Loan report: Swansea beat Wrexham in Welsh derby

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2025-12-22T10:50+00:00

Malick Yalcouye is on a season-long loan with Swansea. 📷 by Swansea City.

Albion's loanees enjoyed another busy weekend of action with Malick Yalcouye's Swansea City earning a last-gasp 2-1 win against fellow Welsh side Wrexham on Saturday.

Yalcouye came on for the final 20 minutes as the Swans were handed the deciding goal thanks to an error from Wrexham keeper Arthur Okonkwo, with former Celtic striker Adam Idah poking home in the 90th minute.

It was an important result Swansea, who move seven points clear of the Championship drop zone.

Elsewhere in the second tier, ten-man Coventry City held on against Southampton to draw 1-1 at St Mary's. Carl Rushworth played a crucial part for the Sky Blues, who had Jay Da Silva sent off early in the second half and faced a barrage of Saints pressure, making eight saves to help Frank Lampard's side move six points clear at the top of the Championship.

Birmingham City endured less success, extending their winless run to four matches as they were beaten 3-0 by Sheffield United. Eiran Cashin came on for final 30 minutes of the defeat, but James Beadle missed out through injury, as the Blues slipped to 14th in the second tier.

And finally Kelvin E's winner, a sublime touch and pass from Derrick slotting through our number 9, who had one thing on his mind 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/kZoMvC5nuP
— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) December 20, 2025

In League One, Kamari Doyle and Mark O’Mahony weathered a Luton Town storm to see out a 3-2 win for Reading on Thursday. In an incredibly tightly congested third tier, the Royals could have finished the weekend in 22nd spot had they lost the game, but a win sees them sit 15th instead.

Bolton weren’t able to make it three consecutive wins as they lost 2-1 to fellow play-off chasers Wycombe – Amario Cozier-Duberry has gone five games without a goal or an assist, his longest barren spell since joining the Trotters on loan.

Near the bottom of the EFL, Jacob Slater played the entirety of Harrogate Town’s 4-0 defeat to MK Dons. The Sulphurites are in the thick of a relegation battle, although a win on Boxing Day against Salford City could lift them as high as 20th.

A big win on the road to close out the year 🏆🇫🇷

Into the hat for the last 32 draw of the @coupedefranceCA 🎩#FBBP01OM | 0⃣ - 6⃣ | ⚪️🔵 pic.twitter.com/hBHCsYPBUV
— Olympique de Marseille 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@OM_English) December 21, 2025

There was Coup de France action across the English Channel, as Matt O’Riley grabbed two assists in Marseille’s 6-0 win over third-tier FBBP (Football Bourg-en-Bresse Péronnas), while Ibrahim Osman’s Auxerre were knocked out of the competition by AS Monaco.

Finally, Evan Ferguson played 40 minutes as Roma were beaten 2-1 by Juventus. It’s been a frustrating run for Gian Piero Gasperini’s team, who sit three points off top spot, but have lost three of their last five matches.

Unused substitutes: Igor Julio (West Ham), Caylan Vickers (Barnsley), Yoon Doyoung (Excelsior), Facundo Buonanotte (Chelsea), Jeremy Sarmiento (Cremonese).