Swansea City 1-0 Portsmouth: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Ladbrokes’ post-match review of Swansea City 1-0 Portsmouth in the Championship on Tuesday, 09 December 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Swansea City beat Portsmouth 1-0 in a tight Championship clash. The first half saw few clear chances, with Swansea picking up early yellow cards for Ben Cabango in the 13th minute and Gonçalo Franco in added time, while Portsmouth made an early change at the 50-minute mark when Jordan Williams replaced Zak Swanson. Possession was even, but neither side truly dominated until Swansea’s substitutions around the hour shifted momentum, building on their recent home wins against Oxford United and now Portsmouth after a run of away losses.

The breakthrough came late when Liam Cullen scored in the 78th minute, assisted by Malick Yalcouyé, securing the points for Swansea. Portsmouth, who have now lost three in a row including defeats to Bristol City and Sheffield United, pushed for an equaliser but picked up yellow cards for John Swift at 61 minutes, Jordan Williams at 66 minutes, and Marlon Pack in stoppage time. Swansea’s defence held firm through five changes, contrasting Portsmouth’s ongoing struggles that include just one win in their last five outings.

The game was evenly matched in possession at 50% each, but Swansea edged it in successful dribbles with 73 compared to Portsmouth’s 50, suggesting they were more effective at beating defenders. Corners were close too, with Swansea on five and Portsmouth on six, pointing to both teams creating set-piece threats without much conversion. Discipline saw Swansea with two yellow cards and Portsmouth with three, while assists went Swansea’s way with one to none, underlining their decisive moment.

Substitutions played a role, with Swansea using five – Zan Vipotnik replaced Adam Idah at 56 minutes, Liam Cullen came on for Melker Widell at 57 minutes, Zeidane Inoussa replaced Ji-sung Eom and Malick Yalcouyé came on for Gonçalo Franco both at 72 minutes, and Kaelan Casey replaced Ethan Galbraith at 90 minutes. Portsmouth made five changes despite the even contest: Jordan Williams replaced Zak Swanson at 50 minutes, Adrian Segečić came on for Conor Chaplin and Harvey Blair replaced Minhyeok Yang both at 70 minutes, Colby Bishop replaced Callum Lang at 71 minutes, and Makenzie Kirk came on for Hayden Matthews at 87 minutes. No penalties, red cards, or injury-time goals shifted the balance further.

The match’s defining moment arrived in the 78th minute when Liam Cullen scored for Swansea, assisted by Malick Yalcouyé, breaking the deadlock in a game that had been cagey throughout. Earlier, Swansea’s discipline issues surfaced with Ben Cabango booked at 13 minutes and Gonçalo Franco at 45+1 minutes, while Vitor Matos received a yellow at 76 minutes just before the goal. Portsmouth’s substitutions, like Jordan Williams replacing Zak Swanson at 50 minutes, aimed to inject energy, but their own cards for John Swift at 61 minutes and Jordan Williams at 66 minutes disrupted rhythm.

Swansea’s double change at 72 minutes, with Zeidane Inoussa replacing Ji-sung Eom and Malick Yalcouyé coming on for Gonçalo Franco, proved pivotal in setting up the winner. Portsmouth responded with a flurry of subs around the 70-minute mark – Adrian Segečić for Conor Chaplin, Harvey Blair for Minhyeok Yang, and Colby Bishop for Callum Lang – but couldn’t find a way back, ending with Marlon Pack’s yellow in the 90+3 minute. Late changes like Kaelan Casey replacing Ethan Galbraith at 90 minutes for Swansea and Makenzie Kirk for Hayden Matthews at 87 minutes for Portsmouth wrapped up a low-scoring affair.

Swansea City lined up in a 4-2-3-1 shape, with partnerships like Gonçalo Franco in midfield providing stability until his substitution, and Liam Cullen making an impact as a forward option after coming on. Ben Cabango anchored the defence despite his early booking, while Ethan Galbraith stood out in midfield before being replaced late. The setup allowed for effective dribbles and the late assist from Malick Yalcouyé to Cullen, highlighting their attacking transitions.

Portsmouth deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation, relying on midfielders like Marlon Pack for control, though his late booking summed up their frustrations. Substitutes such as Colby Bishop and Harvey Blair aimed to boost the attack, with Jordan Williams adding defensive reinforcement after replacing Zak Swanson early in the second half. The shape focused on set-pieces from corners but lacked the final assist to trouble Swansea’s backline effectively.

Ethan Galbraith earned Ladbrokes’ Man of the Match for his influential display in Swansea’s midfield, creating one big chance and delivering one key pass despite no goals or assists. He started the game and controlled play effectively before being replaced by Kaelan Casey at 90 minutes, standing out in a match where creativity was at a premium.

Recent Championship matches:

• Win: 1-0 vs Portsmouth (H)
• Win: 2-0 vs Oxford United (H)
• Loss: 2-3 vs West Bromwich Albion (A)
• Loss: 1-2 vs Derby County (H)
• Loss: 0-3 vs Bristol City (A)

Recent Championship matches:

• Loss: 0-1 vs Swansea City (A)
• Loss: 0-1 vs Bristol City (H)
• Loss: 0-3 vs Sheffield United (A)
• Win: 3-1 vs Millwall (H)
• Loss: 2-3 vs Hull City (A)

Swansea City have just secured a 1-0 win over Portsmouth, building on their recent home form with back-to-back victories after three straight losses. Currently 18th on 23 points, they face Stoke City next on 2025-12-13 at 12:30, with the opposition sitting seventh on 30 points and chasing playoff spots. This match offers Swansea a chance to climb away from the lower mid-table and gain momentum against a higher-placed side.

Portsmouth have just suffered a 1-0 defeat to Swansea City, extending their poor run with three consecutive losses after a win over Millwall. Sitting 22nd on 17 points, they host Blackburn Rovers next on 2025-12-13 at 15:00, facing a team in 20th on 22 points that’s also scrapping to avoid relegation trouble. A positive result here is crucial for Portsmouth to start closing the gap and pull clear of the drop zone.

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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.