SWANSEA V SUNDERLAND – KICK OFF AT 3:00PM | LIVE RADIO COMMENTARY & PREVIEW

Preview provided by Dan Perkins, Radio City’s Lead Football Commentator:

It’s safe to say that Michael Duff has gradually won over some supporters as Swansea seem to be back on the right track under the former Barnsley boss. In his first seven league matches, the team only managed to secure three points. However, they have collected 15 points over the same number of fixtures that followed.

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Although they faced back-to-back home defeats against Leicester City and Watford, the Swans bounced back with a 1-0 victory at Blackburn Rovers last Saturday. The clean sheet was as crucial as the result, marking only the third Championship shutout under Duff’s leadership.

It means Swansea’s recent form away from home has been superb with 10 points gained from their last four away matches. Their performances at home have been a bit more variable, but they have only failed to score in one home game this season, which was against Watford in their last match.

From Sunderland’s perspective, their season has been marked by all-or-nothing results, with only one draw in their first 14 fixtures. A recent three-game losing streak has increased the pressure on Tony Mowbray, with six defeats in their last 13 games – not the performance expected by the Black Cats’ leadership after their playoff appearance last season.

However, Mowbray’s side made a strong comeback in their last match, coming from behind to secure a 3-1 victory over Norwich City. This win elevated them to 8th place and put them within three points of 3rd place in the championship.

Despite losing their last two away matches, Sunderland still boast the fifth-best record on the road, underscoring the threat they pose to Swansea this weekend. Consequently, the two sides currently occupy the 13th and 8th positions in the standings, with the home side trailing the visitors by four points.

TEAM NEWS:

Assuming there are no fitness concerns, Duff is likely to stick with the same starting lineup for Swansea as in the Blackburn game.

In that match, Arsenal loanee Charlie Patino replaced Jay Fulton and played a crucial role by providing the assist for the winning goal. Unfortunately, none of Swansea’s injured players are expected to make a return.

Sunderland, on the other hand, are also expected to make only a few changes after their comeback victory against Norwich.

The trio of Nazarii Rusyn, Luis Semedo, and Mason Burstow is vying for the opportunity to lead the frontline, with Rusyn potentially having done enough in the previous match to retain his place.

Alex Pritchard will likely remain on the bench, unless Mowbray decides to give Jobe Bellingham a rest.

Swansea City possible starting lineup:

Rushworth; Ashby, Darling, Humphreys, Tymon; Grimes, Patino; Cullen, Paterson, Lowe; Yates

Sunderland possible starting lineup:

Patterson; Hume, O’Nien, Ballard, Huggins; Neil, Ekwah, Bellingham; Roberts, Rusyn, Clarke

MATCH FACTS:

Swansea City have scored 2 or more goals in 9 of their last 20 matches.

In 10 of the last 14 Sunderland matches this season, there have been Over 2.5 Goals.

Sunderland have scored 2 or more goals in 11 of their last 20 matches.

The most recent encounter between Swansea City and Sunderland ended with Swansea City winning 3-1 at Stadium of Light.

Overall, the last two games between the two teams have seen an average of 3.5 goals being scored, with Swansea City winning both matches.

Top Scorers & Assists

Top Scorers for Swansea City AFC are Jerry Yates (4), Jamal Lowe (3), Liam Cullen (2)

Top Assistors for Swansea City AFC are Charlie Patino (4), Jamie Paterson (3), Liam Cullen (2)

Top Scorers for Sunderland AFC are Jack Clarke (9), Daniel Neil (3), Abdoullah Ba (2)

Top Assistors for Sunderland AFC are Alex Pritchard (2), Daniel Neil (2), Abdoullah Ba (1)

⚽️ CYMRU V SOUTH KOREA MATCH PREVIEW & LIVE STREAM – KICK OFF AT 7:45PM

 ⚽️ LIVE RADIO COMMENTARY & PREVIEW       

🎙 Wales host South Korea in a friendly in preparation for their Euro 2024 qualifying restart 

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Preview written by Dan Perkins, Radio City Lead Football Commentator:     

Tonight’s fixture may only be a friendly encounter, but Rob Page will be eager to grab a victory after a rocky start to the Euro 2024 Qualifying Campaign.  

His position has been called into question by some, but this Welsh squad is undergoing major transition following a series of retirements including the talismanic Gareth Bale.  

After some early signs of positivity, taking four points from the opening six away to Croatia and home to Latvia, a 4-2 defeat at home to Armenia and a 2-0 loss in Turkey leaves Wales fourth in the group and already chasing the leading pack.  

