Swansea City take on Rotherham United tonight in a LIVE Sky TV game (8pm) at the Swansea.com stadium. Rotherham are in a relegation dog fight and the Swans are not that far ahead of them. It’s been a tumultuous season for Russell Martin and his players with little going right since the turn of the year.
The Millers haven’t won away from home since November 8th last year when they defeated Sheffield United 1-0. Their last result was a hard fought and impressive 2-1 win against Sunderland. The Swans most certainly have their work cut out. A nervy 2-1 win against Blackpool a few weeks ago wasn’t greeted with the applause a win gets in many quarters. On reflection the only result they can point to of any note at home is the 4-0 demolition of Watford at the end of December.
The first signs ? That away defeat to Oxford United in the league cup
Losing at home to Birmingham City in a seven goal horror show then to Stoke 3-1 signified just how much of a lack of direction the Swans are experiencing on the pitch. Plus the constant changes in personnel, albeit in a small squad doesn’t breed continuity. With the recent changes made it’s anyone’s guess what Russell Martin is thinking, we haven’t bothered to test the water regards tonight’s team selection, but surely Morgan Whittaker will keep his place ? The lack of commitment after the Swans went 1-0 up against Stoke, and then allowing them right back in to the game was inexcusable for the watching crowd last time out. The attendance was far higher than expected, what happens tonight attendance wise is anyone’s guess again.
Russell Martin still has a lot of support for his methods despite a long disappointing run. The current form table has the Swans second bottom with the shockingly bad QPR below them. That’s six games, one win, one draw and four losses coming up with a minus six goal difference. The table below doesn’t make good reading,
There has to be a change of plan, hopefully in fortunes but also the overall strategy tonight. Is it a win at all costs game for Swansea City ? Well, for Russell Martin surely if he wants to stem the flow of discontent against him. The club are now three places further down the league table after Saturdays results, and it’s looking slightly concerning,
Yes eleven points is the difference the Swans are above the drop but tonight has to be fourteen come the end of the game. Not least because Russell Martin needs anything, and desperately something as the supporters grow increasingly restless. A win tonight and the Swans go twelfth again, a loss and the squeaks from a certain air passage could become louder. Team news later.