Swansea City take on Birmingham City tomorrow evening at the swansea.com stadium (5:30pm) and there seems to be a lot riding on this game. The Blues head coach, Chris Davies is having a torrid time trying to get results despite beating Coventry City last time out in the league.

It’s been the same old story, albeit off and on for Davies this season. The fans expectations are to be in and around the play offs, the reality being that isn’t happening with the Blues back in the Championship. No matter which way you look at it Birmingham City are seriously out of sync with their expectations. Talking pre match Davies was seemingly upbeat, that defeat of Coventry City and then knocking Cambridge United out of the FA Cup has lifted his spirits at least. “Training has been very good, and a couple of wins makes a big difference to everybody’s mood and energy levels. I can feel a group that is more refreshed, energised, so I think we are in a really good position. We’ve gone away, we’ve got a good win in the cup away from home, and that was a good feeling for us. It may just be the FA Cup but it’s still a win on the road and hopefully that will bode well for us. From our point of view, we need to show all the ingredients we’ve shown in the last two matches, away from just football. The spirit, the togetherness, the determination - all the qualities you need to win football matches. Away from home, if you’re talking about some of the qualities you need – determination, resilience, that feeling that you’re a team that’s together – they are the things that are going to win you the games and hopefully that’s something we can really build on now.”

That’s positive but the fans won’t settle for that as their own American investment team strive for a quick promotion to the Premier League. A defeat tomorrow could push Davies much closer to the revolving door that managers face mostly around this time of the season. Nearly a quarter of the positions taken by managers of the ninety two clubs for the 2025/26 season have been vacated already. So much so now managers are being recruited say on a three year contract and having six month or a year pay off clause included by their employers.

Chris Davies last ten games.

It isn’t a good look and the 1-0 defeat at St Andrews back in September was frustrating for Swans fans. It was another last seconds of the game capitulation by Swansea City. A ninety fourth minute header by Lyndon Dykes, pictured below (now on loan at Charlton) giving the Blues the points. That continues to happen under Vitor Matos. The basics are that Swansea City haven't scored more than two goals in the Championship in any one game this season. That means the team are constantly under pressure, be that trying to win or draw a game. They never score sufficient goals to be relatively assured they may secure the points. Birmingham City will be aware of this as much as they were in that win in September. Again, Davies was under pressure before that game to change the Blues results.

To some Wrexham and Birmingham City are another example of attempts to buy success which hasn't worked in the Championship. This hasn’t affected the Blues faithful who have attendances in and around 26-27,000 at home this season. They are seeing a better brand of football and most have bought into the dream. Unfortunately they are witnessing at times a form of football that is mocked even by their own fans. At Watford the chant of 'sideways and backwards, everywhere we go' rang out as they were dismantled by the Hornets on New Years Day. Tom Ince scoring a hat trick ! Davies has been in numerous positions this season responding to the rumours of his potential sacking. Reports suggesting the club have drawn up a list of replacements as recent as last week.

Thats the demand for instant success at nearly every club these days.

Lyndon Dykes we have covered but Keshi Andrews has left the club, some will recall the links between him and the Swans over the past few seasons. It seems his injury record has determined his contract being cancelled. Jay Stansfield, Jack Robinson, Ethan Laird, Demarai Gray, Alex Cochrane and Lee Buchanan are all definitely out for this game. Osayi-Samuel Has been on international duty for Nigeria at AFCON but they were knocked out in the semi final this week so he will be back in the frame. Scott Wright and Phil Neumann could feature.

That’s the plight of the Swans opposition for tomorrow night. Later we have an exclusive interview with a Swans ‘legend’ on Lawrence Vigouroux. Just as you like it.

Dykes photo license not found