After Blues conceded a last minute goal in their 1-0 loss to high flying Fulham at the weekend, the team are now winless in 9. With five games remaining Blues are not completely safe form relegation just yet, with a four point gap to Hull in 23rd place. However, with Wigan losing 3-0 to Brentford at the weekend, their 12 point deduction increases the gap to the relegation spots to 7 points.
Since the Championship restart, Blues have picked up two points out of possible twelve compared to Swansea who have taken home seven. Departing head coach Pep Clotet worked with Swansea in the Premier League as the clubs assistant head coach. The Spaniard will be hoping to get one over his former club when the Swans visit tonight and subsequently damage their playoff hopes. Clotet will certainly be looking to avoid any repeat of the reverse fixture, where Swansea City’s thumped Blues 3-0 at the Liberty Stadium.
Last Time out
Blues
A 95th minute strike by ex-villa Josh Onamah sunk Blues to their second loss in a row at the weekend. Despite a much improved defensive performance, helped greatly by centre half Marc Roberts, the failure to see the draw out saw Blues head home with no points for their troubles
Blues’ post lockdown form: DDLL
Swansea
The Swans kept their playoff hopes alive with a 2-1 win over Garry Monk’s Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday. All three goals came in the second half, with Liverpool loanee Rhian Brewster putting the Swans ahead before Andre Ayew doubled their lead from the penalty spot. Kosovan giant Atdhe Nuhiu headed in an injury-time consolation goal for Monks side.
Swansea’s post lockdown form: WLDW
Squads
Blues
Pep Clotet is boosted by no new injury concerns following the trip to Fulham at the weekend. Josh McEachran is still recovering from his knee injury.
Swansea
Jordon Garrick serves the final game of his three-match ban due to the red card he received when Swansea lost to Luton. Joe Rodon and Ben Wilmot will also miss out after being ruled out for the rest of the season. Rhian Brewster may also miss out after the striker took a knock at the weekend.
One to Watch
Midfielder Conor Gallagher has impressed since he arrived from Chelsea on loan back in January. The 20 year old has provided five assists for Cooper’s side but the loanee is still waiting for that elusive first goal in a Swansea shirt. Blues do have a weakness in defending against skilful players and the youngster has claimed that he has “been a little bit unlucky not to score a couple of goals with Swansea, but I think that that will come”.
Views from the dugouts
Pep Clotet has claimed he will be looking to build upon the “impressive defensive character” that Blues exhibited at the weekend with “Fulham having to commit a lot of fouls to stop our attacks. If we hadn’t made that mistake at the end of the game, we would have taken a point”.
Clotet will be looking for Blues to:
keep bouncing back with performances and keep bouncing back with results
This is despite Clotet saying that the team…
bounced back against Fulham in terms of that performance and we were within a few minutes of getting a result
Swansea boss Steve Cooper is looking for his team to back the teams win at the weekend up with another win tonight. Claiming:
We have to be really committed to that. We had the chance after Middlesbrough and did not back it up. If we can do that then we will see where it takes us
Photo Courtesy: Roy Smiljanic / BCFC