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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Paul Clarke & Mathew Davies

The 'surprised' Birmingham City verdict on Swansea City as pundit explains exactly how they dismantled Blues

Swansea City dismantled Birmingham City at the weekend to go second in the Championship table.

They sit one place behind Leeds United on goal difference and face the Whites at Elland Road this weekend.

It will be a mouthwatering clash in Yorkshire between one of the favourites for the league and a side who are surprising many so far this term.

The thoughts of Leeds, Fulham, Brentford, Cardiff City and West Brom correspondents on Swansea's blistering start can be read here , but Steve Cooper's men haven't faced any of those sides so far this campaign.  

BirminghamLive correspondent Brian Dick has seen them first-hand and had this to say about the home team's performance on Sunday. He said: "Swansea City surprised me.

"I'll be honest I thought they were going to struggle this season, losing their manager, top striker and rising star - but if anything they look better than they did when Birmingham were last in town at the end of January.

"The unity between coaching staff, players and supporters makes them a very competitive Championship side and it wouldn't surprise me now if they go on and mount a play-off challenge.

"Similarly I recognise it's only five games and a lot can change but they've got many of the right ingredients to have a good season.

"(Joe) Rodon and (Mike) van der Hoorn look rock-solid, (Jay) Fulton and (Matt) Grimes are composed and (Bersant) Celina is showing the talent Man City recognised. They look very, very potent indeed."

Bersant Celina celebrates (Ben Evans/Huw Evans Agency)

It was a convincing second-half performance, and former Blues boss Gary Rowett, who was doing punditry work for Sky Sports at the Liberty, explains how Swansea took the visitors apart.

“It’s a very frustrating situation," Rowett said. 

"Swansea are probably the hardest team to play in the division in terms of trying to press them.

"Birmingham sat off too much and they were almost happy to see Swansea dictate the play.

"They needed to have better movement and take the sting out of Swansea.

"Swansea’s full-backs were getting really high up the pitch. Birmingham didn’t keep the ball often enough and their full-backs were too deep.

"I just felt at times the back three were not comfortable enough in possession."

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