In fact, it isn’t just the recent run of international results which is putting pressure on Page, with just two wins from the last 15, which includes nine defeats, a turnaround is needed sooner rather than later.  

Wales have also struggled in friendlies, not tasting victory since beating Mexico 1-0 in March 2021, and failing to win any of the last four.  

South Korea have their issues too, They are targeting their first win since edging out Portugal in the 2022 World Cup group stages.  

In fact, it is new boss Jurgen Klinsmann who is targeting his first taste of victory as South Korea manager after Paulo Bento was dismissed following their elimination to Brazil in the last 16 of the Qatar tournament.  

A draw to Colombia was quickly followed by losses to Uruguay and Peru, and most recently, a late equaliser for El Salvador left the Taegeuk Warriors still searching for that elusive win under the German.  

Defensively, they have conceded in each of their last eight internationals, and they’ll be hoping to capitalise on Wales’ misfortunes ahead of another friendly with Saudi Arabia next week.  

TEAM NEWS:  

Wales are unable to call upon the services of Tom Lockyer and Dan James, who are both ruled out through injury. Rangers forward Rabbi Matondo, who has 11 caps to his name, has been called up after being left out of Page’s initial squad. The Wales boss has also included the uncapped trio of Tom King, Morgan Fox and Liam Cullen, while Josh Sheehan has been recalled to the squad for the first time since 2021. 

As for South Korea, Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in has stayed with his club, as he continues to recover from a muscular injury which has kept him out of his side’s last two Ligue 1 matches. Klinsmann has called up the uncapped quartet of Kim Jun-hong, Kim Ji-soo, Lee Soon-min and Yang Hyun-jun. Son Heung-min will captain his country, and he will be in a confident mood after scoring a hat-trick in Tottenham Hotspur’s 5-2 win over Burnley at the weekend. 

Wales possible starting lineup: 

Ward; Roberts, Mepham, Rodon, Williams; Ampadu, Ramsey; Brooks, Wilson, Broadhead; Moore 

South Korea possible starting lineup: 

Seung-gyu; Young-woo, Seung-hyun, Min-jae, Ki-jee; Hee-chan, Yong-woo, In-beom, Jae-sung; Ui-jo, Heung-min 

MATCH FACTS  

This will be the first time the two teams meet. 

Facing Asian teams, Wales has nine matches played, where they have five wins, two draws and two losses. 

Facing European teams, South Korea has 114 matches played, where they have 38 wins, 32 draws and 44 losses. 

South Korea are unbeaten in five meetings against European teams, winning the last four, including a 2-1 win over Portugal in the group stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. 

Wales last faced an Asian nation at the 2022 World Cup, losing 2-0 to Iran. Before that, they beat China PR 6-0 in the China Cup in March 2018. 

Wales have won just one of their last 12 matches in all competitions (D3 L8), a 1-0 home win over Latvia in March in a European Championship qualifier. 

South Korea are winless in their last five matches (D2 L3) since beating Portugal 2-1 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. 

Wales have won just four of their last 21 friendly matches (D7 L10) and none of their last four (D3 L1) since a 1-0 home win over Mexico in March 2021. 

Wales have one win in seven friendlies, while South Korea have two wins in seven friendlies. 

Since scoring 10 consecutive goals from open play between September 2020 and March 2021, only 14 of Wales’ last 30 goals have been netted in open play (47%), their other 16 goals coming via corners (6), penalties (5), throw-ins (2) and free-kicks (3).  

MATCH PREVIEW – SWANSEA CITY V BRISTOL CITY – KICK-OFF AT 12:30PM

️⚽️ LIVE RADIO COMMENTARY & PREVIEW  

🎙 Swansea host Bristol City still searching for their first win under Michael Duff  

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Preview written by Dan Perkins, Radio City Lead Football Commentator:  

The summer transfer window slammed shut last night, with plenty of huge deals taking place around the world and Swansea City played their part with some much-needed recruitment.  

Supporters will be delighted the window has closed meaning Michael Duff can now put his sole focus into the players in the Swans dressing room for the foreseeable future.  

Kristian Pedersen kicked off the window, a versatile left sided defender from Cologne, with previous Championship experience after four years with Birmingham City, and last season he made 14 appearances in the Bundesliga and Europa Conference League.  

Jamal Lowe returns to the club on loan from Bournemouth for the season, having left the Swans in 2021 scoring 14 in 58 appearances, including a memorable brace against Cardiff City.  

24-year-old Josh Tymon was a late announcement, joining for about £2m and finally gives the Swans a first-choice option at left back. He comes in on a three-year-deal from Stoke City having made over 150 senior appearances in his career so far. 

