Match Day Thread Swansea City 1 v 3 Leicester City

Swansea v Leicester

Competition - Sky Bet Championship
Venue - Swansea.com Stadium
Date - 21 October 2023
Kick off - 3:00pm

Following their impressive 3-1 win over Plymouth before the international break, next up for Michael Duff’s improving Swansea squad is the daunting prospect of a home fixture against Championship leaders and promotion favourites Leicester City.

Two weeks ago, the Swans’ upturn in form continued as they came from behind at Plymouth Argyle to secure a fourth successive Championship victory.

Luke Cundle gave Plymouth a first-half lead against the club he played for last season, as the on-loan Wolves midfielder steering into the net after Carl Rushworth could only parry Ryan Hardie's cross.

Rushworth then made a number of important saves for a Swansea side who levelled thanks to Jerry Yates' tap-in early in the second half.

Thereafter, a contest that could have gone either way was settled by two moments of quality.

Ollie Cooper scored his first goal of the season from 25 yards just moments after coming off the bench.

The Swans then put the result beyond doubt when Jamie Paterson's fabulous pass allowed Josh Key to guide home his first goal for the club.

A second away success of the campaign continues a sharp turnaround in form for the Swans, who had failed to win in their first seven league games under Michael Duff but now climb to 12th.

Duff’s side headed into the second international break of the season in upbeat mood, having taken 13 points from five games since their abject display in last month's South Wales derby prompted questions about Duff's future.

Whilst the Swans were beating Plymouth, Kelechi Iheanacho and Jamie Vardy scored to help Leicester City stay top of the Championship with a hard-fought win against Stoke City.

Nigeria international Iheanacho found the bottom corner from a tight angle to put the high-flying hosts ahead with the game's first shot.

Nathan Lowe had the best of Stoke's few chances to level, while Mark Travers made it tense for the Foxes by denying Yunus Akgun and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall before Vardy came off the bench to add a second with a tap-in finish.

The former England striker's 175th goal for Leicester completed the win, but it could have been a more comprehensive result as the hosts created late chances in a strong finish.

The victory saw the Foxes became the equal-fastest team to amass 30 points in a Championship season, matching Sheffield United in 2005-06, with their 10th win in 11 games.

A point at Swansea this coming Saturday would be enough for Leicester to break the record for the best start to a second-tier season after 12 games since it was rebranded as the Championship 19 years ago.

The Swans, who first played the Foxes in December 1914, have won 11 of the 39 matches played, lost 19 and drawn 9.

The teams last met at the Swansea.com Stadium exactly 6 years ago to the very day, in a Premier League fixture, when the Foxes ran out 2-1 winners:

Anthony Backhouse will be the man in the middle when the Swans host Leicester.

The Cumbrian official will take charge of a Swans fixture for the second time, in what will be only his fifth Championship game, having seen the recent home win over Sheffield Wednesday.

Backhouse was first at the helm of a second-tier game back in December 2019, when he oversaw Hull City against Birmingham City.

Backhouse has refereed in the EFL since the 2017-18 season, and last season he took charge of the first leg of the incredible League One play-off semi-final between Peterborough United and Sheffield Wednesday.

He was promoted to Select Group 2 during the summer.

On Saturday, he will be assisted by Andrew Fox and Hristo Karaivanov, while Charles Breakspear will be the fourth official.

With respect to the outcome to this Saturday’s fixture, I have a sneaky feeling that the Swans will deny the Foxes the opportunity of achieving the best ever start to a Championship season, and will run out 3-1 victors

Who says I’m always a pessimist

 

As Leicester have twice as many points as us the easy prediction is a Leicester win.

But I have a sneaky suspicion they will not win. An entertaining 2-2 draw.

I have a ticket for this one so it had better be entertaining

 

Thanks Taff another excellent pre match write up.

1-1

 

Bad feeling for a hiding off one of the favourites to go up ?
4-1

 

Well this is all rather baffling eh?

The obvious guess is an away win... but... the Swans recent form is (did I mention baffling?!) excellent.

Duff appears to have turned things around in style... but what is the Swans style of play? Anyone know? Maybe this is his super power, that opposing managers don't know either and so, can't combat it?

I'll go for the draw as well, 2 - 2.

 

Thanks Taff. This could be a good game to watch and hopefully enjoy. Head says a 2-1defeat but heart says an enjoyable 2-2.
Will be watching from afar as enjoying a few days in Venice

 

Glam, you were spotted in Venice and I was sent a photo of you and your better half in Venice:

 

Bugger I told her 2 bottles of prosecco at breakfast was enough

 

I think Leicester will be much more lethal than some of the other teams we’ve played, who have squandered quite a few chances in the games we’ve won recently. I can see them winning by 2 or 3 goals although I hope we prove the recent upturn to be no fluke and we beat them.

 

Swansea City have Kristian Pedersen back from injury for Saturday’s meeting with Leicester City.

The Denmark international has been sidelined by a groin problem, missing wins over Millwall, Norwich City and Plymouth Argyle, but he has taken a full part in training this week.

Head coach Michael Duff will make a late call on the fitness of Ben Cabango, who is very close to a return from a hamstring injury.

Josh Ginnelly, Joe Allen, Nathan Wood and Azeem Abdulai are long-term absentees.

“The squad is looking healthier, Kristian Pedersen is fit and has trained all week,” said Duff.

“Ben Cabango is touch and go, he is on the grass now and we will assess where he is.

“The others are the long-term absentees, Josh Ginnelly, Joe Allen, Nathan Wood and Azeem Abdulai.

“It’s only Ben who is a question mark. Like I say, he is touch and go for the weekend, but he should be available for Tuesday against Watford whatever happens.

“He is very close to being available.”

 

Don't remember him being that handsome, has he had work done?

 

That was before Wagatha Christie

 

Swansea City head coach Michael Duff has named an unchanged starting line-up for this afternoon’s Championship clash with Leicester City.

The Swans boss keeps faith with the side that started the victory over Plymouth prior to the international break.

There is one alteration to the bench as Kristian Pedersen returns from injury in place of Nathan Tjoe-A-On.

Carl Rushworth continues in goal, with Josh Key, Harry Darling, Bashir Humphreys and Josh Tymon making up the Swansea defence.

Captain Matt Grimes and Charlie Patino are paired together in midfield, with Jamal Lowe, Jamie Paterson and Liam Cullen operating in support of Jerry Yates, who leads the line for the Swans.

Swansea City: Carl Rushworth, Josh Key, Harry Darling, Matt Grimes (captain), Jerry Yates, Jamal Lowe, Jamie Paterson, Josh Tymon, Charlie Patino, Liam Cullen, Bashir Humphreys.

Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Kristian Pedersen, Jay Fulton, Mykola Kuharevich, Kyle Naughton, Liam Walsh, Harrison Ashby, Ollie Cooper, Cameron Congreve.

Leicester City: Mads Hermansen, James Justin, Wout Faes, Harry Winks, Jamie Vardy (captain), Stephy Mavididi, Abdul Fatawu, Ricardo Pereira, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jannik Vestergaard, Wilfred Ndidi.

Substitutes: Jakub Stolarczyk, Conor Coady, Cesare Casadei, Marc Albrighton, Kelechi Iheanacho, Harry Souttar, Hamza Choudhury, Patson Daka, Yunus Akgun.

 

1-0 Grimes

 

Living dangerously at the moment

 

Not quite sure how Leicester haven’t scored yet. It’s one way traffic now and the goal is coming.

 

Josh Key is getting slaughtered by their winger.

 

Meh.