Swansea City were seconds away from climbing into the Championship’s top five when John Egan’s 97th-minute equaliser snatched a point for Hull City at the Swansea.com Stadium. It was a gut-punch ending to a game that had showcased attacking flair, defensive grit, and moments of real quality from the home side—none more so than Ronald’s composed second-half finish that looked to have sealed the win.
Zan Vipotnik had earlier opened the scoring with his fourth goal in as many games, continuing his red-hot form with a sharp low strike after linking well with Malick Yalcouye. But the lead lasted mere minutes, as former Swan Oli McBurnie slid in to convert Ryan Giles’ pinpoint cross and level the contest before half-time. Swansea responded with a sweeping counterattack finished by Ronald, and despite Hull’s pressure, the hosts looked set to hold firm.
Then came the sting. With seven minutes of stoppage time played, a chaotic scramble in the box saw the ball fall kindly to Egan, who rifled home to silence the home crowd and leave Alan Sheehan’s side ruing missed chances and a retreating second-half shape. The unbeaten run stretches to six, but this one will feel like a loss.
⚽ First Half: Bright Start, Familiar Frustrations
Swansea started brightly, with Malick Yalcouye setting the tempo in midfield and Ronald looking sharp down the right. The hosts controlled possession and created the better chances, with Vipotnik testing Pandur early and Jamie Paterson seeing a deflected effort loop just over.
The breakthrough came in the 40th minute. Yalcouye drove through midfield and slipped a clever pass into Vipotnik, who turned smartly and fired low into the bottom corner. It was his fourth goal in as many games, and a deserved reward for Swansea’s dominance in the opening half.
But the lead lasted barely five minutes. Ryan Giles found space on the left and delivered a low cross that Oli McBurnie converted with a sliding finish. The former Swan ghosted between defenders and made no mistake from close range. It was a frustrating lapse, undoing much of Swansea’s good work and sending the sides into the break level despite the home side’s control.
For many in the stands, the mood at half-time was one of quiet irritation. Swansea had played the better football, looked more cohesive, and created the clearer chances. Yet the scoreboard didn’t reflect it. The equaliser felt avoidable, and the sense was that if the Swans were serious about pushing into the top six, they’d need to show more ruthlessness and defensive discipline after the break.
🔁 Second Half: Ronald’s Spark, Egan’s Sting
The second half began with Swansea again on the front foot. Malick Yalcouye continued to drive play from midfield, and it was his burst past Lundstram that opened the door for the Swans to go ahead again. Zeidane Inoussa picked up the loose ball and chipped a clever pass into Ronald, who took a touch and calmly slotted past Pandur to restore the lead in the 57th minute.
From there, Swansea looked to manage the game. Hull saw more of the ball, but the Swans defended in numbers and limited clear chances. Ben Cabango and Cameron Burgess were strong in the air, while Josh Key offered an outlet down the right. Ethan Galbraith and Gonçalo Franco worked hard to screen the back line, and substitute Liam Cullen added energy in midfield.
Hull’s pressure grew as the clock ticked down. A flurry of corners and long throws tested Swansea’s resolve, and Alan Sheehan’s side began to drop deeper. Ryan Giles remained a threat from wide areas, and substitute Scott Twine added urgency for the visitors. Still, Swansea looked to have done enough until the final seconds.
In the seventh minute of stoppage time, a scramble in the box saw the ball ricochet off several legs before falling to John Egan. The defender made no mistake, smashing home from close range to level the match and stun the home crowd. It was a cruel end to a game Swansea had largely controlled, and the reaction in the stands was one of disbelief and frustration.
🔢 Swansea City Player Ratings
| Player | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Vigouroux | 8 | Beaten twice but made crucial saves to keep Swansea in it. Commanding presence. |
| Josh Key | 7 | Delivered dangerous crosses and worked tirelessly up and down the flank. |
| Ben Cabango (c) | 7 | Solid throughout. One vital late tackle nearly preserved the win. |
| Cameron Burgess | 7 | Dominant in the air and composed on the ball. |
| Josh Tymon | 6 | Quiet by his standards. Offered width but lacked final delivery. |
| Gonçalo Franco | 6 | Sloppy in spells but improved after the break. Subbed late. |
| Ethan Galbraith | 8 | Covered every blade. Intelligent positioning and crisp passing. |
| Malick Yalcouye | 8 | Drove the midfield and helped create both goals. Subbed. |
| Ronald | 7 | Took his goal well. Drifted in and out but remained a threat. |
| Zeidane Inoussa | 6 | Assisted Ronald’s goal but struggled to impose himself. Subbed. |
| Zan Vipotnik | 7 | Sharp finish for the opener. Subbed early in second half. |
🔄 Substitutes
- Eom Jisung (on for Inoussa, 64′) – 6: Quiet cameo.
- Adam Idah (on for Vipotnik, 64′) – 6: Showed glimpses, needs more minutes.
- Liam Cullen (on for Yalcouye, 71′) – 6: Energetic but peripheral.
- Melker Widell (on for Franco, 90′) – N/A
⭐ Man of the Match: Lawrence Vigouroux
Without his second-half saves, Swansea would have left empty-handed. Commanded his box and kept Hull at bay until the final sting.
🎙️ Manager Reaction: Sheehan’s Frustration, Fans’ Verdict
Alan Sheehan didn’t sugarcoat his disappointment after Swansea’s 2–2 draw with Hull.
“It’s very disappointing, the manner of the equaliser,” he admitted. “Seven minutes was a long time to add on but ultimately we only played in patches today. First half was very comfortable… but we conceded more chances today than we have in the last four games—that’s not like us”.
He pointed to a drop in defensive intensity as the game wore on, noting that Swansea “dropped, dropped, dropped” and failed to battle against the slower tempo. While he acknowledged the team looked good in spells, he was clear that consistency and game management must improve.
Plenty of fans agreed—but not without a few choice words. The mood leaving the stadium was one of disbelief. “We were cruising, then we just stopped playing,” one supporter muttered outside the East Stand. Others pointed to the substitutions, saying they invited pressure instead of killing the game off. The frustration wasn’t just about conceding late—it was about watching a team that looked ready to climb the table suddenly lose its nerve.
There’s still backing for Sheehan, especially given the progress since August. But if Swansea want to be taken seriously as promotion contenders, they can’t keep letting games like this slip through their fingers.
📉 Summary: A Gut-Punch Finish and a Lesson in Game Management
There’s no dressing this one up. Swansea were minutes away from a statement win, one that would have lifted them into the top five and underlined their growing momentum. Instead, they walked off with a single point and a lingering sense of what might have been.
The performance had plenty to admire. Vipotnik’s sharp finish, Ronald’s composure, and Yalcouye’s drive through midfield all pointed to a side capable of hurting teams. But the final act exposed a familiar flaw: the inability to close out games when the pressure mounts. Hull didn’t carve Swansea open with brilliance. They simply kept asking questions until the Swans stopped answering.
If this team is serious about a promotion push, it needs to be ruthless. Not just in front of goal, but in managing moments, controlling tempo, and defending with conviction when the stakes are highest. The unbeaten run continues, but this draw will feel like a defeat. And if Swansea want to be more than nearly men, they’ll need to turn frustration into fuel starting next week.
Next up: Swansea City host Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, 17 September at the Swansea.com Stadium.