And overnight, Chelsea youngster Bashir Humphreys signed on loan, a versatile ball-playing centre-half – who is comfortable using either foot – provides additional options to head coach Michael Duff on the left side of his defence. 

All of this means some time is required for the 13 new signings to gel and fit in, but nabbing their first three points of the season against relative rivals Bristol City will settle the nerves in SA1.  

Speaking of Bristol City, their deadline day was much quieter after Nigel Pearson admitted several weeks ago that The Robins’ wage budget was maxed out with no more room to add to the five signings made during the summer.  

They got deals done early, spending £5m on Jason Knight, Ross McCrorie and Rob Dickie. Haydon Roberts arrived on a free from Brighton which Taylor Gardner-Hickman joined on loan from West Brom.  

They did get one deal done. Swans target Zak Vyner signed a new deal with the club, keeping him at Ashton Gate until 2026.  

As far as results go, one win, two draws and a defeat leaves them in mid-table, but much like Swansea, they were dumped out of the Carabao Cup in midweek at home to Norwich City.  

Recent history favours the Swans. They are unbeaten in the last four league games against Bristol City since losing 3-1 here in 2021 though the away side did knock Swansea out of the FA Cup last season, also at the Swansea.com Stadium.  

Team News  

Although Swansea pushed Bournemouth in the EFL Cup on Tuesday, none of the players that came into the side did anything of note to earn a start in the league. That could see Duff being willing to start with the Swansea XI that lost to Preston, although Jamie Paterson’s goal from the substitutes’ bench could see him selected as the most creative of a midfield three or as a second striker.  

Andreas Weimann is expected to miss out for Bristol City after suffering a recurrence of a heel injury soon after his introduction against Hull City. Barring the possibility of Taylor Gardner-Hickman replacing George Tanner at right-back, the starting lineup could stay the same.  

Swansea City possible starting lineup:  

Rushworth; Wood, Cabango, Darling; Ashby, Fulton, Grimes, Patino, Key; Yates, Cullen  

Bristol City possible starting lineup:  

O’Leary; Gardner-Hickman, Vyner, Naismith, Pring; Williams, James, Knight; Sykes, Wells, Bell  

Match Facts

7 – Swansea City are unbeaten in seven of their last eight league meetings with Bristol City, winning four and drawing three of those games.

34 – No Championship player has come out on top in more individual duels than Swansea’s Josh Key, whose tally so far this season stands at 34.

SWANSEA CITY V AFC BOURNEMOUTH MATCH PREVIEW – KICK-OFF AT 7:30PM

LIVE RADIO COMMENTARY & PREVIEW

Swansea host Premier League Bournemouth in round 2 of the Carabao Cup

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Preview written by Dan Perkins, Radio City Lead Football Commentator:

Swansea’s only win of the season so far has come in this competition, progressing against Northampton Town by three goals to nil.

But Michael Duff has not tasted victory in any of the league fixtures against Birmingham, West Brom, Coventry and most recently against Preston on Saturday.

Despite taking a lead for the first time in the Championship through Harrison Ashby, the Swans did not capitalize on a good first hour of football and a couple of quick-fire Preston goals left the travelling fans going home disappointed.

To add to that disappointment, Swansea are now without Joel Piroe, who left for big money to Leeds United last week, scoring on his debut meaning a 20-goal chasm now exists within the squad.

Tonight is a chance to continue the good work from the training pitch into a competitive fixture, and the 2013 winners will be looking to get into the 3rd round for the 11th time out of the last 16 attempts.

They’ll need to work for it though as tonight’s visitors come into this one under new management along with some fresh faces with £120m spent on eight new players heading into their Premier League campaign.

Bournemouth haven’t started particularly well. A home draw to West Ham quickly followed by two defeats to Liverpool and Tottenham isn’t ideal, but with Brentford coming up on the weekend, Andoni Iraola may feel this is a chance to get their season started.

The Cherries enter the competition along with the other Premier League clubs not in Europe, but won’t see the League Cup high on their priorities, only ever reaching the quarter final stages on three occasions,

As for the head-to-head, Swansea have not beaten Bournemouth since October 2007, but the points were shared in a 3-3 draw when the two teams last met in the Championship in April 2022.

Team News

Swansea will again be without the services of Liam Walsh and Steven Benda on Tuesday due to injury, though the German keeper may be on his way to Fulham. However, there are no fresh concerns for the Welsh side, and it would not be a surprise to see close to the same XI that took to the field for the first whistle against Northampton in the last round. Oliver Cooper was a second-half substitute against Preston in the league on Saturday but should now come into the side, while the same can also be said for Joe Allen.

