Sheffield Wednesday made unwanted history as Zan Vipotnik's double helped Swansea City to a resounding 4-0 victory over the Championship's bottom club. Wednesday's failure to score means they have gone nine straight league games without finding the target for the first time in their history. This was also an eighth successive second-tier defeat for the Owls, who edge ever closer to relegation as their painful season goes on.
Sheffield Wednesday made unwanted history as Zan Vipotnik's double helped Swansea City to a resounding 4-0 victory over the Championship's bottom club.
Wednesday's failure to score means they have gone nine straight league games without finding the target for the first time in their history.
This was also an eighth successive second-tier defeat for the Owls, who edge ever closer to relegation as their painful season goes on.
Swansea, by contrast, are growing in confidence as their upturn under Vitor Matos continues.
Goncalo Franco put the Swans on course for a sixth win in their past seven home games, the midfielder rounding off a fine move by guiding home Josh Tymon's cross.
Henrik Pedersen's team did not look like responding, and any slim hope of a Wednesday revival ended when Vipotnik blasted a free-kick high into the net from just outside the penalty area.
Championship leading scorer Vipotnik swiftly claimed his second of the afternoon – and his 15th in the league this season – as he controlled Ronald's cross before rolling the ball into the bottom corner.
There was more misery to come late on for Wednesday as substitute Malick Yalcouye danced into the box before stroking in his first goal since joining Swansea on loan from Brighton last summer.
Swansea's biggest win of the season lifts them to 15th, with Matos' side 10 points clear of the bottom three and only five points adrift of the top six.
Wednesday remain 39 points adrift of safety with only 15 league games remaining.
Analysis: Matos' inspired-Swans add to Owls' misery
Wednesday had not scored a goal since the now departed Bailey Cadamarteri struck in a draw with Hull City on 26 December.
That desperate did not looked like being wiped out in south Wales, particularly after Franco's opening goal.
Liam Cullen was unfortunate not to stretch Swansea's lead when his lobbed effort hit the cross bar just before half-time but even after that let-off, the visitors could not muster any sort of response in the second period.
Vipotnik had threatened on a couple of occasions before his thumping set-piece put the result beyond doubt, with Swansea's late flourish condemning Wednesday to the second heaviest loss in their miserable campaign.
Not so long ago, Swansea had serious relegation concerns of their own, but they look much more comfortable now after a Matos-inspired improvement which has brought eight wins in their past 13 league games.
Category: General Sports
