Brentford v Swansea City Competition - Sky Bet Championship Venue - Griffin Park Date - 26 December 2019 Kick off - 3 pm Following their deserved 1-0 victory over Luton at Kenilworth Road, next up for Steve Cooper’s Swansea squad is a visit to fellow promotion hopefuls, Brentford, who prevailed 0-3 at the Liberty earlier in the campaign. Swansea City climbed to 7th place in the Championship as Andre Ayew struck a late winner at struggling Luton Town. Despite chances at both ends, an open first half somehow ended goalless. Swansea dominated the second, with Ayew, George Byers and Bersant Celina among those to come close to scoring. But with eight minutes left, Ayew chested in from Jay Fulton's deflected cross to score a fourth goal in his past three outings. This second successive victory lifts Swansea up to seventh place (outside the play-off places and behind Brentford on goal difference only) in the Championship table, while Luton stay 21st, albeit now only one point clear of the relegation zone. Whilst the Swans were beating Luton, Brentford were picking up a creditable point with an away draw at Championship leaders, WBA. The Baggies stretched their unbeaten run to 13 games, but had to settle for a point at The Hawthorns after an enterprising first-half showing by the Bees. The visitors were rewarded when Henrik Dalsgaard put them ahead with a glancing header from Mathias Jensen's corner, but full-back Darnell Furlong equalised in similar fashion in added time. Albion's Jake Livermore and Kyle Edwards forced saves from David Raya after half-time, and 'super-sub' Charlie Austin had a goal ruled out for offside late on, but that was as close as they came to a winner. The Swans have played the Bees on 85 previous occasions, winning 33, losing 30 and drawing 22. In the corresponding fixture last December, the Swans ran out 3-2 victors. Turning to Boxing Day, I’m hoping that the Swans are able to return to South Wales with a point, but I suspect that Brentford will win 3-1. Merry Christmas to all Jacks
they're a different animal this time round from last year but I'm confident that we can get a draw out of this one , 1-1
I think their performance against us at the Liberty earlier this season was the best I've seen. I think they'll beat us again by the odd goal.
Yan Dhanda has signed a two-year contract extension that will keep at Swansea City until the end of June 2022. Dhanda’s previous deal had been due to expire at the end of the season, but he has committed his future to the club for the next two seasons. The 21-year-old midfielder joined the Swans on a free transfer during the summer of 2018 after leaving Liverpool. He made a memorable and immediate impact by scoring the winner at Sheffield United, as he netted just 29 seconds into his senior debut. He has made 15 first-team appearances in total, with nine of them coming this season under head coach Steve Cooper.
Sam Surridge and Ben Cabango return from injury as Swansea City show two changes for their Boxing Day clash with Brentford at Griffin Park. Striker Surridge and defender Cabango missed Saturday’s win at Luton, but have been passed fit to take on the Bees and come in for Borja Baston and Ben Wilmot respectively. Otherwise it is the same side that triumphed at Kenilworth Road, with Freddie Woodman in goal behind a back four of Connor Roberts, Cabango, Mike van der Hoorn and ex-Brentford man Jake Bidwell. Tom Carroll again partners Matt Grimes in midfield, with in-form Andre Ayew, George Byers and Bersant Celina making up a trop ahead of the deep-lying playmakers. Surridge will lead the line for Swansea. Brentford: David Raya, Rico Henry, Ethan Pinnock, Mathias Jensen, Said Benrahma, Ollie Watkins, Kamo Mokotjo, Josh Dasilva, Pontus Jansson (captain), Bryan Mbuemo, Henrick Dalsgaard, Substitutes: Dom Thompson, Christian Norgaard, Joel Valencia, Julian Jeanvier, Luke Daniel, Jan Zamburek, Mads Roerslev. Swansea City: Freddie Woodman; Connor Roberts, Ben Cabango, Mike van der Hoorn, Jake Bidwell; Tom Carroll, Matt Grimes (captain); Andre Ayew, George Byers, Bersant Celina; Sam Surridge. Substitutes: Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Kyle Naughton, Ben Wilmot, Jay Fulton, Barrie McKay, Aldo Kalulu, Borja Baston.
A 6 pointer we are bound to lose, with the form we currently have, our backline is schoolboy material, going for a home win 2-1.............