Bournemouth will be missing Alex Scott, Dango Ouattara, Adam Smith, Marcus Tavernier, Tyler Adams, Ryan Fredericks and Emiliano Marcondes through injury. Head coach Iraola will shuffle his pack following the league game against Spurs, with Lewis Cook, David Brooks, Kieffer Moore and Marcos Senesi set to be among those to come into the side. Jaidon Anthony and Chris Mepham are also likely to feature in the XI, while there could be a start for 21-year-old defender James Hill.

Swansea City possible starting lineup:

Rushworth; Darling, Naughton, Wood; Ashby, Grimes, Allen, Abdulai; Yates, Cooper, Cullen

Bournemouth possible starting lineup:

Radu; Hill, Mepham, Senesi, Kerkez; Cook, Traore, Christie; Brooks, Moore, Anthony

MATCH FACTS

4 – This is the fourth time in the six seasons since returning to the Championship that Swansea have faced Premier League opposition in the Carabao Cup, having previously taken on Crystal Palace, Watford and Brighton during that time.

11 – Bournemouth have proven something of a bogey team for the Swans over the years. The hosts are 11 games without a win against the Cherries in a sequence stretching back to 2007.

MATCH PREVIEW – SWANSEA CITY V COVENTRY CITY – KICK OFF AT 3:00PM

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🎙 Swansea host playoff runners-up Coventry City
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Preview written by Dan Perkins, Radio City Lead Football Commentator:

It’s been a strange start to Michael Duff’s tenure as Swansea boss. Off the field issues seem to be improving but, on the pitch, things haven’t started as well as he would have liked.

A 1-1 draw at home to Birmingham was quickly followed by a rout of Northampton in the Carabao Cup before the Swans came crashing back to earth with a 3-2 defeat at West Brom last weekend.

It wasn’t until Swansea were 3-0 down after 65 minutes when they sparked into life, nabbing a couple of set-piece goals through Darling and Wood to reduce the arrears and they may have felt they deserved at least a point by the close of the game.

Of course, it is very early days for Duff and his staff, along with a host of incoming players with a few more still to arrive. Nathan Tjoe-A-On is the latest to enter, signing on a permanent deal from Dutch side Excelsior, finally offering a left-footed option at wing-back.

There are still question marks about Joel Piroe’s future too, with the Dutch forward yet to score in the league after his 41-goal haul over the past couple of seasons, there may be clubs still interested in his signature come deadline day.

Meanwhile, Coventry picked up their first win of the campaign last weekend against pre-season playoff favourites Middlesbrough.

Though the Sky Blues have lost the goalscoring powers of Viktor Gyokeres and the creative spark of Gustavo Hamer to Sporting Lisbon and Sheffield Utd respectively for big fees, Matt Godden and Haji Wright stepped up to open their accounts in a hard-fought victory at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

Wright in particular looks a major threat. He joined Coventry for around £8m using some of the Gyokeres money, and that already looks to be money well spent. A pacey forward who bags plenty of goals, including one in the last 16 at the Qatar World Cup for the United States.

The spending hasn’t stopped there. Ellis Simms, Milan van Ewijk, Bobby Thomas and Luis Binks are all 22 and under for decent price tags, along with a ready-made right back in Tatsuhiro Sakamoto from Oostende, plus the compensation fee for former Swan, Joel Latibeaudiere.

As for the head-to-head, Swansea are unbeaten in the last 15 meetings with Coventry dating back to 1981, while Coventry haven’t won at Swansea for 73 years.

TEAM NEWS:

Swansea remain without their first-choice goalkeeper at the start of the 2023-24 term, with German stopper Steven Benda still recovering from a cruciate ligament injury suffered in January against Queens Park Rangers. Andrew Fisher played the majority of the Swans’ Championship matches in the second half of last term, and the 25-year-old will be pushing youngster Rushworth for a place in between the sticks until Benda is available again. Josh Ginnelly scored a sensational long-range strike in the EFL Cup success over Northampton Town earlier in the month, but the former Hearts man is currently being kept out of his side’s second tier XI by Harrison Ashby. Charlie Patino made his debut off the bench at the Hawthorns, and the Arsenal loanee could replace Oliver Cooper in the hosts XI to partner Matt Grimes and Jay Fulton on Saturday afternoon.

