Preview | Coventry City v Swansea City
Swansea City will look to try and transfer their fine home form into results on their travels when they visit high-flying Coventry City tonight (7.45pm).
The Swans 3-0 victory over Peterborough at the weekend saw them climb to 13th in the table, just four points off the play-off places with a third of the season in the books.
It was also a fourth home league win in a row; a feat the Swans had last managed under Graham Potter in April 2019.
But head coach Russell Martin has been clear that the next step for his side is to start turning strong performances away from home – such as that at Derby – into three-point hauls.
However, Coventry are unbeaten at home in the league this term and currently sit fourth in the table after an excellent start to the campaign.
The Sky Blues – well-drilled and ever improving and evolving under Mark Robins – will be a tough assignment as they look to continue to keep pace with the other play-off hopefuls.
Team news
Swans boss Martin looks set to once again have a fully-fit squad to choose from following the return of midfielder Flynn Downes as a substitute against Peterborough.
It remains to be seen whether the head coach will elect to rotate given this is another three-game week; with a trip to runaway early leaders Bournemouth awaiting Swansea at the weekend.
Pre-match views
Russell Martin: “We know we need to keep driving things on, we are a long way away from where we want to be but we are getting there and improving.
“The point is to keep progressing and learning from where we are at.
“One of the things we want to do is to start picking up some wins away from home, as we have started to do when we’re at home ourselves.
“It won’t be easy, I am not surprised at how well Coventry are doing, I faced them in League One when they were deservedly promoted.
“I have a lot of respect for Mark (Robins) and Adi (Viveash) and the job they have done. It shows the benefit of time and having a clear process and way of working.
“But the challenge for us is to go there and bring a similar identity onto the pitch as we have been doing at home.”
Mark Robins: “We have to look at every game at a time because the league really is tough. We have a really tough week with Swansea and Bristol City, but also then an international break and then the games come thick and fast again.
“No-one gets carried away.
“Let’s take one game at a time. It’s still early days and a lot of really good teams to play, and I mean really good teams.
““But you have seen the league and anyone can beat anyone, and you always have to be right. If you don’t prepare right, are under strength or not concentrated enough you lose the game.”
Remember the last time?
Swansea City remained unbeaten on their travels in the Championship after Andre Ayew’s third goal of the season secured a point at Coventry City in October 2020.
The visitors had fallen behind in Birmingham, with Jordan Shipley finding the net thanks to an excellent finish in the 19th minute.
But the visitors levelled just before the break as Ayew showed all his class to steer home from Jake Bidwell’s pull-back.
They looked the more likely winner during the second half, but could not find the winner that would have given them all three points.
Prime numbers
8 – Swansea’s eight clean sheets this season is the second-best tally in the Championship, behind only leaders Bournemouth (nine).
11 – Joel Piroe (eight goals, three assists) has been directly involved in 11 of Swansea’s 18 Championship goals so far this term.
