Following their much needed win over struggling Norwich next up for Alan Sheehan’s Swansea squad is a mouth watering home last 16 tie in the Carabao cup against Manchester City. Last Saturday, Zan Vipotnik took centre stage for the Swans scoring a goal in each half as they increased the pressure on troubled visitors Norwich City. The Slovenia striker had not found the net in six games for club and country and wasted no time in remedying that, finding the top corner of the Canaries' goal inside six minutes. Norwich came back into the game when Jovo Makama equalised just before the break, forcing the ball over the goal line from Josh Sargent's cut-back. In a second half of few clear-cut chances, it took a special strike from Vipotnik to seal victory as his fierce long-range shot earned the Swans their first win at home in five Championship games. Norwich remain in the relegation zone having now failed to win any of their past seven games, losing the last five in succession, and ramping up the pressure on manager Liam Manning. Unai Emery celebrated three years as Aston Villa manager with a hard-fought victory to end off-colour Manchester City's nine-game unbeaten run. Villa are unrecognisable since the Spaniard took over from Steven Gerrard in 2022 and, after a sticky start this season and shock defeat by Go Ahead Eagles in the Europa League on Thursday, the battling victory over City was their fourth on the bounce in the league. The hosts netted the winner on 19 minutes courtesy of Matty Cash's precise left-foot finish from the edge of the box after a corner, but the visitors were unhappy with the set-piece being awarded, feeling Lucas Digne had fouled Matheus Nunes in the build-up. City had the opportunity to level just two minutes later when Phil Foden found a pass through to the usually-reliable Erling Haaland, but the striker's low shot was smothered by Emiliano Martinez. Since relegation from the Premier League, the Swans have played City on just the one occasion when they unluckily lost 2-3 at home in the Carabao Cup with City seemingly scoring 2 offside goals: VAR was not being used that evening unfortunately for the Swans. Turning to tomorrow evening, whatever starting XI Sheehan selects, City will be strong favourites with or without Haaland who is expected to undergo a fitness test ahead of the game. As for the outcome, I’m going 1-3 to City: hopefully we will not be thumped and the players will be able to travel to Charlton in good spirits
Both driving to and from today’s monthly Board meeting of the local business that I chair, on Greatest Hits Radio’s South Wales hourly news report, the reporter mentioned tonight’s meeting between Wrexham and Cardiff, going onto say that both sets of supporters want bragging rights to be Wales’ number one team ….. on what planet would the winners of tonight’s match be Wales’ number one team? The current League tables and recent records would suggest otherwise. Anyway, I asked AI: here’s AI’s definitive view:
This game scares me. I just don’t want to be humiliated by 7,8,9 goals. All I can see is being 3 down before half time.
We have nothing to lose tonight. Pep will probably play his 3rd team but we must concentrate on our performance. No silly mistakes. No trying too play Pep football we are not good enough. Go out and enjoy the experience. Who knows. We might even fluke a win!!! 2-1 to the Swans
If we play our normal game and try to tippy-tap our way to penalties it'll be embarrassing. At least go out with a bang and have a decent go, with pride. Saying that 0 - 3 - I think Man City will give up trying after the third and pile on the subs.
Brighton loanee Malick Yalcouye will miss his second match in his three-match ban following his red card against Queens Park Rangers. Alan Sheehan expects to otherwise have a full squad to choose from with no injury concerns as they face Manchester City this evening. Pre-match views Alan Sheehan: “It’s a difficult test, but one we are looking forward to. “We’re hoping for a wonderful atmosphere out there and to have a really good night for the football club. “We can take confidence from the last round. It’s hard to beat a Premier League team, and that was an incredible night to be a part of. “The atmosphere and the celebrations between the fans and the players were wonderful. “We have a sell-out crowd and these are the nights you want to bring to the football club. We have won three games to get here and we’ll be trying to win this one.” Pep Guardiola: "It's not my first time, I have played 10 seasons here and I've played many times with Carabao, FA Cups. "Teams from lower divisions we have always taken seriously otherwise we wouldn't have had the success we have had in the past so we prepare the same way. Incredible focus, sometimes even more."
Jarred Gillett is the man in the middle for Swansea City’s Carabao Cup last-16 clash with Manchester City this evening. He made the switch to the EFL in April 2019 and Swansea's away match against Blackburn Rovers on the final day of the 2018-19 season was his first time in charge of a Championship match. The game ended in a 2-2 draw and with a yellow card apiece. He has since taken charge of five further Swans matches: draws against Derby and Huddersfield in 2019, a win at Birmingham in 2020 and a 1-0 defeat at home to Queens Park Rangers in 2021, plus a 5-1 defeat against Fulham in 2022. In 2021, Gillett became the first person outside Britain and Ireland to referee a Premier League match after being promoted to the Select Group 1 of officials in July of last year. In the current campaign, Gillett has handed out 20 yellow cards and one reds in six matches. On Wednesday, he will be assisted by Adrian Holmes and Marc Perry, while Josh Smith will be the fourth official.