As for Coventry, the departure of the influential Gustavo Hamer to Sheffield United has resulted in a new engine-room partnership being born in the East Midlands, and Josh Eccles is expected to join Ben Sheaf in the midfield at Swansea. With Callum O’Hare yet to return from his long-term injury, Kasey Palmer will start just behind the forward two after impressing in the victory over Middlesbrough last weekend. Joel Latibeaudiere is set to feature against his former employers at the Swansea.com Stadium, partnering Kyle McFadzean and Bobby Thomas in a back three which looks to take risks with their build-up play. Left-back Jake Bidwell is another man who could line up against familiar faces on Saturday, but Jay Dasilva is expected to retain his place in the Sky Blues’ team.

Swansea City possible starting lineup:

Rushworth; Darling, Cabango, Wood; Abdulai, Fulton, Grimes, Patino, Key; Yates, Piroe

Coventry City possible starting lineup:

Wilson; Thomas, McFadzean, Latibeaudiere; Van Ewijk, Eccles, Sheaf, Dasilva, Palmer; Wright, Godden

MATCH FACTS  

3 – Each of Swansea’s three games so far this season has seen a player score his first goal for the club. Jerry Yates (Birmingham), Josh Ginnelly (Northampton) and Nathan Wood (West Brom) being the trio in question. 

15 – The Swans are unbeaten in their last 15 meetings with the Sky Blues, last suffering defeat to them in October 1981. 

MATCH PREVIEW – WEST BROMWICH ALBION V SWANSEA CITY – KICK OFF AT 3:00PM

⚽️ LIVE RADIO COMMENTARY & PREVIEW
🎙 Swansea travel to the Hawthornes to face West Brom
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Preview written by Dan Perkins, Radio City Lead Football Commentator:

Round Two of the Championship season sees a rejuvenated Swansea looking to continue their excellent run against the Baggies, having won all four of the previous meetings.

West Bromwich Albion Vs Swansea City is Live on Radio City 1386 from 2:45, 12/08/2023 – Listen Live Here

Michael Duff’s side have made a decent start to the season. A home draw against Birmingham City on the opening day, which included a debut goal for Jerry Yates, and a comfortable victory over Northampton Town in the Carabao Cup has given the Swans supporters plenty of positivity heading into this one.

That win over the Cobblers saw Joel Piroe grab his 50th goal in senior football as he bagged a brace, while Josh Ginnelly could well have scored the goal of the season in his debut outing.

Michael Duff may only have been at the club for a couple of months, but he is already leaving his mark on the team with a plethora of new faces and more to come, the squad is taking shape nicely.

🤯🚀 Insane solo goal by Swansea's Josh Ginnelly yesterday! (@Carabao_Cup) pic.twitter.com/id8e1VmY2I

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) August 9, 2023

Ntcham’s exit isn’t confirmed, though he is all but out of the door, which leaves space for others to come in. Charlie Patino is one of them, joining from Arsenal on loan after a spell at Blackpool last year, and there is hope he will be followed by at least two more additions in the defence.

Meanwhile, behind the scenes issues with West Brom’s absent owners are still causing the Baggies problems. Their manager, Carlos Corberan would have been happy just to get the season underway.

However, defeat at Blackburn 2-1 on the opening day, including his dismissal after two yellow cards wasn’t exactly the start he would have desired. This also means the Spaniard was the first manager to be impacted by new legislation in which he was not able to take part in his post-match media duties following his sending off.

To add to the misery, they were also defeated in the first round of the Carabao Cup at Stoke by the same scoreline, and to top it off, midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah got into a heated exchange with his own supporters at half-time and took to twitter to make his apologies.

You may have read that I got into an altercation with a fan on Tuesday night and for that I apologise to the fans and the club. I’m sure you’ll all be the first to tell me that you haven’t seen the best of what I can do on the pitch since I signed…

— Nathaniel Chalobah (@chalobah) August 10, 2023

This game marks the first opportunity for the Baggies fans to see their side on home soil, and it may be the boost they need to kickstart their season.

There are always goals between these two sides, 15 across the last four, all of which have gone Swansea’s way. The last time West Brom beat the Swans was back in December 2019 in a 5-1 thumping here at The Hawthornes.

Team News

With a switch to a back three not having the desired effect against Stoke, Corberan may revert to the 4-2-3-1 formation from the Blackburn game. John Swift could potentially be restored to West Brom’s midfield, potentially taking on the number 10 role, while Kyle Bartley is pushing for a recall in defence. New arrival Josh Maja is pushing to earn a spot among the replacements after sitting out the opening two fixtures through a lack of fitness.

