Phil Sumbler
It has been a complete turnaround in optimism amongst the Swansea City support in recent weeks. Just two weeks before the last international break it was almost doom and gloom as the league position pointed to a worry around relegation.
Fast forward just a few weeks and a win today over Cardiff City at the Swansea.com could lift us as high as 4th in the table and secure a sixth win in seven games. That is some difference and it is no wonder that optimism is high in SA1 ahead of the game.
Our matchday thread always contains a poll to gauge optimism and this game is no difference with more than 200 people casting their vote with 60% of them favouring a home win and a third successive victory over our cousins from the East.
Last season’s 3-0 and 4-0 wins have clearly set a precedent that people want to see continue and Russell Martin will lead a side full of confidence not just from recent weeks but from those two games into the fixture as well.
Last week’s defeat at Burnley was followed by a superb come from behind win against Reading which settled any nerves that may have appeared when the visitors went two nil up with just over half hour played. Scoring three goals to secure a win from two behind for the first time in many years will have added to the confidence that wins over Hull, West Brom, Watford and Sunderland would have put in place before that heavy defeat at Burnley.
The Swans will wait to confirm the news on Ryan Manning who has missed the last couple through injury and his experience will add something to the side if he is selected today but other than that Martin has the same players to pick from that he had on Tuesday night with Joel Piroe sitting out the second of a three match ban for his red card last weekend.
So optimism is high, anticipation is in the air and the closest of all our rivals are heading down the M4 for the game. At the time of writing just over three hours to kick off – can this be a first step on another historic period?
Bring it on!
Tomorrow. 12pm. Derby Day. 🦢 pic.twitter.com/AaC9THJ0II
— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) October 22, 2022
