Middlesbrough v Swansea Competition - Sky Bet Championship Venue - Riverside Stadium Date - 10 August 2024 Kick off - 12:30pm Following a Summer period that has seen over a dozen departures from the first team squad, and so far only a handful of new recruits, Luke Williams’ new look Swansea squad have to travel to the North East to face Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough in their first Championship match of the 24/25 season. The Swans appear to have recruited better this Summer than 12 months ago although the proof of the pudding ….. New signings Lawrence Vigouroux, Žan Vipotnik, Eom Ji Sung and Goncalo Franco are all expected to make their competitive debuts for the Swans, although Vipotnik may have to come off the bench to make his Swansea bow. Middlesbrough wrapped up their pre-season campaign with a 1-0 win over Heerenveen on Saturday, bringing to an end a positive run of summer friendlies that sets them up nicely for this weekend's opening game of the Championship season. In total, Michael Carrick's side won four of their six pre-season friendlies and lost only the one - that their first of the summer, played behind closed doors in Portugal during their training camp. For Carrick, while results don't matter, the progression of his side in terms of rhythm and tempo ahead of the Swans’ visit was encouraging. Arguably, Boro’s most eye catching Summer signing was Aidan Morris - travelling across the Pond to join Boro this summer, there were always going to be questions as to how Morris would adapt at Boro. So far so good for the midfielder who has looked comfortable on the ball and tenacious off it. Encouragingly, he looks more than up to the physical challenge of English football. The battle between Morris and Franco on Saturday could prove pivotal. The Swans have played Boro on 56 previous occasions, winning 19, drawing 12 and losing 25. In last season’s corresponding fixture, the Swans lost 2-0: Turning to Saturday, Sam Allison will be the man in the middle. This will be the fifth time that Allison – a former firefighter – has taken charge of a Swans game, having had the whistle for three fixtures last term. During the 2023-24 campaign Allison oversaw defeats against Leeds United, Plymouth Argyle and Queens Park Rangers. The man from Chippenham began his journey as a footballer, and was on the books at clubs including Swindon Town, Exeter City, and Bristol City before becoming a referee in non-league in 2011. He was added to the professional rota in 2020, and impressive performances in the lower leagues saw him promoted to Select Group 2 in the summer of 2023. On Boxing Day, 2023 he made his Premier League debut when he officiated the clash between Luton Town and Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. He later took charge of his second top-flight match on March 13 when Bournemouth mounted a dramatic second-half comeback to beat Luton Town. On Saturday, Allison will be assisted by Andrew Fox and Jonathan Hunt. Aaron Bannister is set to be the fourth official. As for the outcome? No idea, opening fixtures are notoriously difficult to predict. However, the Swans rarely win their opening fixtures and I suspect that this coming Saturday will be no different. I’m going 2-0 to Boro - hope I’m wrong
1 Andy Fisher 2 Josh Key 3 Kristian Pedersen 4 Jay Fulton 5 Ben Cabango 6 Harry Darling 7 Joe Allen 8 Matt Grimes 9 Žan Vipotnik 10 Jisung Eom 11 Josh Ginnelly 14 Josh Tymon 17 Gonçalo Franco 20 Liam Cullen 21 Nathan Tjoe-A-On 22 Lawrence Vigouroux 26 Kyle Naughton 29 Nathan Broome 31 Ollie Cooper 35 Ronald 37 Aimar Govea 40 NUMBER RETIRED 41 Sam Parker 42 Evan Watts (Watts) 43 Dan Watts (D.Watts) 44 Josh Thomas 47 Azeem Abdulai 50 Filip Lissah
Not sure what to expect as it's first game, but I'm also not expecting much. Can only see a defeat, away to a team who probably fancy their chances at the play-offs at least this season. Come on Swans - give us another opening day like you did at QPR back in the PL days.
Here we go another season, what will it bring Joy, sadness or mediocrity. Let’s hope for a win, but I’ll be happy with a draw. 1-1.
And we're off! Well done Taff. Who knows what will happen on Saturday. It could be a 3-0 drubbing. A boring 0-0 or an exciting 2-2 or shock horror an away win. I will be over the moon with a point and if we put in a good performance. So it's 1-1 for me.
Are we getting Rushworth back from Brighton? don't like Fisher at all, very poor keeper, if we are starting him then we are going to lose our opener game.....
I did say at the end of last season I was taking a break. I've got involved in a couple of volunteering roles and don't want to overload...
So after a summer (what summer?) of Euros and Olympics, it's back to EFL today. It's a tough opening game and with such a thin squad after so many departures and only a few new additions I can see today's game as a hefty defeat. 3-0 Boro
