Numbers game: Swans v Spurs
It’s time to check out the numbers as we look ahead to Swansea City’s Emirates FA Cup quarter-final clash with Tottenham Hotspur at the Liberty Stadium this afternoon (12.30pm).
The Swans are looking to book a place in the last four of the competition for only the third time in their history.
SWANS
2 – Tammy Abraham has two goals in four FA Cup appearances for the Swans. The striker could be key man today with Jordan Ayew suspended and Andre Ayew ineligible.
7 – The Swans head into today’s game having won their last seven home matches in all competitions. That is their best run on their own patch since 2004-05, when Kenny Jackett’s team managed eight straight Vetch Field victories.
54 – Swansea City have never appeared in the FA Cup quarter-finals before. They were known as Swansea Town when they last got this far 54 years ago.
0 – The Swans have never reached the FA Cup final. Their best efforts in the competition were semi-final appearances in 1964 and 1926.
27 – The Swans last beat Tottenham 27 years ago, when Frank Burrows’s team won a League Cup game in September 1991 at Vetch Field 1-0. However, Spurs progressed in the tie after winning the second leg comfortably.
3 – Three former Spurs players could feature for the Swans today: Kyle Naughton, Tom Carroll and Wayne Routledge.
TOTTENHAM
2 – Spurs are aiming to reach the FA Cup semi-finals in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 1981-82 season – they won the competition that year.
13 – Spurs’ Son Heung-Min has had a hand in 13 goals in his last 10 starts in the FA Cup (9 goals, 4 assists).
2 – Spurs, who have already eliminated Newport from the FA Cup this season, could become the first team since Southend United in 1975-76 to overcome two Welsh sides in a single campaign, with the Shrimpers knocking out Cardiff and Swansea.
0 – This is the first ever FA Cup meeting between these sides – but they have faced each other in five League Cup matches.
15 – Spurs are unbeaten in their last 15 games against the Swans in all competitions (W12 D3), drawing at Wembley and winning 2-0 at Liberty Stadium in the Premier League this season.
3 – Three former Swans could be part of the Tottenham side today: Michel Vorm, Ben Davies and Fernando Llorente.
Players with the most… FA Cup goals this season
Swans: Nathan Dyer – 3
Tottenham: Harry Kane – 4
Head-to-head
The Swans and Tottenham have met on 45 occasions since their first encounter back in 1928, when the Welsh club won 4-0. Overall, though, Spurs have 28 victories compared to the Swans’ eight, with nine draws.