The Swans are back in league action at the Liberty today incredibly for just the fourth time this year thanks to our FA Cup run and it should be a game that we are looking to achieve maximum points in as struggling Bolton come to town.
Our home form this year has been good with seven points out of nine in the league and two FA Cup (comfortable) wins in the bag as well and we should be looking to continue that this afternoon ahead of some tough games in the remainder of the month that will include trips to Norwich, West Brom and Forest and a home game against Derby with that little matter of a FA Cup quarter final against Man City as well.
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Indeed, a glance at the fixture list will probably suggest this could be the toughest month of the season to date so starting it well with, what should be the easiest of the fixtures, is essential. That is probably also now more essential when you look at the league table that sees us 14th, 3 points above 18th but equally just 3 points away from 10th.
With 44 points on the board we are not about to be sucked into a relegation battle (we are 14 points ahead of Rotherham) but similarly with 9 points between us and the play offs they are looking increasingly unlikely which could leave all the focus this month starting to be the FA Cup and that easy looking game.
A one goal victory today will add some perfect symmetry to our league form this season (13 wins, 13 defeats and a level goal difference) but the Swans will be looking for more against a Bolton side looking destined for League One with just one win in their last five games (4 defeats)
The Swans will still be without captain Leroy Fer for the game whilst Bolton midfielder Jason Lowe will miss out as he begins a two-match ban for picking up 10 yellow cards.
Looking through the odds for this game, it is hard to see full value in some of the odds as the Swans are clear favourites for the game (20/39 compared to Bolton at 11/2) but as ever we try to pick out some value so here we go.
1. Socks is a man on form and now has 15 this season to his credit having scored 9 since the start of the year. Because of that he is just 7/2 to score first today but at odds of 22/1 to score a hat trick against a struggling side, that suggests some value in there somewhere
2. The Swans to win by 3 goals. We have put in some decent home performances of late and are under our longest unbeaten run at home under him (6 games) and that should become seven this afternoon. If you fancy that to be at a canter then the 3 goal margin of victory can be backed at 21/4
3. To win to nil. Clean sheets aren't the norm for the Swans any more (or at least that is how it seems) with just 3 in the 19 games since we won 1-0 at Bolton back in November. However, if you fancy us to win to nil today then at 27/20 you will return something worth having.
The Planet Swans match preview is bought to you in conjunction with the Swans official sponsors BetUK - read their match preview here.