PREVIEW: Bournemouth v Swans

The Swans make the trip to the Vitality Stadium three points clear of the relegation zone and three points adrift of the Cherries.

 

Bournemouth, meanwhile, seemed to have turned a corner following a difficult first couple of months of 2017.

 

Eddie Howe's side beat West Ham United 3-2 in a thrilling encounter last weekend, building on their hard-earned 1-1 draw at Manchester United a fortnight ago.

 

 

Fernando Llorente and Kyle Naughton are both in contention to face Bournemouth this afternoon after recovering from minor injuries.

 

Martin Olsson is "unlikely" to be available for selection due to an ankle injury, while Paul Clement stating that Stephen Kingsley will come in at left back.

 

Bournemouth will be without defender Tyrone Mings on Saturday, who is due to serve the first game of his five-match suspension following an incident with Man United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic last weekend..

 

Eddie Howe will wait on the fitness of midfielder Harry After (calf) and winger Junior Stanislas (groin).

 

 

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe: "It wasn't so long ago that we played them but they're a very different team now. 

 

"They have the same individuals but they're shaped differently. They're compact, organised, hard to beat and the results have shown that.

 

"Clement's come in with a distinctive style and a tactical shape and that's made a big impact for them, the players look more galvanised and more confident now.

 

"Fernando Llorente is having a good season and is an outlet and Gylfi Sigurdsson scores goals and gets assists, I've always felt they're a good group of players who can do well in this league."

 

Swansea City head coach Paul Clement: "The players know that we have picked up 15 points in nine games since the turn of the year.

 

"We have 10 games to go. If we pick up the same sort of number of points, we will be fine.

 

"There's absolutely no need to panic. We have done really well over the last eight or nine weeks and there's no need to lose confidence because one result didn't go our way.

 

"I don't know exactly what it will take to survive. If you look back at past seasons, you can stay up with 36 points or go down with 42. 

 

"I think the average is somewhere close to 38, but who knows what it will be this year. We just have to get as many points to make sure we don't end up going down with 42."

 

 

 

Swansea 0-3 Bournemouth (December 2016)

 

Bournemouth 3-2 Swansea (March 2016)

 

Swansea 2-2 Bournemouth (November 2015)

 

Swansea 1-2 Bournemouth (April 2008)

 

Bournemouth 1-4 Swansea (October 2007)

 

 

 

8 - Artur Boruc has conceded eight goals from outside the box this season in the Premier League; two more than any other goalkeeper.

 

11 - Gylfi Sigurdsson has assisted the most goals (11) in the Premier League this season.

 

318 - The Icelandic midfielder has also covered more ground (318.2km) than any other player in the top flight.