Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyImage caption, Swansea have lost one of their last 10 Championship games
ByGeorge Rees-JulianBBC Sport Wales- Published13 minutes ago
Swansea head coach Vitor Matos is "really pleased" with their unbeaten start to the Championship season, but insisted they still have small improvements to make.
Goals from Joseph Opoku, Eom Ji-sung and Ronald gave Swansea a 3-0 win at Derby, taking Matos' charges to seven points from three games - their best start to a season since 2020-21.
The Swans won just seven of their 23 away Championship fixtures last season, but have taken six points from six at the start of this campaign.
Matos, into his second campaign in charge of Swansea, is pleased with their improved record on the road, and feels his players are enjoying themselves.
"There is still a lot to play [this season], but we are really pleased that we did a good job for our fans who were here," said Matos.
"It was one game, and we have a difficult run of games now coming. It was a really nice performance; now we have to build on that for the next one.
"I think we started the game really well. We scored early, and it gave us the tranquillity to stay in the game and be competitive.
"Then we had moments where Derby pushed us back, and we needed to stay compact and concentrated in the box.
"We coped with that, scored the second, and that gave us the comfort to control the game how we like to do it.
"We were a little bit anxious to score the third goal and kill the game, but I'm really pleased. We showed maturity again.
"The team is growing, we have new players fitting in, and we have a group of players that is starting to enjoy playing together."
Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyImage caption, Swansea head coach Vitor Matos signed a new contract in July
Matos marked his side's win at Pride Park with three celebratory fist pumps to the travelling Swansea supporters.
The Portuguese boss is keen to foster a strong connection with the fans, and suggested his players will need to lean on their supporters at times this season.
"I think it's really important, not the celebration but the connection between the fans, the players, the manager and the club," he added,
"It's important to keep growing that because there will be moments when we will not be in a good moment.
"It's early stages of course, but we have the responsibility to keep pushing ourselves and keep going.
"Our away form is really good so far. I said it last season, it's not about home or away performances, it's more a matter of mindset.
"So far I've been really pleased with the performance, but we still need to improve on small things.
"Credit to everyone at this early stage to be able to put together these types of performances."
