Tonights game at the Vitality stadium is another LIVE event on SKY with a 7.45pm kick off time. Conor Hourihane will most certainly feature in a game that could well define the cherries season. A loss could see them move out of the play off picture, if the swans avoid defeat they will go second.

After picking up three points at Kenilworth Road on Saturday with a three minute Connor Hourihane strike - after superb work from Yan Dhanda, the swans travel away once again with a determination and grit that was clearly lacking last season. Cooper’s dogged troops have one goal and that’s Tuesdays game, you won’t hear too much mention of the Welsh derby game on Saturday that could make the countries football history record books. The one man that has endeared himself,to the majority of swans supporters is Conor Hourihane. He is a swans match winner no doubt about it, he proved that again on Saturday and has done so already this loan spell earning the swans numerous points.

It’s been a quandary for Steve Cooper, Hourihane doesn’t offer the gritty determination he requires in midfield all the time, but close watchers of the game will have seen a more ruthless side to his game, especially on Saturday. Luton player Potts found that out in a fifty fifty challenge where the Luton man came off far worse. That type of play is what Hourihane has needed to add to his game since joining the swans. Adding his goals and set piece ability to that makes him a first pick in any Swansea City team.

Hourihane as articulate as ever but with added intensity when he talks, “It’s a massive three points on the road once again,” he said after helping the Swans beat Luton. “The clean sheet is great too — it’s so important because it gives you the platform to win games. Scoring the goal is obviously great for me. I started off on fire, and then went on a dry spell. It was nice to get another one — the gaffer said I was due one, so it was good to find the net again." Hourihane may well be marmite for some swans fans but he is getting the goals that matter, when they matter, and his midfield game defensively is adding to the swans strength in game time. This is another nod in the direction of swans manager Steve Cooper, using the players he has to the better good of the club. No longer shoe horning in players to suit he has a game plan which requires the right players in the right roles.

Yan Dhanda started for the swans on Saturday and caused a decent amount of trouble for the Luton defenders, it was a brave choice for Cooper to make, but it paid off handsomely.

Vital Football are none to happy with AFC Bournemouth this season, “This season, it’s individually talented players being poorly managed by managers out of their depth, appointed by people unable to swim without the life jacket of Eddie Howe keeping them from drowning in their own sea of incompetence. I hate being negative and desperately want to see Jonathon Woodgate and the players go on an amazing run but when the third goal went in, all myself and the Good lady did was, sigh, puff our cheeks and shrug our shoulders. It wasn’t unexpected and hadn’t been for all the second half, it certainly didn’t change our expectations with the subs”

The managers latest : Tuesday match day
Steve Cooper: "We know it's another tough test for us, and another long journey, but this is how it is this season. We won't be using any of that as an excuse, the players have shown their resilience and are giving their all during a challenging period. Bournemouth are a good side, with a well-resourced squad so we know what to expect. But, as always, the focus will be on ourselves and making sure we are ready to go."

Jonathan Woodgate: "We have had a disappointment, we were almost two completely teams in terms of the first half compared to the second half against Barnsley. We have to quickly bounce back. Swansea is another big game. we need to start winning games as soon as possible. "I have to lift the players, but they have to lift themselves too. We will go through the last game and get ready. there are a lot more twists and turns to come, so we won't give in, I can assure you of that."

Swansea Independent assessment
AFC Bournemouth are now onto a third manager (Eddie Howe, Jason Tindall and Jonathan Woodgate) who is completely perplexed by the mental frailties of this set of players as a unit. The majority of these players, can on their day, turn it on. Solanke is a real danger, Jack Wilshere made an initial impact but isn’t getting full game time, so it’s a confident swans that meet the cherries who really only have this week to make a statement on the Championship. They have all the potential and all the tools to play with. But together it just doesn’t click for any prolonged period of time. Swansea City will either meet a deflated AFC Bournemouth after another loss, this time to Barnsley. Or a rejuvenated, last ditch effort to keep the club in touch with the play offs.

Lewis Cook, Adam Smith and David Brooks are definitely out of the game. Diego Rico is fit and Sam Surridge is in contention after a toe injury which will be assessed pre match.

AFC Bournemouth v Swansea City
EFL Championship
Tuesday March 16th 2021
Vitality Stadium
Kick off 7.45pm

Mascots for tonight

LIVE on SKY

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