Swansea City v Blackburn Rovers Competition - Sky Bet Championship Venue - Liberty Stadium Kick off - 19.45 Date - 11 December 2019 Following their woeful performance away at Championship leaders West Brom where they were thrashed 5-1, next up for Steve Cooper’s Swansea squad is a home fixture against Blackburn Rovers. At the Hawthorns, West Bromwich Albion registered a sixth successive win as they reclaimed top spot in the Championship from Leeds United by brushing aside an increasingly hapless looking Swansea City. Hapless is also starting to look like the best adjective to describe Steve Cooper who after winning Manager of the Month for August - beginners luck? - is looking bewildered on the touchline, and not knowing what to do. Indeed, some of his team selections and substitutions almost beggar belief..... Anyway, last Sunday Matheus Pereira, on loan from Sporting Lisbon, was the architect of Albion's victory, scoring one goal and setting up the other four for Semi Ajayi, Hal Robson-Kanu, Matt Phillips and Kyle Edwards. Sam Surridge had bundled Swansea back into the game after Albion had opened up a two-goal lead, but the Swans, who slip to 11th, had no answer to Pereira's brilliance. Freddie Woodman made several saves to prevent the margin of victory being even greater as Swansea saw their unbeaten away record - the final one remaining in the Championship - emphatically ended. The day before, Adam Armstrong scored the only goal of the game as Blackburn Rovers made it four straight wins with victory against a lifeless Derby County side. Armstrong, who was denied by Rams goalkeeper Ben Hamer just before the break, finally put the hosts ahead with a fine shot from the edge of the area. The former Newcastle forward almost added a late second, only to see his shot deflected over, and while the Rams then pressed for an equaliser, Rovers held on. Wayne Rooney, England's all-time top scorer, was again on the Derby bench as coach but could only watch on as the Rams struggled in attack, with their only shot on goal coming in the 94th minute. Christian Walton's injury-time save from Jack Marriott ensured maximum points for Tony Mowbray's Rovers, making it 14 from a possible 18 in a six-match unbeaten run at home dating back to 1 October. The defeat was Derby's fifth in a row away from home and leaves Phillip Cocu's side winless on their Championship travels since the opening weekend of the season. The Swans have played Blackburn on 41 previous occasions, winning 14, losing 22 and drawing 5. In last season’s corresponding fixture, the Swans ran out 3-1 winners. Turning to Wednesday evening, Cooper has to turn it around and turn it around quickly before the rot truly sets in. A demonstration of grit and determination would be to drop his skipper - Matt Grimes - but does he (Cooper) have the balls to do it? Given the current form of both sides, my head can see nothing other than a Rovers win, but my heart says 1-1
Will probably go to this one, so expecting it to be the start of the revival, a sparkling performance, 3-0 up at half-time and going on to win 4-0.
1-1 we're playing well moving the ball and stretching the play but a cheap goal to concede, We dominanted the 1st half but failed to put our chances away .30 minutes to go
Well we weathered the storm and a cracking free kick by Kees de Boer gave the Swans 3 points right at the death .
Swansea 1- 2 Blackburn. Wondering where our next win is coming from. We'll need to score 3 to win a game thanks to our shocking defensive errors.
We haven’t got a hope in hell. Manager had lost the plot I’m afraid so I’m going for a 0-2. Thank **** we’re not playing one of the top teams
Ben Cabango is handed his full league debut while Tom Carroll makes his first Championship start at the Liberty in 14 months as part of four changes for Swansea City's clash with Blackburn. Cabango, who has been hugely impressive when called upon this term, comes in for Ben Wilmot to partner Mike van der Hoorn at the heart of the Swans defence. The other change at the back sees Jake Bidwell restored at left-back in place of Kyle Naughton. Carroll - who last started a home league game for the Swans against Rovers in October 2018 - comes in ahead of Jay Fulton in midfield, while Bersant Celina is preferred to Kristoffer Peterson on the left wing. Freddie Woodman is in goal with the back four of Connor Roberts, van der Hoorn, Cabango and Bidwell. Carroll and captain Matt Grimes are paired together in midfield, with George Byers taking up the number 10 role. Andre Ayew and Celina are out wide, with Sam Surridge leading the line. Blackburn Rovers: Christian Walton, Ryan Nyambe, Adam Armstrong, Joe Rothwell, Danny Graham, Stewart Downing, Bradley Dack, Tosin Aderabioyo, Darragh, Lenihan (captain), Corry Evans, Lewis Travis. Subs: Tayson Leutwiler, Bradley Johnson, Sam Gallagher, Ben Brereton, Lewis Holtby, Elliott Bennett, John Buckley. Swansea City: Freddie Woodman; Connor Roberts, Mike van der Hoorn, Ben Cabango, Jake Bidwell; Tom Carroll, Matt Grimes (captain); Andre Ayew, George Byers, Bersant Celina; Sam Surridge. Subs: Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Kyle Naughton, Ben Wilmot, Jay Fulton, Barrie McKay, Aldo Kalulu, Borja Baston.