Rob Davies
Swansea City head to Huddersfield Town in the final game for a month as the World Cup takes centre stage.
The Swans will be keen to rectify a run of four games without a win having been minutes away from three points at Birmingham on Tuesday night before Troy Deeney’s leveller.
That followed on from a 2-2 draw at home to Wigan Athletic after coming from two goals down although that’s the only positive result the Latics have had in seven games, leading to the club sacking their manager earlier this week.
Today’s trip to the Terriers marks an opportunity to get into the play off spots before the break which sees Joe Allen, Ben Cabango, Ollie Cooper and Olivier Ntcham join up with their nations in Qatar on Monday.
But it certainly won’t be easy with Town finding some form of late having been dumped in the relegation zone for much of the season. New manager Mark Fotherhingham has overseen two victories in thr club’s last four games providing a platform to climb out of rhe bottom three.
They could climb up to 22nd with a win but won’t be able to get out of the bottom three altogether with Blackpool on 22 points and the Terriers could currently on 18.
The Swans meanwhile could climb to 4th if they win and results go their way today. Team selection will be a big talking point with the defence yet again causing concern on Tuesday.
Both Birmingham goals were the result of weak defending and some poor goalkeeping by Steven Benda. Nathan Wood might be a candidate for a rest offering Kyle Naughton a chance to come back into the back three.
Joel Latibeaudiere is likely to start at right back with Ryan Manning on the left and midfield names itself one would suggest in Jay Fulton and Matt Grimes in the centre.
Oli Cooper and Olivier Ntcham will feel they both have credible shouts to start behind either Joel Piroe or Michael Obafemi. Both strikers are misfiring somewhat after successful seasons last term but today might be the opportunity to put that right before the World Cup break.
I would say it’s unlikely that both will start today in attack but time will tell.
Kick off is at 3pm.
