Bournemouth will be looking to move a step closer to securing promotion from the Championship when they travel to Wales on Tuesday night to take on Swansea City.
The Cherries are currently second in the table, two points clear of third-placed Huddersfield Town, while Swansea sit 14th, nine points behind sixth-placed Sheffield United.
Match preview
© Reuters
Swansea stretched their unbeaten run in the Championship to eight matches on Saturday when they drew 1-1 with Middlesbrough, Michael Obafemi netting early in the second period to secure a point for the Welsh outfit after Riley McGree had made the breakthrough.
The Swans have now drawn their last three in England's second tier against Barnsley, Reading and Middlesbrough, and a total of 60 points from 43 matches has left them in 14th spot in the table, nine points behind sixth-placed Sheffield United with three games left.
At this moment, Swansea can still mathematically qualify for the playoffs, but only an incredible set of circumstances will see that happen, so the Welsh outfit are set for another season of Championship football.
Russell Martin's side have struggled to show consistency on home soil this season, picking up 34 points from 21 matches, and they will be welcoming a Bournemouth side that have the second-best away record in the Championship this term, collecting 38 points from 21 matches.
Swansea have not actually beaten Bournemouth in any competition since October 2007 in League One, and they suffered a 4-0 defeat in the reverse match to the Cherries back in November.
© Reuters
Bournemouth, meanwhile, kept the Championship title race alive on Saturday courtesy of a 1-1 draw at Fulham, with Dominic Solanke netting from the penalty spot in the 98th minute of the contest.
Scott Parker's side are currently second in the table, nine points behind leaders Fulham with a game in hand, while they are two points ahead of third-placed Huddersfield Town with two games in hand.
Bournemouth are in a strong position to finish second in the table, and they will be bidding to take another huge step towards a Premier League return with a victory on Tuesday night.
Parker's team have actually only won one of their last four in the league, though, drawing back-to-back matches against Sheffield United and Middlesbrough before winning 3-0 at Coventry City, with the success coming five days before the draw with Fulham at the weekend.
The Cherries will take on Swansea, Blackburn Rovers, Nottingham Forest and Millwall in their final four Championship matches of the campaign, and they are bidding to return to the top flight at the second time of asking, having lost to Brentford in last season's playoff semi-finals.
- W
- W
- W
- D
- D
- D
- W
- L
- D
- D
- W
- D
Team News
© Reuters
Swansea's squad is in strong shape ahead of the clash with Bournemouth, with Jamie Paterson, who missed out against Middlesbrough, their only injury doubt for Tuesday's contest.
Ryan Manning came into the side at the weekend and is expected to retain his spot, with Hannes Wolf again potentially featuring in a forward area for the Welsh outfit.
Joel Latibeaudiere should feature in a back three for the home side, with Obafemi, who has scored 11 Championship goals this season, leading the line against Parker's side.
As for Bournemouth, Morgan Rogers, Jordan Zemura, Leif Davis, Kieffer Moore, Junior Stanislas and David Brooks will again be unavailable for selection.
Philip Billing replaced Jamal Lowe in the starting side against Fulham, but the two players could swap for this match, with the latter starting alongside Solanke in the final third of the field.
Todd Cantwell and Siriki Dembele are options to feature in a forward area, but Ryan Christie and Jaidon Anthony should retain their spots in the starting XI, with Solanke, who has netted 27 times in the second tier this season, leading the line.
Swansea City possible starting lineup:
Fisher; Cabango, Naughton, Latibeaudiere; C Christie, Grimes, Downes, Manning; Piroe, Obafemi, Wolf
Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Travers; Laird, Phillips, Kelly, Smith; R Christie, Cook, Lerma, Anthony; Solanke, Lowe
We say: Swansea City 1-1 Bournemouth
Swansea are unbeaten in the Championship since March 12, so they will be difficult opposition for Bournemouth on Tuesday evening. The Cherries are undoubtedly one of the best teams in the division and will be looking to secure promotion as soon as possible, but they might have to settle for a point here.