Despite Ginnelly’s outrageous goal in midweek, it will likely not be enough to convince Duff to tinker with his starting lineup. Although Joe Allen came through an hour against Northampton, the midfielder is expected to be named on the substitutes’ bench for this fixture.

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Palmer; Furlong, Ajayi, Bartley, Townsend; Yokuslu, Molumby; Wallace, Swift, Phillips; Thomas-Asante

Swansea City possible starting lineup:
Rushworth; Ashby, Darling, Cabango, Wood, Key; Fulton, Grimes, Paterson; Yates, Piroe

Match Preview – Swansea V Northampton Town – EFL CUP – K/O 19:30

⚽️ SWANSEA CITY V NORTHAMPTON TOWN – KICK OFF AT 7:30PM
⚽️ LIVE COMMENTARY & PREVIEW
🎙 Swansea host Northampton Town in the first round of the EFL Cup
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Preview written by Dan Perkins, Radio City Lead Football Commentator:

Swansea started their league campaign with a decent draw at home to Birmingham on Saturday, a game which saw new striker Jerry Yates find the leveller, making him the fourth Swans player to score on their league debut in a season opener in a row.

Jerry Yates celebrates his first Swansea goal against Birmingham City

The immediate focus switches to progression to the second round of the EFL Cup, having not advanced beyond the first round in two of the last three attempts, though the last time they did, they beat tonight’s visitors in the 2019 competition.

But while the 2013 winners of the League Cup are favourites this evening, it is fair to say this is not high on the list of priorities for the Swans, with new faces and fringe players likely to be given a chance in front of their home support.

Swansea won the EFL Cup back in 2013

With West Brom on the horizon, this fixture may be seen as an opportunity for Michael Duff to cast his eye over the rest of the squad in a competitive fixture.

Tonight’s opponents enter this match off the back of a 1-0 defeat at home to Stevenage in their League One opener on the weekend after their promotion from League Two the previous season.

Stevenage celebrate their winner at Northampton on Saturday

They finished third, amassing 83 points in an impressive campaign, and their main aims will be to avoid relegation back to the fourth tier at the first time of asking. Last season, they reached the 2nd round of this competition but like the Swans, their focus may lie elsewhere.

They are managed by a former Swan in Jon Brady, though the former Aussie winger won’t be remembered for his time in South Wales, competing in the reserve squad back in 1993 for a single season.

Northampton Town Manager Jon Brady

There is plenty of history between the two sides. Recent fixtures have gone Swansea’s way, winning three of the last four, but there are some who will remember a crushing playoff final defeat at Wembley back in 1997, where a 90th minute retaken free-kick beat Roger Freestone to send Northampton into the old Division Two.

Team News:

Swansea will be without the services of Steven Benda on Tuesday due to a long-term knee injury, but the Welsh outfit are otherwise in strong shape heading into this match. Head coach Duff will make changes from the side that started against Birmingham, with Mykola Kukharevych in line to make his debut, having been an unused substitute on Saturday. Yates made his debut against the Blues but is expected to be one of a number of players to drop out, with fellow new arrival Josh Ginnelly also potentially debuting against the League One outfit.

Steven Benda remains on the sidelines for Swansea City

Northampton, meanwhile, have not reported any fresh injury concerns from their home defeat to Stevenage in League One on Saturday afternoon. Head coach Brady will also shuffle his pack for this contest, with Louis Appere likely to come into the XI, having featured off the bench in the league last time out. Aaron McGowan, Max Dyche, Kieran Bowie and William Hondermarck are also likely to be introduced into the starting side for the EFL Cup first-round contest.

Swansea City possible starting lineup:
Rushworth; Key, Cooper, Cabango, Naughton; Fulton, Grimes, Abdulai; Cullen, Ginnelly, Piroe

Northampton Town possible starting lineup:
Dadge; Koiki, Dyche, Monthe, McGowan; Bowie, Hondermarck, Leonard, Brough; Hoskins, Appere

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Swansea V Birmingham Match Preview – Championship 05/08/2023

⚽️ SWANSEA CITY V BIRMINGHAM CITY – KICK OFF AT 3:00PM ⚽️

LIVE COMMENTARY & PREVIEW

🎙 Swansea host Birmingham City in the opening day of the new Championship season

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There is a sense of rejuvenation floating in the air around both clubs heading into the opening fixture. Swansea have a new head coach in Michael Duff after Russell Martin left to take the reins at relegated Southampton and new Chairman Andy Coleman has moved to Wales full-time to streamline club operations.

