Derby County v Swansea City Competition - Sky Bet Championship Venue - Pride Park Stadium Date - 2nd October 2021 Kick off - 3pm Following their 3-1 defeat at Craven Cottage, next up for Russel Martin’s Swansea squad is a tricky looking away match against Derby County. On Wednesday evening, Aleksandar Mitrovic scored a first-half hat-trick as Fulham beat the Swans 3-1 to climb to third in the Championship. Mitrovic made it 10 goals in nine club games in 2021-22 as Fulham ruthlessly exposed the Swans' deficiencies. Whilst the Swans passed the ball with purpose in spells, by and large the build up play was slow, and their defensive vulnerability was an issue from the outset and Fulham took full advantage. Personally, I can’t understand why Cabango was on the right of the 3 centre backs whilst Naughton was in the middle, facing up to Mitrovic …. As such, Marco Silva's team eased to a first victory in four league outings despite Jamie Paterson pulling one back for the Swans. A first defeat in five second-tier games leaves the Swans in 19th place, 6 points off a Play-Off spot, but only 2 points above the relegation places. The same evening, Craig Forsyth's first-half winner sank in-form Reading and moved bottom-club Derby's points tally back into positive numbers after their 12-point deduction. Jason Knight whipped in a cross to the back post where left-back Forsyth floated a header which dropped into the far corner. Debutant Rams goalkeeper Ryan Allsop made a super stop to turn John Swift's powerful strike over the bar and deny the Royals an equaliser after the break. The hosts, who are still five points adrift at the bottom of the Championship, wasted a raft of chances to wrap up the game and almost paid for it late on when Reading's Josh Laurent sent a free header inches wide. The Swans have played Derby on 46 previous occasions, winning 20, losing 18 and drawing the other 8 matches. In the corresponding fixture last season, Derby ran out comfortable 2-0 winners: Turning to Saturday, although Derby may be bottom of the table, the reality is that they have won 3 points more than the Swans have so far this season, and have done so despite the numerous off-field existential threats hanging over them. As such, in the battle of the ‘sheep shaggers’ - well, Derby’s nickname is the Rams - I think that Derby will again run out comfortable 2-0 winners. I hope I’m wrong
Thanks for your positivity Taff. Hopefully the manager will have learnt from his errors with the defence against Fulham and revert to a proper set up. If we can move the ball quicker up the field and also shoot on sight we could and should win this one
Azzuri, I agree with you. Injecting pace into the performance and a willingness to shoot would ‘transform’ us - as well as setting up the defence properly
The next few games are crucial. Why, because he’s already had his ten games, which many fans said to give him to judge his performance. Drawing at home and losing away is relegation form. Once he’s lost the fans he’s on a slippery slope. It doesn’t breed confidence when he plays players out of position and then doesn’t change things when it goes wrong resulting in three goals against. Okay he’s been unlucky with injuries, but he had Cooper on the bench Wed night who could have boosted the defence and Cabango and Naughton could have swopped positions, but he just left Naughton exposed. Derby are not prolific scorers, 7 goals in 10 games, yet many are predicting another defeat, says a lot.
I've not seen enough full games to really judge, as brief highlights don't tell me much but the defensive set up and display against Fulham was worrying. There are good signs though so I'm inclined to give him a bit longer to tinker but not too much longer. Saying that, I'd rather he see the season out anyway than bring in some one new half way through. I think we'll get a draw today and beat Cardiff, which would be acceptable
Looking out of the window this morning and seeing cloud and rain I thought that it could be a bad day for the Swans. But I have had a bacon butty now and I feel more positive. We will not be playing a Fulham side with a Mitrovic oin it today...Derby are in turmoil and their bounce will definitely end......today. RM will get the defence right and it will all fall in to place with a good win by two ...
Coventry 3-1 up against Fulham and their third goal shows what you can do if you go for a shot at goal. If we had been in that position I think we would have looked to play a square ball across the edge of the box. I would have hoped the Luton game would have encouraged them to shoot more. Let's hope for better today.
Korey Smith and Joel Latibeaudiere come into the Swansea City starting line-up as Russell Martin makes two changes for the clash with Derby County at Pride Park. Midfielder Smith makes his first start since the opening day of the season as he replaces the injured Olivier Ntcham in the Swans side. Latibeaudiere, meanwhile, makes his first league start since the defeat at Preston as he comes in for Ethan Laird, who drops to the bench. Morgan Whittaker and Rhys Williams are also among the substitutes. The Swans are otherwise unchanged from the midweek defeat at Fulham, with Ben Hamer in goal behind a back three of Ben Cabango, Kyle Naughton and Ryan Manning. Latibeaudiere and Jake Bidwell are the wing-backs, with skipper Matt Grimes and Flynn Downes continuing their midfielder partnership. Smith joins Jamie Paterson to operate in an advanced role, providing support to striker Joel Piroe. Derby County: Ryan Allsop, Nathan Byrne, Craig Forsyth, Graeme Shinnie, Max Bird, Tom Lawrence (captain), Ravel Morrison, Richard Stearman, Curtis Davies, Jack Stratton, Jason Knight. Substitutes: Kelle Roos, Kamil Jozwiak, Louie Sibley, Lee Buchanan, Louie Watson, Dylan Williams, Festy Ebosele. Swansea City: Ben Hamer; Ben Cabango, Kyle Naughton, Ryan Manning; Joel Latibeaudiere, Flynn Downes, Matt Grimes (captain), Jake Bidwell; Korey Smith, Jamie Paterson; Joel Piroe. Substitutes: Steven Benda, Jay Fulton, Morgan Whittaker, Liam Cullen, Ethan Laird, Liam Walsh, Rhys Williams.
It could be a long afternoon for Piroe , I can't see him getting much service through the middle , just speculative crosses from Bidwell perhaps
