Year in review | January

19th December
First team
Oli McBurnie Reading celebration

As 2019 comes to an end, we take a look back at the last 12 months for Swansea City. Here we take a look back at January.

The Swans welcomed in the New Year in style at Madejski Stadium with a thumping 4-1 victory over Reading. Nearly 2,000 travelling Jacks raised their glasses to Graham Potter’s men with Connor Roberts, Mike van der Hoorn and an Oli McBurnie brace sparking the celebrations.

Attention then turned to the FA Cup as Swansea travelled to Villa Park in the third round. Quick-fire goals at the start of each half from Courtney Baker-Richardson and Nathan Dyer set the Swans on their way to victory, before substitute Jay Fulton wrapped things up late on.

Back to league action, and the Swans had to settle for a point after Preston came from behind to claim a 1-1 draw at Deepdale. The Swans had led in the 55th minute courtesy of Courtney Baker-Richardson’s third goal of the season. The hosts earned a share of the spoils following a controversial penalty which Daniel Johnson slotted home after Connor Roberts was adjudged to have handled Jayden Stockley’s cross. 

At the Liberty, Oli McBurnie netted his 11th goal of the season as the Swans moved to within six points of the Championship play-offs following a 1-0 win over Sheffield United. The victory was marred by an injury to Joe Rodon, with the defender suffering a broken metatarsal which saw him sidelined for three months. The injury meant loanee Cameron Carter-Vickers came into the starting line-up, forming a partnership alongside Mike van der Hoorn at centre back.

The Swans eased into the fifth round of the Emirates FA Cup as Oli McBurnie grabbed a brace and Bersant Celina and Barrie McKay netted in a convincing 4-1 victory over League One Gillingham at the Liberty.

Just three days later, Oli McBurnie found the net once again when he scored a last-gasp equaliser to earn the Swans a share of the spoils in a six-goal thriller against 10-man Birmingham City at the Liberty.

The Swans lost skipper Leroy Fer through injury after 16 minutes, and were on the brink of defeat as the game ticked deep into injury time, with Garry Monk looking set to make a winning return to his former club.

But up popped McBurnie to score his second of the night as he directed Mike van der Hoorn’s header past Lee Camp with seconds remaining.

McBurnie had set up Daniel James for the opening goal after 22 minutes, but the Blues levelled through Jacques Maghoma.

McBurnie scored in the 65th minute before Morrison equalised just two minutes later.

A superb strike from Che Adams put the visitors ahead before McBurnie equalised in the dying seconds.

On the transfer front, a number of players left the Liberty Stadium out on loan. Wilfried Bony departed for Qatari outfit Al Arabi, Tom Carroll headed to Aston Villa and Jefferson Montero joined West Bromwich Albion.

See the website tomorrow as we look back on the Swans' fortunes in February.