The Swans take on the best form team in the championship today in Middlesbrough who are outright favourites to take the points. Boro manager Michael Carrick has a seventy percent win rate over his twenty games in charge on Teeside. He does though see this game as a potential banana skin whilst Swans manager Russell Martin has declared his side underdogs today.

Joe Allen is out and Matt Grimes will return to Swansea City’s midfield. He will be accompanied by Jay Fulton with a toss up between Oli Cooper, Luke Cundle, Liam Walsh, Olivier Ntcham and Jamie Paterson for starting berths. The latter is unlikely.

Michael Carrick
I genuinely just enjoy the challenge of us getting better and thriving and improving as a group," he said when asked if he enjoyed chasing Sheffield United. "Gelling together and clicking, becoming better as individuals, becoming better in units and seeing everyone coming to work every day smiling and ready to work hard. And, believe me, they’ve worked hard. This work they’ve really worked hard and it’s great to see. That is purely my motivation, and my satisfaction if you like. It’s seeing them become better players and better people.”

Russell Martin
“We were really energised by the second half at Luton, and the way we have reflected on it and spoken about it as a team, as individuals and as units. We took a lot from that, it was a step in the right direction in terms of the intensity, energy and bravery we showed. So, we need to stay brave, stay positive, and continue to believe in the work we put in. If we do that we will be fine. Sometimes you need a spark or a result that no-one expects. I don’t think many expect us to get a result this weekend, so this is a great test for us and a great game to do it in.”

Team news is in.

Swansea City: Andy Fisher; Ben Cabango, Nathan Wood, Joel Latibeaudiere; Matty Sorinola, Jay Fulton, Matt Grimes (captain), Ryan Manning; Luke Cundle, Ollie Cooper; Joel Piroe.

Substitutes: Andreas Søndergaard, Harry Darling, Olivier Ntcham, Jamie Paterson, Morgan Whittaker, Liam Cullen, Liam Walsh.

Middlesbrough: Zack Steffen; Ryan Giles, Riley McGree, Cameron Archer, Aaron Ramsey, Tommy Smith, Jonny Howson (captain), Paddy McNair, Darragh Lenihan, Chuba Akpom, Hayden Hackney.

Substitutes: Liam Roberts, Alex Mowatt, Daniel Barlaser, Anfernee Dijksteel, Marcus Forss, Marc Bola, Sonny Finch.

Artwork by Swansea Independent

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