Duff joins from Barnsley after narrowly missing out on promotion in the League One playoff final and brings with him experienced Assistant Head coaches in Alan Sheehan and Martin Paterson while Martyn Margetson rejoins the club as the new Goalkeeping Coach.

Transfer-wise, it’s six in and six out. Obafemi, Whittaker, Manning, Latibeaudiere, Joseph and Sondergaard all left the club for a total of around £6million.

In come a blend of experience and youth. Jerry Yates joins from Blackpool after their relegation as top scorer with 15 last term. Josh Ginnelly offers pace in the wide areas grabbing 22 goals in 89 appearances for Hearts. Josh Key becomes Swansea’s new right-wing-back after a good season for Exeter in League One last season.

And in the last few days, Mykola Kukharevych comes in from French side Troyes, and showed glimpses of brilliance in an injury hit loan spell for Hibernian. Carl Rushworth joins on loan from Brighton with impressive spells in League Two and League One over the last couple of seasons. And yesterday, promising full-back Harrison Ashby completed his move from Newcastle United to get his first taste of senior football.

There is still a month left of the window, so the likes of Joel Piroe and Olivier Ntcham may be subject to transfer speculation, but as it stands, both are here for the foreseeable future.

As for Birmingham, it’s been a summer of drastic change on and off the field. In July, the club was officially taken over by Shelby Companies Limited, which includes NFL legend Tom Brady on the board of advisors after seven troubling years under previous ownership.

The Blues saw seven players leave, including Troy Deeney on a free and over £6.5million for Tahith Chong and Jobe Bellingham.

As part of the incoming deals, former Swan Ethan Laird and Swansea target Lee Buchanan occupy both full-back roles, Welsh international Tyler Roberts comes in from Leeds along with five others to bolster their squad for a potential playoff charge.

Birmingham are unbeaten in six against the Swans, winning three of the last five including late goals in both fixtures last term, picking up a 4-3 win here and a 2-2 draw at St Andrews.

History tells us to expect plenty of goals today!

Team News

Swansea have a few injury concerns ahead of their season opener, with Joe Allen and Josh Ginnelly still in recovery from their respective issues. Former Birmingham loanee Liam Walsh is set to be sidelined for a number of weeks due to a calf injury – the midfielder will be hoping to stake his claim as a regular starter for the Swans this term.

Eustace has fitness worries of his own as he prepares to take his side to South Wales, with right-back Ethan Laird a doubt after missing last weekend’s friendly loss to Peterborough United. Marcel Oakley and Josh Williams will fight for that spot if former Manchester United man Laird is not available, although neither possess much first-team experience at Blues. The competition for places in the middle of the park has been tough in pre-season for the visitors, and it seems as if Welsh youngster Jordan James has won the battle to start alongside Juninho Bacuna and Krystian Bielik in the engine room.

MATCH FACTS

3 – In three of the last five matchups between these two sides in SA1, the Swans have scored three goals. Incredibly, only one of these has resulting in the Swans taking all three points.

8 – The Swans have won just eight of their 46 league meetings with the Blues.

77 – It’s been 77 years since the two sides first met. They played a double header, facing off in Birmingham City on December 25 followed by the reverse fixture in Swansea on December 26. The Swans lost in the Midlands, but won the match at home.

11 goals were scored over the two meetings last season, with seven coming in a 4-3 win for Birmingham in Wales. A 97th-minute header from Auston Trusty got Blues the win back in February, with the 2-2 draw at St Andrews in November seeing Troy Deeney equalise for Birmingham in the 89th minute.

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New Rules for the Championship

NINE PLAYERS NAMED ON THE BENCH

In a continuation of the 2022-23 rules which now allow sides to make five subs during a league fixture, Championship sides have voted to allow nine players to be named on the bench. Throughout the 2023-24 season, Championship managers and head coaches will have the choice of nine substitutes named on the team sheet, with five able to enter the pitch. Teams will only have three opportunities to make substitutions during play, while there will be an additional opportunity at half-time.

BALL IN-PLAY TIMES

The EFL has joined the Premier League and PGMOL in its commitment to enhance the ball in-play time for the upcoming season. The intention is the exact time lost to game events will be added on. This differs to previous seasons in which a nominal amount of time was added. Game events include: Goals and celebrations, substitutions, injuries and treatment time, penalties (encompassing the moment from the offence to the moment the kick is taken), red cards (encompassing the moment from the offence to the moment the player leaves the field). Essentially, added time will be awarded in a similar manner to that used at the Qatar World Cup.

