There are easier places to go on a Tuesday night than St Mary’s, but Swansea City should make this trip with confidence rather than trepidation. Southampton might have one of the strongest squads in the Championship, and they have certainly shown they can score goals, but their opening weeks have also shown us something else.
They can be got at.
And this Swansea side should believe they can do exactly that. Let’s not kid ourselves, Southampton have some serious Championship quality. Cyle Larin leads the line, Finn Azaz provides creativity behind him and Leo Scienza offers another attacking threat. James Ward-Prowse is now back where it all started after returning to Southampton, while former Swansea midfielder Flynn Downes gives them bite in the middle. There are plenty of names there that most Championship managers would happily take.
Their two home league games demonstrate what they can do. Southampton beat Stoke City 3-1 before putting five past Millwall in a 5-1 victory. Eight goals in two home matches gets your attention. But we shouldn’t allow those results to disguise the other side of Southampton’s start.
There is vulnerability. Saints arrive back at St Mary’s after consecutive 1-1 draws away from home against Birmingham City and Lincoln City. More importantly, they led both games. Against Lincoln on Saturday they were actually second best for much of the opening half before a superb Welington strike put them ahead. They improved after the break and Scienza remarkably hit both posts with the same effort, but instead of killing the game Southampton retreated and Lincoln eventually equalised in the 87th minute.
That didn’t go down particularly well with Flynn Downes.The former Swan who is making his own history from the encounter at the Swansea. Com last season admitted afterwards that he was furious - and said Southampton simply have to start seeing these games out. From a Swansea perspective, that’s interesting. Get through Southampton’s good periods, stay in the game and there may be an opportunity as the night develops.
One man Swansea supporters certainly won’t need introducing to is James Ward-Prowse. The midfielder recently returned to Southampton and made his first start since coming home in Saturday’s draw at Lincoln. His set-piece delivery alone means Swansea cannot afford to concede cheap free-kicks around their own penalty area. Put Ward-Prowse over a dead ball anywhere within striking distance and you’re asking for trouble.
Alongside him is another very familiar face.
Flynn Downes (above) spent the 2021-22 season with Swansea before his move to West Ham, and he’ll now line up against his former club wearing Southampton colours. He’s exactly the type of player Swansea cannot allow to dictate the tempo. He is volatile, and will assault players if he thinks he can get away with it. He displayed this last season in Swansea last April. We reported on that game and Downes was exceptionally lucky to get away without a red card. In fact the Swans were well on the right side of winning that game before appalling refereeing decisions by Oliver Langford changed the direction of the game.The Swans haven’t beaten the Saints for nine games, the last time in 2017. Some while ago.
Some will think this game is one too far with Burnley coming up this Saturday at the Swansea. Com. The Swans have kept clean sheets and earned eight points from twelve and come this Saturday will have played five games in two calendar weeks. No losses to date, but this is the toughest test tomorrow, and yes we say that a lot. Wrexham disappointed on Tuesday, they won’t get what they want this season with old man tactics from Phil Parkinson, their performances already display that. The Swans though will try and win this fixture, that's the difference. Southampton will be bright and they will be favourites to win this game.
However, this is where tomorrow night becomes fascinating. Swansea have built their excellent start on defensive organisation. Saturday’s goalless draw against Wrexham brought a fourth clean sheet in five Championship matches and maintained the Swans’ unbeaten league start.That’s some foundation to take to St Mary’s. Southampton will expect to have plenty of the football. They’ll expect Swansea to defend and they’ll expect their quality eventually to tell. The important thing for the Swans is what happens when Southampton lose possession.
Lincoln demonstrated on Saturday that Saints don’t particularly enjoy games becoming uncomfortable. The Imps caused Southampton problems by being direct, physical and refusing to allow them to settle. Swansea will go about it differently, but the principle remains the same. Don’t admire them and don’t allow the names on the Southampton teamsheet to dictate how the game is approached. When the opportunity comes to play, play.
⚽️ Players to watch.
Cyle Larin will require attention. The Canadian international gives Southampton a focal point and he’s surrounded by players capable of finding him quickly. But Swansea’s defensive record means there’s no reason for our back line to arrive fearing anyone. Four clean sheets from the opening five Championship fixtures tells its own story. Southampton will unquestionably provide the sternest examination of that record so far. Leon Scienza is another active problem for the Swans as is the aforementioned Downes, it’s a game of great interest even for the neutral. We will have a full Swans report in the morning plus more from Rhys Clayton on the game.