Swansea City v Barnsley Competition - Sky Bet Championship Date - 29 December 2019 Venue - Liberty Stadium Kick off - 3pm Following their defeat by fellow promotion hopefuls Brentford on Boxing Day, next up for Steve Cooper’s Swansea squad is a home match against relegation threatened Barnsley. At Griffin Park, Brentford moved up to third in the Championship with a fifth successive home victory as Ollie Watkins' brace gave them victory over the Swans. Midway through the first half a Brentford corner was headed back across the box by Ethan Pinnock and Bryan Mbeumo was on hand to nod in the opener. Just five minutes later Brentford doubled their lead, Watkins stretching out a leg to meet Rico Henry's cross to divert the ball past Freddy Woodman. Andre Ayew pulled one back for the Swans with 25 minutes remaining, after David Raya only parried Bersant Celina's initial effort into the path of the Ghanaian. Despite pressure from Swansea it was Brentford who scored late on, Watkins beating the offside trap and finishing into the bottom corner with just Woodman to beat. Swansea dropped to 8th in the table - but, remarkably are only 3 points behind the Bees in 3rd spot. Whilst the Swans were losing at Brentford, Barnsley - thanks to Finnish defender Aapo Halme's 90th-minute equaliser at Oakwell - drew with West Bromwich Albion for the second time this season. Nevertheless, the point for the Baggies, now unbeaten in 14 games, ensured that they would remain top of the Championship, no matter how Leeds United fared in their late kick-off at home to Preston - they drew 1-1 as well. West Brom went ahead when Sahin-Radlinger's miscued his left-footed clearance straight to Filip Krovinovic, and from 30 yards out, the Croatian midfielder cashed in, coolly returning it back over the Tykes keeper's head. Summer signing Krovinovic's first goal for Albion - his first in over two years - made him the 15th different Albion player to score this season. It looked set to earn a ninth win in 13 away games, but battling Barnsley's pressure finally told as Albion were forced to settle for their second 1-1 draw of the festive season. The Swans have played Barnsley on 73 previous occasions, winning 35, losing 24 and drawing 14. Earlier in the season, the teams played out a 1-1 draw at Oakwell: Turning to Sunday, the Swans need to get back to winning ways, but with next to bottom scrapping for every point, I’m going for another 1-1 draw.
Will be there Sunday & not expecting anything better than a draw. I know it sounds negative, but on the whole we’ve been pretty gutless, woeful, clueless & devoid of any attacking ideas at the Liberty, especially. Can’t see it being any different this time. Our midfield, let’s be honest, is fvckin dreadful. No guile, pace, tenacity (where’s Steve Thornber when you need), that was a joke by the way!! Everything is pedestrian and full of predictable sideways passing. I agree also, with a couple of sentiments, that Grimes is not what we need as a captain. We are severely lacking in this area & until this is addressed, which the Yanks cvnts are not going to fund for, this is obviously going to impact on the rest of our season & near future. They are not supplying the forwards & not protecting the back line. I also can’t stand Celina being played out wide, he’s a number 10 as far as I’m concerned, end of... So 4-0 to the Swans it is then...
Listening on radio Wales, feels like I'm back in the 60's, Barnsley playing the better football, and more up for this game, the crowd at the liberty very quiet!!................