Swansea City will be looking to end their poor run at the Galpharm Stadium tomorrow afternoon when they face 14-placed Huddersfield Town.
The Swans have lost the last 4 games away at the Terriers and haven’t beaten them away since the 1992/93 season. Since then, we’ve conceded 12 goals at Huddersfield and scoring only 4 goals.
Swansea’s last League defeat this season was in fact against Huddersfield at the Liberty Stadium last November so they’ll be trying to avoid them doing the double over us.
With the cup competitions behind them now, Swansea City can now fully concentrate on the remaining 14 League games and getting closer and closer to sealing promotion to the Championship.
A win tomorrow would put us 15 points ahead of Carlisle and 17 ahead of Nottingham Forest as those 2 teams face each other on Monday Night.
Vital Quotes:
Roberto Martinez:
| ‘Our record there is very poor, Something we’ve got to put right. ‘I suppose you could say they are our bogey team, especially after they beat us (1-0) at the Liberty earlier in the season. So if the boys were looking for that extra challenge, here it is.” ‘There is a lot of experience throughout the Huddersfield side. And they showed at the Liberty Stadium how well organised and hard they are to beat. ‘They’ve won their last three games at home without conceding a goal, so we will need to be at our best.” But Roberto has no fears about complacency setting in with 14 league games still to go. ‘The boys have a winning mentality. They didn’t like the taste of defeat at MK Dons on Monday. They want to be winners.” |
Huddersfield boss Andy Ritchie
| ‘Swansea have got danger men all over the pitch; Jason Scotland is scoring goals for them up front, but they have midfielders that will contribute with plenty too, like Andy Robinson and Darren Pratley. ‘I’ve not had that much contact with Roberto Martinez, but we get on. I played against him when he first came over to play for Wigan and he’s smashing young coach who has really made the most of what he has available in his first managerial role. ‘We know what to expect and we shall set ourselves out accordingly, but our focus is on converting the chances that we create. ‘Our players still believe we can make the play-offs, but we all know it’s going to be a tall order.” |
Huddersfield Town Team News:
The Terriers are still not giving up on their outside chance of a play-off place so they know they have to win tomorrow’s game. They currently trail 6th place by 9 points.
Ritchie has no new injury worries but he still has Jon Worthington and striker Danny Cadamarteri out. Defender David Mirfin may return from a back injury.
Player to watch: Robert Page
Former Welsh international signed from Coventry recently and has made a different to their defence. He’s played 8 games and 5 of those the Terriers kept clean sheets.
Swansea City Team News:
Roberto Martinez will be without Marcos Painter as he suffered an injury during the MK Dons game on Monday and will be out for 3 weeks. Kevin Austin is likely to replace him at left back.
Ferrie Bodde and Leon Britton should return despite not featuring on Monday. Paul Anderson is unlikely to be risked so hopefully Tom Butler can shrugg off a knock to play.
The Swans are likely to go 4-4-2 again away from with Scotland and Brandy up top.
Player to watch: Ferrie Bodde
We need him fit tomorrow. It’s obvious how much of an impact he makes when he’s not playing and you can see that we struggle at times with him not in the middle. He’s an excellent play maker and ball winner and he’ll be vital to us getting a good result tomorrow.
Match Facts & Stats
Swansea City are looking for their first win away at Huddersfield in 15 years.
Huddersfield have won 3 in a row at home, all being 1-0 victories.
In the last 6 at home, the Terriers have won 3, lost 2 and drawn 1. Their last game was a 1-0 defeat away at Gillingham.
Ref Watch:
Michael Oliver
07/08 Record:
37 Yellows, 2 Reds, 17 Games.
Match Prediction:
It’s a tough game for the Swans and I think a draw would be a decent result tomorrow. Score draw, 1-1.
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Members League:
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