Bournemouth host Swansea at the Vitality Stadium in the opening Fourth Round tie of 2023-24 FA Cup.
Victory would move either Bournemouth or Swansea into the Fifth Round for the first time since the 2020-21 season.
Team News
Marcos Senesi is set to return for Bournemouth after he missed their defeat to Liverpool due to suspension.
Max Aarons (muscle) is ruled out but Milos Kerkez (ankle) is set to return after a few weeks on the sidelines.
Antoine Semenyo’s availability is in question following his return from international duty after Ghana’s shock Group Stage exit at Africa Cup of Nations.
Dango Ouattara (internationnal duty), Darren Randolph (illness), Adam Smith (unspecified), Ryan Fredericks (calf) and Tyler Adams (hamstring) remain absent.
Swansea will be without Jamal Lowe after he suffered a knee injury during their Championship defeat to Southampton last weekend.
Ben Cabango, Liam Walsh (both ankle), Josh Key, Sam Parker (both hamstring), Josh Ginnelly (Achilles) and Azeem Abdulai (unspecified) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Bournemouth host Swansea at the Vitality Stadium in a 7:45pm GMT kick-off on Thursday 25 January, live on S4C in Wales.
Stat Attack
- Bournemouth won their only previous FA Cup meeting against Swansea by a 2-0 result in November 2000.
- Swansea lost their only previous FA Cup visit to Bournemouth which came away at the Cherries in a First Round clash in November 2000 (L1).
- This is the first season where Bournemouth have met Swansea in both major cup competitions in the same campaign, after the Cherries won 3-2 in the League Cup in August 2023.
- Bournemouth are unbeaten in four of their last six home matches against lower-league opposition (W3, D1, L2).
- Swansea have won just one of their last five away FA Cup ties against Premier League opposition (W1, L4).
Prediction
After suffering a ruthless defeat at home to Liverpool last weekend, Bournemouth must reset because they did play well on the attack but just lacked luck in their end product whilst the defence was outclassed with poor marking of all four second-half goals.
Swansea meanwhile have to deliver a huge defensive improvement becuse they were easily outplayed by Southmpton in the first-half, yet they looked much more solid going forward in the second half which is the sort of performance that they must produce if want a result here.
Both teams therefore have to step up their game but if Bournemouth can just sort out their finishing and tighten up at the back, they should really just edge this tie without needing a replay.
Prediction: Bournemouth 2-1 Swansea
Result: Bournemouth 5-0 Swansea
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