Swansea play their second league match at the stadium in 5 days, as an in-form Colchester side are the visitors tomorrow.
They?ll be hoping to beat their club record of 8 consecutive league wins when they face the league leaders ? they equalled that record on Tuesday night.
Jackett and his side will be hoping to show that their worthy of the top spot by beating a side that has won their last 8 matches which has seen them rise up to 6th place after a poor start.
A victory tomorrow means the Swans will have done the double over the U?s ? having beaten them away in the second match of the season 2-1, with goals from Forbes and Trundle.
Vital Quotes:
Kenny Jackett:
‘We must respect Colchester. Having said that, we should also remember that we’re going pretty well ourselves.
”To have 41 points from 20 matches is terrific. Now the message to the players is to keep it going.”
Colchester manager, Phil Parkinson:
”You don’t get three longer away trips in a week and it really has challenged us,”
”But we’ve turned a few heads with this run and people are saying that maybe Colchester’s challenge in the league can be a sustained one.”
Swansea Team News:
With no new injury concerns since Tuesday?s match, an unchanged side is likely to be named. Robinson should keep his place on the left wing as Kevin McLeod is still out with a groin injury.
Captain Roberto Martinez also returned to the starting line-up in midweek and is likely to keep his place.
Player to watch: Lee Trundle
No goals in two games now for Trunds but I?m sure he?ll be desperately to end that short spell of no goals, as we all know he can create something out of nothing and he could be the player who gets a goal when we really need one.
Colchester Team News:
Parkinson, like Jackett, has no new injury worries and is likely to name an unchanged side to the one that beat Hartlepool on Tuesday night.
Stephen Hunt and Marino Keith both have long-term ankle injuries and remain sidelined.
Colchester?s goals have come from the 6ft 3in striker Chris Iwelumo, who has scored 9 goals in 20 games this season. Kenny Jackett will also know about Jamie Cureton, who he worked with at QPR. He joined Colchester on loan from struggling side Swindon and has scored 4 goals in 4 games. Greg Halford as well ahs scored 7 goals for the U?s, in 20 games.
Player to watch: Chris Iwelumo
The back four will need to keep Iwelumo quiet, the tall 6ft 3in striker has scored 9 goals this season and is forming a good partnership with Cureton.
Match Facts & Stats
Colchester are the most in-form side in the League, winning their last 8 games as they hope to beat the club record against the Swans tomorrow.
Recent results for our opponents include a 5-0 thrashing over Gillingham, 3-2 against Blackpool and Yeovil respectively (all at home).
Out of 15 matches between the two sides at home, the Swans have won 8 with Colchester winning 5. Our last home league victory against Colchester was 26 years ago in Division Three, we won 4-1.
Ref Watch:
Michael Jones (Cheshire)
17 Games
53 Yellows
3 Reds
Match Prediction:
I think it?ll be our toughest home game of the season, playing against a side full of confidence on the back of 8 consecutive victories. I think we?ll get a hard earned point out of the game. 2-2.
December’s Fixtures:
Tues 13th:
Peterborough (h) (LDV)
Sat 17th:
Doncaster (a)
Mon 26th:
Brentford (a) (1pm)
Wed 28th:
Gillingham (h) (7:45pm)
Sat 31st:
Swindon (a) (12:30pm)
