Swansea City Proves Championship Contenders with Strong Start

Vitor Matos insists Swansea City’s blistering start to the season is proof they can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the Championship.

Swansea surged back up to second place on Saturday, level on points with leaders West Ham and separated only by goal difference, after a commanding 3-1 win over struggling Burnley. It was exactly the reaction Matos wanted after their first league defeat of the campaign at Southampton in midweek.

Adam Idah, Moussa Yeo and Zan Vipotnik all struck as the Swans shook off any hint of a hangover. The performance carried a message: this new-look side is not just pretty on the ball, it has teeth.

Afterwards, Matos claimed he did not even know where Swansea sit in the table. What he does know, he says, is what this group can do.

"I think we have a team who can compete against every team in the league," the head coach said.

"That's what we want. When we can compete against everyone, we know that on that day, at that particular time, we can have a proper performance and beat any opponent.

"If that happens all the time, we don't know, but we will work our socks off for that."

The numbers and the early mood around the club now back him up. Swansea have responded to their first setback with authority, and Matos is adamant they are built to stay in the scrap at the top rather than just visit it.