Swansea City will be looking to avoid what happened after playing Fulham the last time around, they showed signs of a Cup hangover as we lost 2-0 away at Watford.
We fought hard at Craven Cottage on Tuesday evening but we were unable to hang on to 1-goal lead to set up a tie with Manchester United.
With cup competitions behind us now, it means we can concentrate fully on our remaining 13 League games and meeting our play-off aims.
Martinez is looking for 20 points minimum out of a maximum 39 points available, and on recent form we should reach that amount no problem.
Skipper Garry Monk revealed the squad are looking to prove a point tomorrow afternoon, having lost against Charlton 2-0 on the opening day of the season. We’ve improved immensely since that day though and have gone from strength to strength, while the Addicks are severely struggling at the bottom, 8 points adrift of safety.
Vital Quotes:
Swansea skipper, Garry Monk:
‘Things haven’t gone well for them since then but it’s a chance for us to show how far we’ve come,’ Monk told BBC Sport.
‘Right now we are close to the play-offs and we’ve got to really push on now and get amongst it all.’
Roberto Martinez:
‘Charlton are really fighting for every point and the importance of every point is massive,’
‘It’s going to be a big, big football occasion at the Liberty Stadium.’
Swansea City Team News:
If Garry Monk doesn’t pass a fitness test to play, Martinez is likely to name the same starting 11 that lost 2-1 to Fulham in midweek.
We’re looking low on numbers in midfield as Joe Allen is the latest player to enter the treatment room. He faces 3-4 weeks out with a thigh strain.
Shaun MacDonald has been recalled a few days early from his loan spell at Yeovil and is likely to feature on the bench.
Gorka Pintado could return on Tuesday following a hernia operation and Pratley, Bodde and Painter are all recovering well from their long-term injuries.
Player to watch: Jordi Gomez
In my opinion he won us the game last weekend at home to Doncaster. He passed a fitness test to play and it proved vital to us getting maximum points. He scored a second half brace to give us a 3-1 win after Scotland levelled from the penalty spot.
Those 2 goals see his tally for the season increase to 13 in all competitions. He’s scored 5 in the last 7 games.
Charlton Team News:
Parkinson may decide to name an unchanged side for the third consecutive game with no new injury worries to report.
Deon Burton is available again after serving a one match ban. Despite returning recently from a hip injury, Goalkeeper Nicky Weaver is unlikely to play after having an illness earlier in the week.
Jonathan Fortune (Achilles), Jose Semedo (ankle) and Gray (pelvis) are all sidelined while Zheng Zhi has returned from a foot injury.
Player to watch: Nick Bailey
Midfielder Nick Bailey is the club’s joint scorer along with Gray who have both netted 7 goals this season for the Addicks. Bailey has scored twice in the last 4 games while Gray is looking for his first goal of 2009, his last game was a month ago and he’s currently out injured.
Match Facts & Stats
Head to Head: Swansea wins – 15, Draws – 10, Charlton wins – 16.
Charlton visit the Liberty Stadium for the first time and will be looking for an away win against Swansea for the first time since 1965. We’ve won the last 3 home games against Charlton, in 1973, 1979 and 1984.
Form:
Swansea City are the third most in-form side in the Championship, behind Bristol City and Doncaster.
We’ve averaged just over 2 points a game in the last 8, winning 5, drawing 2 and losing 1.
Charlton have picked up 7 points in the last 8 games. Their away form isn’t bad, with just 1 loss in their last 5, with 2 wins and 2 draws.
The Swans are one of the strongest home teams in the League, having not lost a game at the Liberty since November 21st.
We’ve won the last 4 at home, scoring 12 goals and conceding 2.
Ref Watch:
K Stroud
08/09 Stats:
Games: 24
Yellow cards: 84
Red cards: 5
Stroud has refereed us once this season, in the 0-0 draw away at Doncaster.
He averages 3.5 bookings per game.
Match Prediction:
With our recent form at home I can’t see anything but a comfortable win for the Swans. Although Charlton are bottom they’re fighting for everything to avoid relegation but I think we’ll be too strong for them.
Swansea to win 2-0
Next Fixtures:
We travel to Derby on Tuesday night (7:45pm) and we’re away again on Saturday as we face Nottingham Forest (3pm).
