Swansea v Cheltenham - Match Preview

It seems so much longer than twelve months ago that we played the first competitive game at the Liberty Stadium. The scousers from Tranmere were the visitors that day as we won out victors with a goal from Bayo. This time round expectation is much higher with the majority of Swans fans expecting to see a home victory tomorrow with a large number expecting that to be by a couple of goals or more. The pain of the play off final defeat is still there but a flying start to the season that could easily be put behind us. I think we do need to start well and this is the perfect opportunity to do that.

You can just about predict the Swansea line up for the game. With suspensions for Lee Trundle and Alan Tate following their Mill Stad celebrations in April, the Swans will almost certainly include new signings Amankwaah, Pratley and Butler as well as Andy Robinson on the right wing. Leon Britton has only just returned to fitness and therefore will probably start on the bench alongside Oakes, Austin and a couple of others. The inform partnership of Rory Fallon and Leon Knight will lead the front line.

Cheltenham start the season as one of the favourites for the drop and arrive at the Liberty Stadium with an injury cloud above them. They have been robbed of the services of Townsend, Bell and Spencer for the season opener. More positive news for the side is that Steven Gillespie and Brian Wilson should feature.

Being the first game of the season there are no track records for either side to go by. However, a look at meetings between the two sides shows a statistic that in nine previous meetings between the two sides, we are yet to be beaten having won 3 and drawn 6. Although all 3 of those wins were at Whaddon Road with the four meetings in Swansea all ending in a draw

The bookies are in little doubt that we will see a home win tomorrow. Bet365 offer 8/15 on a Swans victory, 11/4 the draw and Cheltenham available at a whopping 9/2. And for those that remember Leeds in 1981, you can get 66/1 on a 5-1 victory for the Swans.

If you like to back the first man to score then perversely Bet365 make Lee Trundle favourite at 3/1 despite his suspension with Knight available at 7/2 with Robinson at Fallon at 9/2 each. Tellingly Shaun MacDonald is offered at shorter odds then any named Cheltenham player to score first!

Personally I quite fancy the Fallon 1st goal, Swans 3-0 double which can be backed at 40/1.

Activity has been brisk in the prediction league ahead of this game. At the time of writing there have been over 140 predictions entered with all but one saying that the Swans will not be beaten and indeed the vast majority saying that it will be a Swans victory. More than one in two people believe that Leon Knight will notch our first goal of the season.

Predictions for the Swans next match are as follows. You can still enter the prediction league by clicking here. A Swans shirt is up for grabs for this season's winner

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I really cannot see beyond a Swans win for this game. With respect to Cheltenham I don't think they have anywhere near the strength that we have and I would be disappointed with anything less than three points from this fixture.