relegation zone just over a month ago.
Despite their recent successes, Swansea remains 11th in the table, six points adrift of the playoff spots. Meanwhile, QPR, who had enjoyed a five-game unbeaten run prior to this match, now finds themselves in 15th place, seven points worse off.
Sheehan expressed satisfaction with his team's performance, stating, "I thought for the first 70 minutes of the game we were very strong. I thought there was only one team in the ascendancy. We were 2-0 up, going for the third and potentially got a bit too comfortable. Then they score and for the last 15-20 minutes we have to show our defensive structure. I wouldn't say [it was] bodies on the line because I don't think Vigs (Lawrence Vigouroux) had many saves to make. They were going for the equaliser but they didn't get it and I think we very much deserved it."
On the other hand, QPR's head coach Marti Cifuentes acknowledged his team's struggles, particularly in the first 60-65 minutes of the match. "Definitely a difficult game. I think for 60-65 minutes, we were not good, far from the level we expected. But I think Swansea were excellent in those minutes. They pressed really high, with a lot of energy and a lot of intensity. They showed why they are in the trend they are and they have quality players," Cifuentes said.
Looking ahead, QPR will face Burnley in their final home game of the season next Saturday, April 26, 2025. They will need to quickly regroup and find a way to regain their form after this setback.
As for Swansea, they will aim to build on this momentum and continue their push towards the playoff spots, with the prospect of a permanent managerial appointment for Sheehan looming on the horizon. With the current trajectory, the Swans are poised to finish the season much closer to the top six than the relegation places, marking a significant turnaround in their fortunes.
