Rob Davies
Swansea City head to Coventry City desperately in need of a win to revitalise their season after a six game run without a victory.
Russell Martin remains defiant that performances have been better in the last six games than they were during the run where the Swans won 7 out of 8 fixtures but results are what ultimately matter.
The club dropped a place in the league without kicking a ball last night thanks to Birmingham City’s 3-2 win against Reading, moving down to 11th 7 points off the bottom three and 13 from top.
It will be a tough game to get anything out of with Coventry’s revival only dented by a 1-0 loss at Reading last weekend following a run of four straight victories to propel them up the table after a shaky start. That was largely down to being unable to play at their home ground; an issue – for now – resolved.
Team News
Martin says that Michael Obafemi is seeing better performance statistics on the training pitch and could be in contention to return to some sort of role at the Sky Blues.
More likely is to see him sit out this one although better news on Joe Allen who came through the Norwich game unscathed after his appearance off the bench so is likely to be amongst the subs again today.
Again it’s hard to see wholesale changes despite the team needing freshening up. Perhaps Oli Cooper may come in for the of late ineffective Luke Cundle and the same for Ntcham but I’d expect Jamie Paterson to once again start on the right side.
Paterson kept up a good scoring record against his former club with three goals against Coventry last season- maybe this is where he gets his season up and running with a bang?
Joel Piroe will start up front, central midfield names itself and if Martin does opt for three centre backs then unless Harry Darling is offered a return (unlikely?) then Cabango, Naughton and Wood will play.
Full backs will probably be the two contract rebels Ryan Manning and Joel Latibeaudiere despite it crying out for the likes of Oko-Flex to have a chance on the right. Ans naturally Steven Benda will continue between the sticks.
Expected line-up
Benda
Wood – Naughton – Cabango
Latibeaudiere – Fulton – Grimes – Manning
Paterson – Piroe – Cooper
Views of the Managers
Russell Martin: “Coventry are a threat in this division, they have been in a false position,”
“I have so much respect for Mark Robins, Adi (Viveash) and Dennis (Lawrence). We love them as a group of people and a coaching staff.
“They have always been great with us, we played against them in League One at MK Dons when they had a brilliant team and were on the way to getting promoted.
“What they have done to establish themselves as a really good Championship team, despite all the stuff they have had to deal with off the pitch during the time they have been there, is incredible.”
Mark Robins: “They’ve got some young players and some with experience, like most teams in the division, and they’re a difficult side to play against.
“I’ve said before Russell, in both jobs he’s had, likes to keep the ball and that’s not going to be any different I don’t suppose, so we have to implement a game plan to disrupt that and that causes problems of our own.”
Planet Swans prediction:
Coventry City 2-1 Swansea City
You seem to have forgotten Joe Allen