Swansea v Bournemouth Competition - EFL Cup Stage - Second Round Venue - Swansea.com Stadium Date - 29 August 2023 Kick off - 7:30pm Following their 1-2 defeat away at Preston North End, next up for Michael Duff’s Swansea squad is a break from Championship action and a Carabao second round home tie against Premier League Bournemouth. Last Saturday, Preston’s promising start to the season continued as they came from behind to beat the Swans 2-1. On-loan Newcastle wing-back Harrison Ashby's classy first-half finish had put the Swans on course for a first Championship victory under Michael Duff. However, Andrew Hughes' precise header brought Preston level midway through the second half before Duane Holmes steered in the winner. It was another disappointment for the Swans in the week in which they lost Joel Piroe to Leeds, although Duff may feel that his side deserved something from what was a tight contest. Defeat means the Swans have taken only two points from the first four league games of the new campaign, with their only success to date this season coming in the Carabao Cup. Earlier that day, James Maddison scored his first Tottenham goal and delivered an outstanding individual performance as Spurs continued their fine start to life under Ange Postecoglou with victory at Bournemouth. Maddison's opener came at the end of a flowing Spurs move involving Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr, and arrived just moments after Cherries goalkeeper Neto had kept out another effort from the 26-year-old. Bournemouth made a bright start to the second half and Antoine Semenyo nearly followed up his goal at Anfield last weekend with a superb second-half equaliser, but the Ghanaian's curling effort from the edge of the box flew narrowly wide of the top corner. Young full-back Destiny Udogie was the architect of the visitors' second, playing an excellent one-two with Heung-min Son before cutting the ball back for Dejan Kulusevski, who found the far corner for his first of the campaign. Spurs have seven points from their opening three league games, while Bournemouth's wait for a first win of the season goes on after slipping to a second straight defeat. Tonight marks the 64th meeting between the Swans and the Cherries since the first fixture in January 1924. The Swans have won 23, lost 26 and drawn 14. That said, it is interesting to note that it is almost 16 years since the Swans last beat Bournemouth (4-1 in Bournemouth) and nearly 17 years since a win in Swansea: a 4-2 victory courtesy of goals from Fallon (2), Iriekpen and Trundle. The teams last met at the Swansea.com Stadium in April 2022 when the teams came up against each other in a Championship fixture which ended 3-3, despite the Swans having taken a 3-0 lead via goals from Piroe (2) and Christie: Turning to tomorrow evening, Matthew Donohue has been appointed as the Match Referee, and he will be assisted by Paul Hodskinson and Adam Crysell, with Thomas Parsons the 4th Official for the game. This will be the 6th time that Donohue has been a referee for a Swans home match, and so far there have been 3 Swans wins and 2 defeats. Whilst both Managers will be keen to progress in the Competition, the League is undoubtedly far more important to both. As such, the outcome will be highly dependent on the strength of the respective sides selected. Given that Bournemouth (should) have more strength in depth - and on paper a stronger first XI - I’m going for a 1-3 victory for the Cherries. Hope I’m wrong
Duff has said he won't make wholesale changes, maybe 3 or 4. How seriously will Bournemouth take this competition? I think we can take it to penalties - and lose
Swansea City head coach Michael Duff makes five changes to his side for tonight’s Carabao Cup tie against Bournemouth. Joe Allen, Josh Ginnelly, Kyle Naughton, Ollie Cooper and Azeem Abdulai all come into the XI to face the Premier League Cherries in the second-round meeting. Jay Fulton, Jerry Yates, Charlie Patino, Nathan Wood and Harrison Ashby are all named among the substitutes having started at Preston on the weekend. Carl Rushworth continues in goal, with Naughton joining Ben Cabango and Harry Darling in the Swansea defence. Abdulai and Josh Key occupy the wing-back slots, with Allen slotting in alongside captain Matt Grimes and Cooper in midfield. Ginnelly partners Liam Cullen up top for the Swans. Swansea City: Carl Rushworth; Harry Darling, Ben Cabango, Kyle Naughton; Josh Key, Joe Allen, Matt Grimes (captain), Ollie Cooper; Azeem Abdulai; Liam Cullen, Josh Ginnelly. Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Jay Fulton, Jerry Yates, Jamie Paterson, Brandon Cooper, Charlie Patino, Mykola Kuharevich, Nathan Wood, Harrison Ashby. Bournemouth: Andre Radu, Lloyd Kelly, Chris Mepham, David Brooks (captain), Joe Rothwell, Kieffer Moore, Hamed Traore, Marcos Senesi, Philip Billing, Jaidon Anthony, Max Aarons Substitutes: Neto, Milos Kerkez, Lewis Cook, Dominic Solanke, Ryan Christie, Justin Kluivert, James Hill, Antoine Semenyo, Gavin Kilkenny.
It was nearly as good as Chloe Kelly's for England in the Women's World Cup (Which was clocked at 69mph, faster than any strike in the whole of the Premier League last season).
