The big midweek test for Swansea City comes in the shape of automatic promotion favourites Fulham. With plenty of their Premier League big hitters still available it’s going to be an extremely difficult test for the swans, and for Russell Martin’s style of play.
With two games to go until another international break Swansea City face both of those games away within four days. First up under the Craven Cottage lights on the bend of the Thames is Fulham. Having disposed of teams like Stoke, Huddersfield and Birmingham City easily already this season the game is a huge test for the swans. Swansea City’s dominant playing style of ball retention set against Fulham’s quicker build up play - it s a clash of styles that should prove for an exciting game. With Harry Wilson and Aleksandar Mitrović pulling the strings that alone will be one of the hardest strategies for the swans to manage this season so far. Fulham have shown they are very quick when in possession, which was displayed handsomely against Huddersfield Town.
Swans boss Russell Martin isn’t phased by that at all "It will be an interesting match,” said the head coach. "Hopefully we can continue our defensive record, limit them to as little as possible. "But we’re not going there to just do that, we’re going there to impose our own game, and try to play the way we want to play” A slight indication there that defence is on his mind for this game primarily, but we hope he doesn’t make the same mistakes at the back that he did at Luton recently. Taking real confidence from Saturdays win against Huddersfield he said "That’s the next test for this group, trying to do that wherever we go. "It’s going to be interesting.”
With over 1,100 Swansea City fans having already snapped up tickets the game is now open for ‘pay on the day’ which will no doubt encourage many more Jacks to attend the game. "It’s a good stadium, great atmosphere,” said Martin. "So bringing that many away fans doesn’t surprise me. The people travelling with us have been incredible” Swansea City have an extremely large London based support as well and a night out in SW6 never disappoints.
On injuries it is looking like Michael Obafemi will miss the game and Ryan Bennett sounds fifty / fifty. "Ryan Bennett took a knock on Wednesday in a training group whilst we were away in the cup at Brighton which is frustrating and disappointing," Martin said. "He'll be back very soon, I expect him to be back on Wednesday. Michael will take a little bit longer than Benno. He felt a muscle late on at Luton. We have to be careful because of his injury history and lack of pre-season, we have to take that a bit slower than we'd like. "Hopefully he'll be fit for Derby, or if not, the derby against Cardiff.”
Ryan Bennett isn’t certain to play on Wednesday
The new look stadium at Craven Cottage is something Russell Martin is looking forward to as well "It’ll be interesting; there's a new stand there, as well, I haven’t played there since that’s been done, so it should be a really good atmosphere. "It’ll be on TV, as well, which should energise the boys for sure. They’ll really be looking forward to that. "Hopefully we can go out there and show everyone how good we can be.”