If Žan Vipotnik does indeed end up leaving Swansea City ahead of the summer transfer window closing next Monday, he will have left one hell of a parting gift in SA1.
The Slovenian striker’s future at the club remains a big talking point with the Swans also still actively looking to bring another forward in before the window closes at 7pm on 1 September, which could also result in Vipotnik heading out.
Vipotnik is currently behind Wales forward Liam Cullen in the pecking order to be Swansea’s starting striker, in the league at least, coming off the bench in two of the side’s opening three Championship fixtures while was an unused substitute in the other.
It was, though, Vipotnik on the scoresheet last weekend, heading home an equaliser just minutes after coming on to rescue a point for Swansea from a 1-1 draw with Watford at the Swansea.Com Stadium.
Then, handed a start in last night’s Carabao Cup second round home tie with League One outfit Plymouth Argyle – which Swans eventually won 5-3 on penalties after it had finished 1-1 – Vipotnik followed that up with a showstopper at that same north stand end he scored at against Warford to open the scoring.
Having taken Marko Stamenic’s pass under his wing, he turned towards goal before unleashing an unstoppable shot from 25 yards that flew past Pilgrims keeper Luca Ashby-Hammond and went in off the underside of the crossbar.
It was only Vipotnik’s ninth goal in 48 appearances in a Swansea shirt but is the first time the former Bordeaux frontman has netted in back-to-back games for the club since he arrived in south Wales in the summer of 2024.
It also remains to be seen whether Vipotnik has done enough to force his way into Swans boss Alan Sheehan’s starting XI for Saturday’s league trip to Sheffield Wednesday or whether Cullen – who is yet to net this season – comes back in to lead the line at Hillsborough.
Vipotnik’s stunning opener in the cup tie against Argyle was cancelled out by Brendan Wiredu, who headed the Pilgrims level just before half time.
With both sides going close in what was a frenetic end-to-end second half, penalties were needed to eventually separate them.
Vipotnik stepped up first and confidently tucked away his penalty, as did Ethan Galbraith, Cullen and Ben Cabango.
Second choice keeper Andy Fisher was the shootout hero for Swansea, saving Matthew Sorinola’s spot kick – Plymouth’s second of the shootout – with Melker Widell eventually tucking home the winning penalty to secure victory and send the Swans into this evening’s third round draw.
Sheehan was once again unsurprisingly asked about Vipotnik post the win over Plymouth, while the Irishman also remained coy on any potential transfer business before Monday’s deadline.
On Vipotnik, he said: “He had a disrupted pre-season, Vipi. You know he was challenging for the game [friendly] versus Lorient and he missed a good few days with a toe injury and missed that game.
“And then obviously he's got to get them minutes somewhere.
“We gave him minutes in the Crawley [Carabao Cup first round] game, he's come on against Middlesbrough and obviously in the last game as well and made an impact.
“We want our game changers to come on and then he's obviously started tonight and he's scored a wonderful goal.
“In my time [as head coach], Vipi has played a number of games for us and we want to be that relentless team that keeps going, without the ball and with the ball.
“He had a good moment on Saturday obviously and another big moment tonight.
“So yeah, that's where we're at. That's what we want from our attacking players – to be scoring goals. So yeah, happy with Vipi for that.”
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Meanwhile despite his side’s shootout defeat, Plymouth boss Tom Cleverley was certainly buoyed by his young side’s performance as he now prepares them for another trip to south Wales on Saturday lunchtime when they take on Brian Barry-Murphy’s unbeaten Cardiff City.
While the so far undefeated Bluebirds currently sit top of League One Argyle, who dropped out of the Championship with them at the end of last season, have had more of a difficult start in the league, losing their opening four games.
However they got off the mark at the fifth time of asking last weekend, winning 1-0 against Blackpool at Home Park, and Cleverley – who took over the Devon club in the summer after losing his job at Watford – says there is plenty to be positive about ahead of this weekend’s trip to the Cardiff City Stadium.
On another night they may have won the tie at Swansea before the shootout; Tegan Finn went close for free-flowing Argyle after the break while Swans keeper Fisher needed to make good stops to deny both Bim Pepple and Lorent Tolaj.
Terrific performance,” said Cleverley despite his side’s exit.
“We’re in a moment where we don’t seem to be getting what we deserve right now, but it’s important the players keep believing in the right things, the right processes and eventually that will bring results.
“I thought they were fantastic tonight. You know, eight changes, four teenagers touching the pitch this evening, coming to a really good Championship side who we expected to have the lion’s share of possession.
“But we certainly had the lion’s share of the chances I thought.
“We had good rhythm, good quality. We created the best chances of the game and, although the result hasn't gone our way. there's no way we don't carry momentum from this performance.
“We've set a benchmark in what is a tough place to come away. We come back to south Wales on Saturday and we've set a benchmark for what it’s going to take to get results.”
