New boss is given a clear indication of the task he faces in SA1

IF Vitor Matos happened to be under any illusions over the size of the challenge he's taken at Swansea City then this will have been something of a rude awakening.

- TOM COLEMAN Football Writer [e-mail]

Defeat to Derby County at a chilly Swansea.com Stadium means Swansea have now extended their losing run to four games in the Championship and some big improvements will be needed if that run is to change any time soon.

Joe Ward's strike just after half an hour put the visitors in control of what was otherwise a pretty forgettable half, before Ben Cabango's error set up Lars-Jorgen Salvesen for a second just after the interval.

Ethan Galbraith curled in his second goal of the season late on to set up a tense finish, but the visitors held out to claim what was a deserved sixth win from their last seven league games.

The result condemns Matos to defeat in his first outing as Swans boss, and this performance suggested the issues in this team might well be more deeply-rooted than first thought.