Bournemouth v Swans: The big talking points
Swansea City play their final away game of the season at Bournemouth this weekend.
We look at all the key talking points heading into another crucial Premier League fixture.
Vital at the Vitality
With the end of the season in the sight, the Swans head to the South Coast knowing they have to deliver.
Carlos Carvalhal’s team are just a point above the Premier League relegation places as we head into a long campaign’s final week.
There are three games to come, with Southampton – who are a place below the Swans in 18th – and Stoke – who are 19th – still to visit the Liberty.
The Swans’ home record is good, but they would love to ease some of the pressure on the two SA1 fixtures by getting something at the Vitality Stadium this weekend.
Road rage
It has been a long season for the Swans’ travelling fans.
There have been just two away victories in the Premier League in 2017-18, at Crystal Palace back in August and at Watford courtesy of that last-gasp Luciano Narsingh goal.
Only Stoke, with one win, have had less to shout about on the road in the top flight.
The Swans’ lowest previous tally of away triumphs in a Premier League season is four – the number they got last season as well as in 2015-16 and 2011-12.
It should be said, however, that there have been six away league draws this term.
If Carvalhal’s team could beat Bournemouth, they will have 15 away points this season, which would be one more than last term.
Cherry glee
If the Swans do claim victory on Saturday, then Carvalhal will have achieved a little piece of history.
After all, the Swans have a miserable record against Bournemouth since the Cherries climbed into the Premier League, with two home draws the best they have managed.
There have been three defeats, including on their two previous top-flight visits to Dorset.
The last time the Swans beat Bournemouth was in League One in 2007, when Ferrie Bodde, Dennis Lawrence and Warren Feeney were on target.
Angel Rangel is the one man who played that day who could be involved once more this weekend.
Unhappy Howe
With 38 points on the board, Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe’s team are surely safe from the threat of relegation.
Even so, the manager is not happy.
Bournemouth have lost their last three games, against Liverpool, Manchester United and Southampton, and have won just one of their last 10.
“I have been frustrated in recent weeks that we haven’t had the best run of performances,” Howe said in the wake of last weekend’s 2-1 loss at St Mary’s.
With just one game left this season after the Swans visit, at Burnley on the final day, Howe will be desperate to get a result this weekend.
Reinforcements ready
The Swans were short on defensive resources when they faced Chelsea last weekend with both Federico Fernandez and Kyle Bartley out with knee injuries.
The good news is that Fernandez, who has skippered the team for most of the season, comes back into the fold for this potentially pivotal game.
Not only that, but Luciano Narsingh is available after an ankle problem, while Renato Sanches has got another week of training under his belt after his appearance on the bench last time out.
Carvalhal, therefore, has better options than he did for the Blues defeat.
