Swansea v Middlesbrough Competition - Sky Bet Championship Venue - Swansea.com Stadium Date - 16 December 2023 Kick off - 3:00pm Following their battling 1-1 draw at Stoke - in a match where, at HT the Sky Commentators described the game as turgid - next up for Alan Sheehan’s Swansea squad is a tough looking fixture against Middlesbrough. On Tuesday evening. Harry Darling's late header rescued a point for the Swans at Stoke in a meeting of two managerless clubs. Darling headed home in the 89th minute as he made amends for conceding the penalty that put Stoke ahead. Daniel Johnson's second-half penalty had looked likely to give Stoke all three points in a contest where they created the better chances. Stoke are three points above the relegation zone after Swansea's late equaliser, whilst the Swans are 17th. The Potters will feel aggrieved not to have won a contest they appeared to be controlling. They looked set for three points and might have led by more than a single goal before they lost concentration and allowed Darling a free header from a corner as the home supporters were once again left disappointed. The following evening, Hull City fought back to beat Middlesbrough and condemn Boro to a third consecutive defeat. Boro were ahead early when neat play between Lukas Engel and Sam Greenwood on the left teed up Isaiah Jones, whose shot was blocked before Emmanuel Latte Lath stabbed in the rebound. The hosts were punished for failing to extend their lead when Jacob Greaves flicked on Tyler Morton's corner to the back post, where Liam Delap nodded in the equaliser unmarked. Tigers goalkeeper Ryan Allsop then denied Greenwood from close range before Ozan Tufan swept in Hull's winner from the edge of the box with nine minutes left. Allsop then made a stunning triple save from Jones, Rav van den Berg and Dael Fry in the seventh minute of stoppage time as Hull snatched their fifth away league win of the season. The victory puts Hull in seventh in the Championship, outside the play-off spots on goal difference only, while a fourth defeat in five leaves Michael Carrick's Boro six points back in 13th. The Swans have played Boro on 54 previous occasions, winning 19, losing 23 with 12 games drawn. In the corresponding fixture last season, Boro ran out comfortable 3-1 winners: Turning to Saturday, James Bell will be the man in charge. It will be the first time the man from south Yorkshire has taken charge of a Swans match. He was initially appointed to last season’s home match against Reading, but was replaced late on by Andy Davies. Bell was promoted to Select Group Two in the summer of 2022 following two successful seasons in League One and Two, and made his Championship debut on August 20, 2022. After qualifying as a referee at 14, Bell primarily officiated games at his secondary school and in the Sheffield & District Junior League. Initially balancing playing and refereeing. He eventually chose to focus on the latter and progressed through the system, earning promotion to the National List of Assistant Referees at the age of 23. He assisted at the 2016 FA Youth Cup final and 2017 League Two play-off final before focusing his efforts on becoming a referee instead of sticking as an assistant. In 2020 - his final year before being included on the National List of Referees - he was in charge of the National League play-off final between Harrogate Town and Notts County. On Saturday, he will be assisted by Ian Cooper and Carl Fitch-Jackson. Ben Atkinson is due to be fourth official. In what could be his final match in charge, Alan Sheehan will to hoping to remain unbeaten as interim Head Coach, whilst Michael Carrick will surely start to feel the pressure if the Swans condemn Boro to a 4th straight defeat. I have a feeling that Boro will run out 2-1 winners. Hope I’m wrong
Thanks Taff. This will be a hard game and as much as I would love a narrow win I think it will be a 1-1 scoreline.
Well I’m currently in The Village Hotel in readiness for tomorrow’s game, do the buggers better win, do I’m going a last gasp 2-1 Swans win.
Do they still have the pub there, open til the early hours? We stopped staying there because it was too noisy to sleep!
Pub still here, I’m told there’s a DJ in there tonight. Luck enough I’m a fair bit away from the bar on the 3rd floor. I just look for the best deals and this was cheaper than the premier inn, normally do just the Saturday, but tied this in with site visit on the way down at The Vale Resort, scum were out training. Tonight’s on the company.
Liam Walsh and Bashir Humphreys start for Swansea City as caretaker boss Alan Sheehan makes two changes for the visit of Middlesbrough. Walsh and Humphreys come in for Charlie Patino and Jerry Yates respectively, with the pair dropping to the bench. Carl Rushworth continues in goal, with Josh Key, Harry Darling, Humphreys, Ben Cabango and Josh Tymon making up the Swansea defence. Captain Matt Grimes and Jay Fulton are joined by Walsh in midfield, with Jamie Paterson operating ahead of them. Jamal Lowe leads the line for the hosts, while Nathan Wood is fit enough for a place on the bench after three months on the sidelines. Swansea City: Carl Rushworth, Josh Key, Jay Fulton, Ben Cabango, Harry Darling, Matt Grimes (captain), Jamal Lowe, Jamie Paterson, Josh Tymon, Liam Walsh, Bashir Humphreys. Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Jerry Yates, Yannick Bolasie, Charlie Patino, Liam Cullen, Nathan Wood, Kyle Naughton, Ollie Cooper, Sam Parker. Middlesbrough: Seny Dieng, Rav van den Berg, Isaiah Jones, Anfernee Dijksteel, Sam Greenwood, Jonny Howson (captain), Dael Fry, Alex Bangura, Matt Crooks, Daniel Barlaser, Emmanuel Latte Lath. Substitutes: Tom Glover, Matt Clarke, Morgan Rogers, Alex Gilbert, Sammy Silvera, Hayden Coulson, Lukas Engel, Daniel Nkrumah, Calum Kavanagh.
I thought Patino is supposed to be one of the best we have ? Any reason why he’s dropped or is Twitter full of **** again ?
Change of formation, and Sheehan wanting to load midfield more defensively? 5 defenders, with Grimes and Fulton, supported by Walsh….. I thought we were playing at home?
