Swansea v Ipswich Competition - Sky Bet Championship Venue - Swansea.com Stadium Date - 8 November 2025 Kick off - 3pm Following their disappointing 1-2 away defeat at the hands of Preston, next up for Alan Sheehan’s (sinking?) Swansea squad is the visit of one of the pre-season promotion favourites Ipswich Town. On Wednesday evening, Preston climbed to fourth in the Championship as Thierry Small's stunning goal helped the Lilywhites to a 2-1 victory over the Swans. Small gave Preston an early lead thanks to an unstoppable 30-yard ‘Worldie’ which arrowed into the top corner. The Swans ought to have got themselves back into the contest before Milutin Osmajic doubled Preston's advantage early in the second half. Even then, the Swans did not fold, and eventually found a path to goal when Eom Jisung's shot from the edge of the area nestled in the bottom corner 10 minutes from time. But Preston – one of the surprise packages in the second tier this season – held on to secure a third successive victory which leaves Paul Heckingbottom's team just two points short of the automatic promotion places after 14 league games. The Swans’ third defeat in their past six second-tier outings leaves Alan Sheehan's men 17th, six points adrift of the top six and eight clear of the bottom three. The previous evening, Watford captain Imran Louza scored for the fourth time in as many games as his side frustrated Ipswich to secure a draw at Portman Road. Midfielder Louza slotted home to hand the Hornets an early lead before Jaden Philogene's emphatic finish levelled matters. Ipswich created more opportunities, the best falling to substitute Ivan Azon who headed wide and was then denied by a desperate stop from Watford goalkeeper Egil Selvik. Marcelino Nunez also went close late on, but the visitors – who remain without an away win in the Championship this season – held on for a point. The Swans have played the Tractor Boys on 33 previous occasions, with both sides winning a dozen times, and 9 draws. In the corresponding match the season before last when Cameron Burgess was in the Ipswich side, the team from Suffolk ran out 2-1 winners: Turning to tomorrow, Ipswich, having sold out their initial allocation of 2,000 requested and received a further 400, will be supported by the largest away following so far this season at the Swansea.com Stadium. In many respects, this is a huge match for the Swans and for Alan Sheehan. Victory would reignite hopes of a challenge for (at least) a Play Off spot, whereas defeat would undoubtedly increase the number of calls for Sheehan to be relieved of his duties. Personally, I believe that we have the players to win the game, but it all depends on whether Sheehan selects the right formation and playing style. However, I think that the match will end 1-1
If we get the ball out of our own half and our keeper doesn't have more touches of the ball than all our players combined then a 1-0 pen win to us !
The result is less important than AS' attitude to the team performance. If we win but play the same way we have all season then it's only glossing over the problem. Maybe his impending doom will set him free from whatever shackles he's put on himself this season and we'll see a return to dynamic football.
Great pre match thanks Taff..... ....goals in this game 6 in all ....which way it goes I have no idea.......praying for us and AS it goes our way. Safe journey to all making the long trek to Gods country.
Alan Sheehan will make a late decision on the availability of Zeidane Inoussa after the winger missed the defeat at Preston with a knee issue. Žan Vipotnik played at Deepdale after a quad injury settled down, but Marko Stamenic will be absent as he remains on compassionate leave.
Alan Sheehan: “Ipswich have been picking up form, they are obviously a team that were in the Premier League. “They have invested a lot of money in their team and the manager has brought a lot of success to the football club. They have accumulated a strong squad and you would expect them to be up there, no doubt about it. “You can see the league is quite temperamental at the moment, anyone can beat anyone so it is about being consistent. There are teams you see putting results together back to back, a lot of teams are capable of that and I have no doubt we are one of them. “It’s about being a bit more ruthless and getting into that rhythm of winning games. We are very close but nobody is going to give you anything be that decisions or anything else in your favour. “We have got to do it ourselves and I’ve got no doubt that if we continue to perform and with the fans bringing their positive energy to that then we can make every game in the Championship difficult for our opponents.” Kieran McKenna: “They are a team that play really well from a possession-based point of view and have a great structure with the ball. “We know it’s going to be a tough game, they are a good team and can beat anyone on their day. “We have prepared for them as well as we can in the couple of days we have had but it is about being ready and delivering the best that we can.”
Ed Duckworth is the man in the middle for this afternoon’s contest. This will be the first time Duckworth has taken charge of a Swans game, although he has previously served as fourth official at a game in SA1. Duckworth is in his third season as an EFL referee and so far this season he has handed out 49 yellow cards and one red in 15 games. This will be the third Championshio fixture he has been at the helm for, and he will be assisted by Nigel Lugg and David Harrison, while Richie Watkins will be the fourth official.
Swansea have lost their past two home league games against Ipswich, having lost just one of their first 13 against them between 1947 and 2011 (W7 D5). Jisung Eom’s goal at Preston made him the ninth player to score for the Swans this season, with Žan Vipotnik, Adam Idah, Ronald, Ethan Galbraith, Cameron Burgess, Liam Cullen, Goncalo Franco and Bobby Wales the others to get on the scoresheet.
Nunez should be sent off now ! That intentional hand ball warrants a yellow, and then a second yellow for not retreating 10 yards
0 - 1. Franco lost possession. I can't see us coming back in this one, we've been second best all game.
We concede so easily on times it's school boy stuff, very frustrating indeed. On the back foot again, giving ourselves an uphill struggle already. Franco had no support on that breakaway.....
I am not surprised I have watched the gaffer's body language on the touchline many times, and he looks lost and out of ideas .....
Well I'm going to say it as we're a third of the way through the season... either AS isn't up to the job or the squad's not good enough to compete at this level. There's absolutely no improvement from the beginning of the season. And the ref looks a bit clueless (par for the course in this league).
