Liam Cullen’s brace and a goal from Gonçalo Franco secured a resounding 3-0 win for Swansea City over Queens Park Rangers at the Swansea.com Stadium.
The Swans delivered a commanding first-half performance, bouncing back from consecutive defeats with a dominant display that left QPR with no answers. The result moves Swansea to 10th in the Championship, seven points off the play-off places, while QPR’s seven-match unbeaten run comes to a disappointing end, leaving them in 17th place and six points clear of the relegation zone.
First-Half Masterclass
Swansea wasted no time asserting their dominance, enjoying an incredible 85% possession before the break. Their first goal came in the 12th minute when Ronald’s low cross found Cullen, who calmly converted with a first-time finish. Cullen doubled the lead in the 28th minute, capitalising on Josh Key’s precise ball across the face of goal.
The Swans continued to press and found a third just five minutes later. After QPR goalkeeper Paul Nardi parried Cullen’s shot, Franco pounced to fire in the rebound, marking his first goal in English football since joining from Moreirense last summer.
QPR Offer Little Resistance
Marti Cifuentes’ side struggled to contend with Swansea’s intensity and were repeatedly opened up by the Swans’ quick passing and incisive movement. The R’s managed a brief spell of attacking intent early in the second half, with Paul Smyth’s deflected cross causing a moment of concern for Swansea goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux. Substitute Harrison Ashby’s late effort deflected harmlessly wide, marking QPR’s only meaningful shot of the match.
Swansea nearly added a fourth late on when Zan Vipotnik’s strike flashed just wide of the post, but by that stage, the result was beyond doubt.
Manager Reaction
Swansea head coach Luke Williams praised his team’s response to recent setbacks:
“If we perform like that, I am going to be happy. I thought it was an excellent performance… We managed to get a foothold in the game and performed to a really high level. Certainly today was one of the best examples of how we should play.”
Writer’s View
Swansea’s performance was a textbook example of dominating possession and clinical finishing. Liam Cullen continues to impress with his sharpness in front of goal, while Gonçalo Franco’s debut strike underscores the team’s growing attacking depth. For QPR, this loss serves as a stark reminder of the defensive frailties that still linger despite their recent upturn in form. Both teams must now find consistency as the season enters its second half.
Founder and Editor-in-Chief at The Real EFL, Gary is a passionate Lincoln City fan with extensive content creation across the Championship and EFL. He also shares expert football betting tips.
