Swansea City welcome promotion-chasing Blackburn Rovers to Liberty Stadium in the stand-out tie from Saturday’s Championship fixtures.
Victory would see Swansea improve to 16th if Bristol City and Hull both fail to win in mid-afternoon, whereas Blackburn will stay second with a win but can move to within two points of Championship leaders, Fulham who aren’t in action this weekend.
Team News
Kyle Naughton is a doubt for Swansea after limping off in Tuesday’s loss to Luton with a thigh injury.
Nathanael Ogbeta could make his debut for Swansea after signing on Deadline Day from Shrewsbury Town, whilst Jamie Paterson is back following a contract related absence.
Blackburn manager, Tony Mowbray could hand Ryan Hedges his debut after the winger signed for the club last weekend from Aberdeen.
Tyrhys Dolan, Harry Pickering and Reda Khadra (all hamstring) are all nearing first-team returns but at least two are unlikely to be available for selection.
Ben Brereton is set to return from international duty for Chile.
Stat Attack
- Swansea have lost just one of their last seven meetings against Blackburn (W2, D4, L1).
- Blackburn have won just one of their last seven visits to Swansea (W1, D2, L4), plus are yet to win at the Liberty Stadium after four previous visits (D1, L3).
- Both teams have scored in four of their last five Championship meetings.
- Swansea are looking to avoid four consecutive matches without a goal since a run of four games between March – April 2021.
- Blackburn are looking to avoid three consecutive away matches without a goal for the first time since March-June 2020, during which that season was interrupted by a three-month shutdown.
Prediction
Swansea’s biggest issue seems to be their finishing at present because like in their loss at Hull last weekend, they failed to take their chances in midweek against Luton which has to be a huge worry given their relatively safe but precarious league position.
Blackburn meanwhile were frustrated in a scrappy encounter at Luton last weekend but they have done well to scrape four points without Brereton’s presence in their last two matches, which is a real positive in the team’s ability but his return should lift them a notch.
Mowbray’s men however know that Swansea have been their hoodoo away ground so this won’t be any easy task, especially with the Swans struggling for goals so I expect a scrappy game here but if the visitors score first then I can see one team winning here.
Prediction: Swansea 0-1 Blackburn
Result: Swansea 1-0 Blackburn
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