2008-09 - Roberto Martinez' second full season in charge saw the Swans compete for a top-six finish in the Coca-Cola Championship from the start but in the end any hope of a place in the play-offs was dashed with defeat in the penultimate fixture at Sheffield United. Despite a disappointing start at Charlton on the opening day the Swans went on to impress managers and pundits alike as their fluid style of attractive football kept them in contention in the top half of the table. In the end they missed out on extending their season by six points and finishing eighth following defeats against the Blades and at home to Blackpool on the final day. Eight cup games were played in total with the Swans reaching the fourth and fifth rounds of the Carling and FA Cup's respectively; after beating Brentford and Hull in the League Cup a Welsh derby against Cardiff took place in round three at the Liberty Stadium, which was settled by a Jordi Gomez free-kick, only for Watford to inflict the same scor eline upon the home side at the next stage. And after getting past non-league Histon in round three of the FA Cup, Roberto took his side to holders Portsmouth who were beaten 2-0 at Fratton Park; it was Premiership opposition in the shape of Fulham in the next round but, following a 1-1 draw in south west Wales, the Swans were unable to repeat their Pompey success with a 2-1 defeat at Craven Cottage despite going in front through top-scorer Jason Scotland.
For the statisticians, the Swans finished their league campaign with the following figures:
Played: 46
Won: 16
Lost: 10
Drawn: 20
For: 63
Against: 50
Points: 68
Position: 8th
Average home attendance: 15,174
Average away attendance: 1,134
2009-10 - It was all change for Swansea's second season in the Championship after manager Roberto Martinez left in the summer for a new challenge in the Premier League with Wigan Athletic. Assistant-manager Graeme Jones followed him, together with other key members of the backroom staff. Top scorer Jason Scotland and loan signing Jordi Gomez also swapped the Liberty for the DW Stadium.
The club moved quickly to find a successor, however, with the appointment of Portuguese legend and double Champions League winner
Paulo Sousa.
"I want to put this club on the map," said the former QPR boss. "I don't just mean in England and in Wales, I mean in the world. I want us to be something important, something special, and I have no doubt we will achieve that with the people at this club.''
The season started slowly for Sousa as the Swans struggled for consistency throughout August. But an 11-game unbeaten run from the start of September saw the Swans soar up to third with a victory over Derby County on November 20.
Despite the fact that the Swans found goals hard to come by throughout the campaign (scoring just 40), they remained in the play-off places from the start of December right up until the penultimate game of the campaign at Sheffield United at the end of April.
Success was built on the club's superb defensive record, with just 37 goals conceded throughout a season that saw goalkeeper Dorus de Vries break the club's clean-sheet record set by Roger Freestone in 1999-2000.
De Vries finished the season with 24 clean sheets, but defeat at Bramall Lane in the penultimate game proved costly as Blackpool moved above the Swans into sixth.
It meant that on the final day of the season, the Swans needed a home win over Doncaster while Blackpool needed to slip up at home to Bristol City for Paulo Sousa's side to secure a play-off place.
The result went Swansea's way at Blackpool with a 1-1 draw, but the Swans couldn't get the win they needed at the Liberty as the game ended goalless.
Despite the disappointment, it saw the Swans finish the season in seventh place - their highest position in 27 years.
The Swans finished their league campaign with the following figures:
Played: 46
Won: 17
Lost: 11
Drawn: 18
For: 40
Against: 37
Points: 69
Position: 7th
The 2010–11 season was Swansea City's 82nd season in the Football League. They finished in 3rd place, and won the Championship playoff, to win promotion to the Premier League. This will be their first return to top-flight football since 1983. This season was their third consecutive season in the second tier following a 7th placed finish in the previous campaign, narrowly missing out on a play-off place. Swansea City Premier League Tickets are available at FootballTicketExchangeOnline.com at affordable price. Football fans can buy or sell Football Tickets especially Swansea City Premiership Football Tickets at FootballTicketExchangeOnline.com conveniently.
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