TREATMENT OF PLAYERS

Also in line with the above changes to improve ball in-play times, players who are injured will be required to leave the field for treatment. Players will have to leave the pitch for no less than 30 seconds. If a player refuses treatment, and it is felt that a teammate is delaying the restart they will be issued a yellow card. You can read more about restarts below. Exceptions to the rule: a goalkeeper is injured, players from the same team have collided, a severe injury has occurred, a player is injured in an incident in which the opponent has been sent off, a penalty has been awarded and the injured player will be the taker.

MULTI-BALL SYSTEM AND RESTARTS

This season will see the re-introduction of the multi-ball system, which was used when games were played behind closed doors during the Covid-19 pandemic. This means footballs will be readily available around the pitch and there is no longer a requirement for the same ball to be used. Match officials will also be taking a more robust approach to dealing with clear, deliberate actions which delay the restart. For example: delaying the restart of play and failing to respect the required distance at free-kicks. As part of a drive to create quicker restarts, footballers will no longer be allowed to use a towel to dry the football before taking a throw-in.

OTHER LAW CHANGES

Denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity In the event a player commits and offence within their own penalty area which denies an obvious goalscoring opportunity, a yellow card will be issued if there was an attempt to play the ball, a red card will be shown if the offence did not involve an attempt to play the ball. Offside This summer has seen additional clarification brought to the guidelines around “deliberate play” by a defender. Deliberate play is now defined as when a player is in control of the ball and has the possibility of: passing to a teammate, gaining possession, or clearing the ball. If the player is considered to be in control then the attacker in the offside position who benefits is not offside.

Transfer Deadline Dildo – 02/09/2014

Few could argue that over the years, Transfer Deadline Day has given many football fans something to talk about. For me, Sky Sports News has been a main stay on my screen around this time of year. It’s an occasion that makes me feel like a kid at Christmas, except I’m 26 with a beer and a beard, not 16 with bum-fluff, spots and college to look forward to.

However, am I the only one starting to feel a sense of disappointment? Does anyone else want to rename their channel Sky Sports Olds? I used to look forward to Jim White and the team getting excited at every development, finding news from rumour & in-the-knows and allowing reporters to include fans in their segments. Now it feels like over-produced nonsense and hearsay while a minority of supporters, who crowd behind the terrified suited man holding an overly large microphone, shout exhausted catchphrases from viral YouTube videos and toss blow-up dolls around the crowd. “Back to the studio, Jim”, followed by apology number 17 of the evening.

Despite the swearing and the shocked-faced plastic lady, the worst offence was yet to come. The precarious position these reporters put themselves in is entirely unnecessary.

Alan Irwin outside Everton’s Finch Farm Complex with supporters

Alan Irwin (pictured), standing outside Everton’s Finch Farm complex, was speaking about the things that weren’t happening, when something did happen. There was one fan that probably caused as big a stir as Falcao that day, but for all the wrong reasons. How can anyone justifiably applaud a man who pokes another man in the face, repeatedly, with a big purple sex toy? I was as shocked as the doll I saw 5 minutes earlier, nay, disgusted (and I’m not easily offended, usually because these types of incidents are written as a joke). How dare he do that to anyone, who knows where it had been? I give 100% credit to Mr Irwin for not turning around, for not breaking stride and for continuing his non-report about Tom Cleverley. As desperate as he was for the Utd midfielder to make his move to Everton, it never materialised. £9m was banded about as a fee; Everton should probably be renamed Cleverton.

Which brings me back to why I’m so disillusioned with Deadline Day. Firstly, I don’t blame Sky, Jim White, Alan Irwin or any of the hundreds of idiots plastered around the grounds acting like kids in a park drinking White Lightning, trying to recreate a face Ricky Gervais does in the bath. As a public we demand attention, we want news and we want it now. What happens when nothing happens though? We get Olds. Tottenham signed a defensive midfielder, Benjamin Stambouli, a 24 year old from Montpellier. I admittedly hadn’t heard of him before this news broke early in the afternoon. By the end of the night, I had created a drinking game. Anytime Stambouli’s name was mentioned… you get the idea.

The day seemed destined to be about one player though. Radomel Falcao and his proposed move to the Premier League dominated the headlines all day. His arrival to Manchester was replayed long into the night by way of the fascinating video package of three cars, all with blacked out windows, driving through a country lane with nothing else to tell us, other than Jim shouting “THAT IS FALCAO. HE IS IN MANCHESTER”. That sequence played for 4 hours over and over and over again – more olds from Sky. If there’s nothing to report, break away for 5 minutes and tell me about Golf or Tennis.

Luckily for me, I didn’t care too much; I was drunk from playing the Stambouli game.