Steve Copper’s Swansea City look to reinforce their position in the automatic play off positions tonight against a much fancies high flying Brentford side In the championship. Plus, latest Swans transfer news as the window ends on Monday.
It’s another top of the table clash for the swans tonight in a rearranged game after both Swansea and Brentford had FA Cup obligations on the weekend. The swans smashed Nottingham Forest 5-1 whilst Brentford lost at home to Leicester City 3-1. With three games on the way that will most certainly define Steve Cooper’s Immediate plans as he bids to keep the swans in the automatic promotion places. Tonight’s game, then Rotherham away on Saturday with Norwich City to come are the three contests swans fans are getting excited about.
Watford sneaked In to number two spot after a draw with Millwall last night but have played two more games, a swans win and they go two points clear of them with a game in hand.
Cooper was upbeat yesterday anticipating a tough and exciting match. "On their day Brentford can be a good team, but so can we. If you worry too much about the opposition, you are not worrying about yourselves. We respect all our opponents, this league can catch you when you are not looking. So, there will be no difference in approach, we will respect where we think they have strength. But we will also be aware of where we think we can exploit weaknesses.
"We have to focus on what we can control; our performance, our idea of what we think it takes to win the game. It should be a good one. Any game at the Liberty is a good one for us, and there are lots of games that we’ve played and I’ve thought it would be great if the supporters were there. This is another one. We always bear in mind we have to do our best to make them as happy as we can while they are at home. They are who we are doing it for, they are not as fortunate as we are. This is our next chance to put on a good performance to win a game for them, and we are going to go for it.”
Steve Cooper is positive and clear on why Swansea are on the crest of a wave
Building a positive mindset
"There is a real buzz around the training ground. The players and staff are getting on well with each other, but are also very determined and focused to keep striving to improve,” he added. That is really important, and you recognise it when you have that. Everyone is working in the moment, and my job is to make sure we do not take any backwards steps on that or show any complacency. I think that’s what a high-performing culture is. It’s always been our aim to have that, and everyone is enjoying their work at the moment. Long may that continue.”
Captain Matt on Brentford
Goal of the season contender from Saturday Matt Grimes is realistic about tonight.”I don’t think it’s a case of looking at what results there have been before, that’s not going to help anyone once the whistle goes,” he said. They have been in good form, and so have we, but it’s about that focus on what is coming next. I know people might be bored of hearing it, but it is absolutely the case. You can’t think about what has happened, or what might happen. It’s about this one game, anything else can be dealt with after that, because it’s only through focusing on the task right now that you give yourself the best chance to perform. We’re at home, we’ve had a good run here and the way we have kept that going is by taking nothing for granted and making sure we prepare well for every game. This is no different.”
Transfer talk
Joe Lewis has left Swansea City and signed for Torquay United whilst defender Tivonge Rushesha has signed a contract extension through to the end of the 2022-23 season. Paul Arriola has stated he has been in talks with the swans over a move to South Wales and has stated ‘I’m ready to go’ This after the swans said they had not had talks of late with the player. So things are moving ahead and it’s looking like Arriola could arrive next week if everything goes to plan. Of course talking to Swansea City could mean dialogue with the majority owners in the states and not necessarily Steve Cooper and Julian Winter. However Cooper seemed positive about the player when last asked and hasn’t ruled out new players coming in. Finally George Byers has made a temporary move to Portsmouth in search of first team football after his injury.
Jordan Morris can expect to be named in tonight’s squad with Conor Hourihane making his league debut after a promising start on Saturday in the FA Cup. Cooper is expected to go with his back three with wing backs now Ryan Bennett has returned to action. Marc Guehi and Ben Cabango should also start. With Hourihane starting tonight with Matt Grimes and Korey Smith it’s certain Andre Ayew after a decent rest will be selected alongside Jamal Lowe.
Conor Hourihane will start for the swans tonight
Details have been confirmed for Swansea City’s rearranged Championship fixture at Blackburn Rovers. The game had been due to take place on January 19, but a waterlogged pitch led to a postponement. Instead the match will now take place on Tuesday, March 9, with a kick-off time of 6pm.
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