MX23RW : Tuesday, April 7 06:02:45| >> :600:127001:127001:
Mar 7, 2020 at 3pm UK at Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 16,788
SwanseaSwansea City
0-0
West BromWest Bromwich Albion
FT

Preview: Swansea City vs. West Bromwich Albion - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole provides team news, predicted lineups and a full preview of Saturday's Championship fixture between Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion.

West Bromwich Albion make the trip to the Liberty Stadium to face Swansea City looking to respond to last weekend's surprise defeat to Wigan Athletic.

Meanwhile, the Swans welcome the Championship leaders on Saturday afternoon sitting four points adrift of the playoffs after two matches without a win.


Match preview

West Brom boss Slaven Bilic on February 15, 2020© Reuters

Given the mass changes which were made for Tuesday's FA Cup tie with Newcastle United, it suggested that Slaven Bilic was not too disappointed to miss out on a place in the quarter-finals.

Nevertheless, the manner of the defeat, which saw three goals conceded during a 14-minute period either side of half time, will concern the Croatian ahead of what is now an important trip to South Wales.

Although promotion by any means necessary is the main goal, defeat at the Liberty Stadium would provide Leeds United with the opportunity to move to the top of the table, as well as leave the Baggies with three setbacks on the bounce.

Keeping things in context, West Brom still have 16 points from their last seven outings in the Championship - form which will be more than enough to regain their place back in the Premier League.

Bilic has also witnessed his team score at least two goals in six of those matches, a return which indicates that it will take more than two disappointing results to derail their bid to return to the top flight.

As for Swansea, they welcome the league leaders to their home ground having recorded just one win from their last eight outings in the Championship.

Despite remaining in close proximity to the top six, Steve Cooper's team have struggled for any kind of consistency of late, undermining their strong first half of the season.

In four of their last six matches, Swansea have conceded goals in the closing stages which have lost them points, including three strikes in the 90th minute.

While it is a highly unusual trend, it cannot be deemed a coincidence, and Cooper must find a solution to his team's lack of focus at pivotal moments in matches if they are to avoid dropping into mid-table with little to play for over the coming weeks.

Swansea City Championship form: LDDWLD

West Bromwich Albion Championship form: WWLWWL
West Bromwich Albion form (all competitions): WDWWLL


Team News

Swansea boss Steve Cooper on February 1, 2020© Reuters

Swansea are likely to be without Andre Ayew and Bersant Celina, who are suffering with foot and pelvic injuries respectively.

Nathan Dyer and Yan Dhanda will be hoping to earn a recall to the starting lineup, although the inclusion of Connor Roberts down the right should not be ruled out.

The rest of the team may remain the same, with Watford loanee Ben Wilmot having to make do with a spot among the replacements.

Bilic is again expected to make changes to his Baggies side, bringing back the majority of the players who dropped out for the Newcastle fixture.

Kamil Grosicki and Callum Robinson are both challenging to start after missing that game due to being cup-tied.

With Ahmed Hegazi continuing to be sidelined, Kyle Bartley should partner Semi Ajayi in defence.

Swansea City possible starting lineup:
Woodman; Naughton, Cabango, Rodon, Bidwell; Fulton, Grimes; Garrick, Gallagher, Dhanda; Brewster

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Johnstone; O'Shea, Ajayi, Bartley, Townsend; Harper, Livermore, Krovinovic; Pereira, Rosbon-Kanu, Robinson


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Swansea City 1-2 West Bromwich Albion

Bilic is not used to witnessing his side suffer back-to-back defeats, and we feel that he will get a positive response to the double setback. While Swansea should be competitive throughout the contest, the Baggies could claim all three points in South Wales.


ID:391899:

Who will win Saturday's Championship clash between Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion?

Swansea City
Draw
West Bromwich Albion
Swansea City
6.7%
Draw
13.3%
West Bromwich Albion
80.0%
Share this article now:
Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray pictured in December 2019
Read Next:
Tony Mowbray bemoans two dropped points in Blackburn draw with Swansea
>
Latest Sports Video
Did you know...?
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.

rhs 2.0
Live scores banner
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds37218856302671
2West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom371913564372770
3Fulham371810952381464
4Brentford371791164333160
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest371612948381060
6Preston North EndPreston37168135045556
7Bristol City371510125153-255
8Millwall37131594440454
9Cardiff CityCardiff37131595250254
10Blackburn RoversBlackburn371411125245753
11Swansea CitySwansea371314104645153
12Derby CountyDerby371312124949051
13Queens Park RangersQPR37148155862-450
14Reading37139154642448
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds37139154649-348
16Birmingham CityBirmingham371211144857-947
17Stoke CityStoke37126194955-642
18Huddersfield TownHuddersfield37119174558-1342
19Middlesbrough37914143747-1041
20Wigan AthleticWigan371011163850-1241
21Hull City37118184963-1441
22Charlton AthleticCharlton37109184454-1039
23Luton TownLuton37105224371-2835
24Barnsley37810194262-2034

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!