Match Day Thread Birmingham City v Swansea City

Birmingham City v Swansea City

Competition - Sky Bet Championship
Venue - St. Andrews
Date - 8 July 2020
Kick off - 18:00

Following their hard fought and ultimately deserved 2-1 win against Sheffield Wednesday, next up for Steve Cooper’s Swansea squad is an away match against Pep Clotet’s Birmingham City.

On Sunday, the Swans recovered from a slow start to beat Sheffield Wednesday and maintain their challenge for a Championship play-off place.

It could have been a different story had Wednesday capitalised on their first-half dominance, exposing the hosts' new-look three-man defence but wasting several chances.

Swansea then converted their first opportunity, Liverpool loanee Rhian Brewster smashing in from close range to score a goal for which the phrase 'against the run of play' could have been invented.

Andre Ayew struck the Swans' second with a penalty after Connor Roberts was wrestled to the ground by Adam Reach, before Atdhe Nuhiu headed in an injury-time consolation goal for Wednesday.

Steve Cooper's side are now eighth in the Championship and back within four points of the play-off places with five matches left this season.

The previous day, Josh Onomah's stoppage-time winner kept Fulham in the hunt for the Championship's automatic promotion places as they squeezed past a resolute Birmingham City at Craven Cottage.

Onomah swept home from 12 yards in the fifth minute of added time to reward a late Fulham flourish as the Cottagers moved back to within four points of second-placed West Bromwich Albion.

Scott Parker's side, without suspended 23-goal top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic, had looked set to register a blank for the third time in four games since the Championship's resumption on 20 June.

It took them more than 85 minutes to truly threaten Blues keeper Lee Camp, who then produced fine saves to deny Joe Bryan, Bobby Decordova-Reid and Onomah before the latter's decisive strike.

Blues had created the better chances to that point and teenager Jude Bellingham, reportedly Borussia Dortmund-bound this summer, could have had a hat-trick in the first 15 minutes.

The 17-year-old fluffed his first opening and was later denied by Cottagers keeper Marek Rodak and the woodwork as Fulham escaped unpunished for a string of sloppy early defensive errors.

Turning to Wednesday evening, the Swans will be hoping that Brum’s mid-table security means that they will have little to play for, but I expect Pep Clotet to have his team fired up against his former employers.

With Leeds up next after the Birmingham game, the Swans will really need to pick up all 3 points at St. Andrews to maintain their outside hopes of making the play offs.

I think that the Swans will return to South Wales with a point in a 2-2 draw

 

Excellent write up Taff.
Thanks.

1-1

 

Another must win and I think we will! 2-1 to the Swans

 

2-1. 1-1 1-2. 3-3. 2-3. 3-1. 1-3. 2-2. 0-2. 1-0. 4-4. 5-5. Could be a good game.

 

Sounds like more in expectation though

 

If clueless has his usual influence we will be disappointed as they are a physical team and we are not. Tactically we are usually inept but perhaps the thought 5hat we could at least reach the play offs might get th3 players interested from the kick off....a two nil win to us...

 

They're a low scoring team so hopefully the defence will hold out and we go on and pinch the win 0-1

 

0-0 all over it.

 

They've score 51 goals this season.
We've scored 52.

 

Anyone else feel that we are close to a play off place despite our manager and not because of him? Feels a bit like Paulo’s time to me!

 

yes low scoring hence my prediction "we'll pinch it"

 

My feelings exactly

 

If it does then be thankful that Monks not in the squad

 

That frightens me.

Sorry.


Edit.....8/1 top 6 finish
40/1 promotion.

Double edit.....which can't be right

Ladbrokes giving 1/2 top six finish lol.

 

I’m going for a though fought draw game 1-1

 

Cardiff 2-3 down at home to Blackburn:

Third goal

“A loose square pass from Leandro Bacuna goes straight to Adam Armstrong.

The Blackburn forward is five yards in front of the centre-circle in the Cardiff half and spots keeper Alex Smithies off his line.

He shoots first time and perfectly guides it into the empty net.

Che Adams scored a similar strike for Southampton against Man City at the weekend. This one was from further out, and arguably better.”

 

Game over - Cardiff lost

 

Very charitable of them

 

What a shame...now we need a win tomorrow though

 

They’ve got Fulham up next, then Derby