Brentford v Swans: The big talking points
Swansea City take on another side who are hungry for victory when they go to Brentford this weekend.
Here all the key discussion points heading into the game.
Capital gains
The Swans head to London this weekend for only the second time this season.
Their last trip to the English capital, at the beginning of September, was for arguably their most memorable game of the season.
Despite losing Courtney Baker-Richardson to an early red card and then falling behind, the Jefferson Montero-inspired Swans fought back to claim a thrilling victory at Millwall.
After three successive defeats, a repeat result in West London would be most welcome.
Bony back
Wilfried Bony should be back in the fold at Brentford having sat out at last Saturday’s trip to Derby County.
The Swans continue to nurse the striker back to full fitness following that long-term lay-off thanks to a ruptured cruciate ligament.
After three substitute appearances so far this season, Bony will be desperate to make an impact soon.
And what a boost it would be for Graham Potter’s team if the Ivorian can rediscover anything close to his best form.
There is some bad news on the injury front, of course, with Daniel James missing because this weekend of a hamstring problem.
Ex-Jack Josh
The Swans will be a reunited with a former player this weekend in the shape of Josh McEachran.
Brendan Rodgers was hugely excited to land the then Chelsea midfielder on a loan deal back in January 2012, the same window in which Gylfi Sigurdsson first joined the Swans.
But while Sigurdsson made an immediate impact, McEachran struggled for minutes having arrived from Chelsea.
He later had loan spells at Middlesbrough, Watford, Wigan and Vitesse Arnhem before joining Brentford on a permanent basis in 2015.
McEachran has since racked up more than 90 appearances for the Bees.
It’s been a while
Shaun MacDonald scored both goals the last time the Swans met Brentford, in a League Cup tie in 2008.
The clubs were last in the same division in 2006-07, when the Swans won both League One encounters 2-0.
In 2005-06, Kenny Jackett’s Swans were beaten 2-1 at Griffin Park on Boxing Day but won the return fixture in March and then beat the Bees in the play-off semi-finals at the end of the season.
In all the Swans have lost just one of their last seven meetings with Brentford.
Who’s marking Maupay?
If Potter’s team are continue the club’s good recent run against Brentford, they will need to stop Neal Maupay.
The Frenchman signed from Saint-Etienne in the summer of 2017 and scored 13 goals last season.
This season, Maupay has clocked up 13 strikes already, making him the Championship’s second highest scorer behind Nottingham Forest frontman Lewis Grabban.
Maupay, 22, is also capable of creating goals for others.
He will have to be watched closely if the Swans are to get a result.
Battle for the ball
The feeling is that Saturday’s game should be easy on the eye.
After all, Brentford have built a reputation in recent times for producing stylish football.
The Swans, meantime, are playing the possession game under Potter.
This weekend’s winners may be the team who look after the ball best.
*Please note, there are currently weekend closures of the A4, in both directions, between Clayponds Avenue and Ealing Road. There is also one lane closed Eastbound between Boston Manor Road and Ealing Road. These closures will affect Saturday's game.
To get to Griffin Park, supporters heading East down the M4 are advised to come off at Junction 3 and use the A312 and A4, bearing in mind there may be more traffic than usual on this route. Those supporters using the North Circular or A4 from the North/Central London should exit at the Chiswick Roundabout and use the South Circular and A315 to approach Griffin Park via the Ealing Round.
