Former Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips has identified Swansea City as a potential dark horse in this season's Championship race. Phillips highlighted the Swans alongside Norwich City in comments this week, pointing to their impressive early-season form.
Swansea City currently sit top of the Championship table with 11 points from five games, one point clear of Middlesbrough. Their strong start includes three wins and two draws, with a formidable defensive record of just one goal conceded. This positive momentum sets the stage for their next challenge, a home fixture against Burnley on September 12th.
Kevin Phillips, a respected voice in the game, was clear in his assessment. "I tipped them to be one of the dark horses at the beginning of the season, but it's still very, very early," he said. He went on to praise the team's performances directly. "The way they've started, wow. And having watched them, watched highlights, they look exciting." This endorsement from a former Golden Boot winner carries significant weight and points to the tangible progress being made under the current management. The team's attacking intent is reflected in their seven goals scored so far, contributing to a healthy +6 goal difference that underpins their league position.
Several key factors are contributing to Swansea City's promising opening to the campaign. Crucially, the club managed to retain last season's top goal scorer, Zan Vipotnik, providing a reliable source of goals and continuity in the final third. This stability has been complemented by immediate contributions from other attacking players. Both Opoku and Adam Idah have already found the net. This multi-faceted attack is a primary reason for their exciting style of play noted by Phillips. Fans can track the contributions of all the squad members on the official squad page.
The league itself presents an intriguing picture this season. Hull City were the beneficiaries of the play-off system last term, securing promotion to the Premier League. Notably, the Championship has now expanded to include six play-off places, increasing the opportunities for teams in the upper half of the table to compete for promotion. This change makes a strong start even more valuable, as it builds a platform for a sustained push. Swansea's current standing at the summit of the standings puts them in an ideal position to challenge for one of those coveted spots.
In his analysis, Kevin Phillips also pointed to Norwich City as a team with the potential to surprise. He specifically mentioned Mohamed Toure as a key threat for the Canaries, a player who has already notched three goals across all competitions this season. Norwich bolstered their credentials with a good victory over Burnley, showing they possess the quality to compete at the top end of the division. The early-season form of both Swansea and Norwich suggests the race for promotion could be more open than many predicted.
Swansea City's immediate focus now shifts to maintaining their momentum. Their next test is a home match against Burnley, who currently sit 24th in the table, on Saturday, September 12th.
