Competition - Sky Bet Championship Venue - Carrow Road Date - 25 January 2025 Kick off - 12:30pm Following their improved performance that ended in an undeserved defeat against Sheffield United, next up for Luke Williams’ stuttering Swansea squad is a tricky looking trip to Norfolk to play Norwich City. Last Tuesday evening, Sheffield United returned - albeit temporarily - to the top of the Championship as they came from behind to claim a 2-1 victory over 10-man Swansea. The Swans were the better side in the first half, taking an early lead through Florian Bianchini's header and threatening to stretch their advantage as the Blades were made to suffer. Indeed, the Swans should have had a penalty and the Blades reduced to 10 men but the ref didn’t give it: he has reffed the Blades on 5 occasions so far this season with the Yorkshire side winning on each occasion. Chris Wilder's team equalised right at the start of the second period through a sharp finish from former Swan Rhian Brewster - it was always thus …. Harry Darling was then shown a straight red card for a mistimed, heavy challenge on Brewster, leaving the Swans a player light for the final 40 minutes. Darling has been banned for 3 games. Though the Swans competed admirably despite the numerical disadvantage, Harrison Burrows struck the winner from the penalty spot after Josh Key brought down Tyrese Campbell. United leapfrog Leeds – who play on Wednesday – to retake the lead in the race for promotion to the Premier League. Worryingly, the Swans are sliding down the table having taken only one point from four league games since the turn of the year. The following evening, Leeds eased past a toothless Norwich City at Elland Road to go back to the top of the Championship. Sheffield United had leapfrogged Leeds to the summit the previous evening, but the West Yorkshire side wasted no time in taking back top spot. The hosts netted the Championship's fastest goal of the season when ex-Swan Dan James' first-time cross found Manor Solomon to slam in from six yards after just 31 seconds. But Daniel Farke's side had to wait until the second half for the decisive second goal when Solomon's far-post cross picked out James to cushion a neat finish back into the far corner. A seventh win in an unbeaten 11-game league run put Leeds a point ahead of the Blades, while an eighth away defeat of the season dropped Norwich to 12th. The Swans have played Norwich on 62 previous occasions, winning 26, losing 25 with 11 drawn. In last season’s corresponding fixture, the teams played out a 2-2 draw: Turning to tomorrow, I can see nothing other than a home win: 2-0 to the Canaries. Hope I’m wrong
Well I thought we deserved something from the Sheff United match, even when down to 10 men we looked the better side. If they can put another shift in and not get anyone sent off I can see us getting away with a 2 goal defeat.
This is an alarming trend now - even if we play well first half, we probably won't second. Plus our tendencies for mishaps. Home win 2 - 0.
The Swans will be without Harry Darling as he serves the first match of a three-game ban following his red card in midweek, but new signing Hannes Delcroix is available after completing his loan switch from Burnley. Luke Williams' injury-list is shortening with Sam Parker and Josh Ginnelly back in action. Kristian Pedersen and Ollie Cooper are progressing well in their rehabilitations.
Luke Williams: “We have to do much, much better away from home. This will be an atmosphere that makes everyone alive instantly, and it’s about making sure we don’t get negatively affected by it. “For example, when we went there last season, we rose to the atmosphere and the occasion. Everyone rose to it, we felt really positive and we played in a good way. “We used the atmosphere to give us energy and we need to do the same this time, because they are a really good side and, personally for me, one of the most attractive teams to watch. “They have a lot of swagger and a nice style of play so we have to be ready for a really tough test and be brave enough to try and impose ourselves. “We have done it many times this season, but we have been inconsistent and it means this is going to be a big challenge.”
Thomas Bramall will be the man in the middle when the Swans face Norwich City at Carrow Road this afternoon (12.30pm). The Sheffield-based official took charge of his first Championship match in March 2021 and was added to Select Group 2 the following summer. Bramall took charge of the Swans’ defeat at Hull before Christmas. Prior to that he had first overseen a Swans game during the 2022-23 season; a defeat at Blackburn. Bramall has officiated eight matches so far this season, handing out 45 yellow cards and three red cards. This afternoon , he will be joined by Constantine Hatzidakis and Akil Howson. Thomas Kirk will be the fourth official.
