This time final 12 months, Swansea had constructed vital momentum beneath former boss Alan Sheehan, who had impressed an upturn in type to keep off relegation considerations after the Luke Williams period ended on the again of a worrying stoop.
Within the earlier marketing campaign, Williams was the person who masterminded the turnaround in fortunes after Michael Duff’s forgettable stint in cost.
Matos’ problem is to vary the file at Swansea, who will start 2026-27 with a watch on the play-offs, as was the case at the beginning of the season which ended with Saturday’s win over Charlton Athletic.
There’s more likely to be slightly extra expectation subsequent time round provided that the groups ending seventh and eighth will safe play-off locations in a 12 months’s time.
But it’s price remembering that apart from their two play-off campaigns beneath Steve Cooper – when parachute funds nonetheless supplied a serving to hand – the perfect end Swansea have managed since dropping out of the highest flight is tenth, first Graham Potter in 2019 after which Russell Martin three years in the past.
Matos’ group completed eleventh, simply as Sheehan’s facet did final 12 months, though Swansea had three extra factors this time round.
Finally, they have been 9 factors wanting Hull Metropolis, who claimed the final of this season’s play-off locations, and 5 adrift of Derby County, who led to eighth.
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