Wigan v Swansea Competition - Sky Bet Championship Venue - DW Stadium Date - 10 April 2023 Kick off - 3:00pm Following their scoreless home draw against Play-Off hopefuls Coventry, next up for Russell Martin’s mid-table Swansea squad is a trip to bottom of the table Wigan. Last Friday, Coventry edged a point closer to the Championship play-off places thanks to a goalless draw against the Swans. Coventry probably came closest to finding a winner, with Gustavo Hamer and Matty Godden both denied by Swansea goalkeeper Andy Fisher, although Darling, Cabango and Piroe all had chances for the Swans. Mark Robins' team slip to ninth in the table, though they have cut the gap to sixth place to three points. The Swans stay 15th having made it three games unbeaten. Whilst the Swans were drawing with Coventry, promotion-chasing Sheffield United moved eight points clear of third-placed Luton with a win over the Championship's bottom side Wigan Athletic. The home side took an early lead when James McAtee showed quick feet to break away down the left and send in a low centre for Iliman Ndiaye to tap in at the back post. Billy Sharp drew an excellent save from Ben Amos and Ndiaye was denied a second by a goalline clearance from James McClean as the Blades threatened to blow the Latics away before the break. Wigan improved after the break and Thelo Aasgaard's header drew a smart stop from Wes Foderingham, but they could not find an equaliser and are now eight points adrift of safety with six games to play. The Swans have played Wigan on 28 previous occasions, winning 12, drawing 6 and losing 10 matches. The teams last met at the DW Stadium in a Championship fixture in November 2019 when the Swans ran out 2-1 winners when a stoppage time goal by Sam Surridge secured all 3 points for Steve Cooper’s team, after Nathan Dyer had opened the scoring for the Swans: Turning to Monday, it really is almost the last chance saloon for Wigan: they need to secure all 3 points against a Swans side with nothing really to play for, apart from trying to at least equal or surpass last season’s points tally. I’ve a feeling that the Swans will come home with all 3 points; 2-1 to the Swans
Three games unbeaten and from what (very!) little I saw of the Coventry game we were playing decently, so surely a Swans win... oh, what am I saying, this is the Swans we're talking about! It's a game against the bottom side and our generosity knows no bounds Swans 2 - 0
Russell Martin believes Swansea City can earn a positive result at Wigan Athletic if they bring the same intensity and courage they have shown in recent games. The Swans put a stop to a difficult run of results with a 2-0 home win against Bristol City before the international break, and followed it up with a dramatic victory over Cardiff City. On Friday, they played out an entertaining 0-0 draw with Coventry City and are hoping to build on that performance when they face Wigan Athletic this afternoon. The Latics are currently bottom of the Championship and Martin says his side must be prepared to face a team fighting for their lives. “Football is always about the mentality to take onto the pitch,” he said. “We have to make sure that’s the right thing for our team. “We always focus on bringing two things: intensity and courage. The intensity to run for each other and the courage to play. “When we have one of those things but not the other, it’s not the same, but when we bring both I think we’re a really good team at this level, and I think we’ve shown that a few times this season. “When we have intensity and courage we’re a good team at this level and I think we’ve shown that this season. “If we can bring that on Monday then we have a good chance of getting a good performance and a good result. “They’ll be fighting for their lives I’m sure, but I hope it’s a positive day for us.” The Swans boss was also keen to stress the impact a strong finish to the current campaign can have for next season. “I think we need to build as much momentum as we possibly can now,” he added. “That helps us keep players, recruit players and helps people around the place believe in what we’re doing. “I hope we can finish as strongly as possible because the players, staff and supporters deserve it for sticking with us and helping us through a tough period.”
Swansea City head coach Russell Martin shuffles his pack as he makes four changes for the Easter Monday clash with Wigan at the DW Stadium. The Swans head coach had suggested he would make changes given the quick turnaround from Friday's draw with Coventry, and so it has proved as Joel Latibeaudiere, Jay Fulton, Joe Allen and Jamie Paterson all come into the starting line-up. Harry Darling, Luke Cundle and Liam Cullen drop to the bench, while Liam Walsh is rested as his workload is managed following his return from a long lay-off. Andy Fisher continues in goal after his man-of-the-match showing on Friday, with Latibeaudiere, Nathan Wood, Ben Cabango and Ryan Manning making up the Swansea defence. Allen and Fulton join captain Matt Grimes in midfield, while Paterson - making a first start since December 17 - and Olivier Ntcham will provide support to topscorer Joel Piroe in the final third. Swansea City: Andy Fisher; Joel Latibeaudiere, Nathan Wood, Ben Cabango, Ryan Manning; Joe Allen, Jay Fulton, Matt Grimes (captain); Olivier Ntcham, Jamie Paterson; Joel Piroe. Substitutes: Lewis Webb, Harry Darling, Luke Cundle, Morgan Whittaker, Liam Cullen, Kyle Naughton, Ollie Cooper. Wigan Athletic: Ben Amos, Ryan Nyambe, Tom Naylor, Jack Whatmough, Max Power, James McClean, Callum Lang, Christ Tiehi, Ashley Fletcher, Tendayi Darikwa (captain), Charlie Hughes. Substitutes: Jamie Jones, Tom Pearce, Will Keane, Omar Rekik, Josh Magennis, Thelo Aasgaard, Scott Smith.
Nor on Facebook, nor on Planet Swans …. I suspect that a run of 3 wins from 22 matches would understandably cause concern. Even now, after 2 wins from the last 3 matches, the updated record of 5 wins from 25 matches is hardly a ringing endorsement is it? On average, 1 win every 5 games is more akin to relegation form.
The bottom line is that even if The Swans were near the top of the table, you'd complain about Martin's beard.
But The Swans were near the top of the table, but that didn't stem the insults and abuse heading in Martin's direction.
The debates were far more fierce elsewhere, and there again we weren’t near the top for long …. and don’t forget, we were in the bottom 3 just before then
