Preview | Coventry City v Swansea City
Swansea City make the trip to take on Championship leaders Coventry City on Boxing Day as they kick-off a hectic festive schedule (3pm).
The Swans made the journey to face the Sky Blues on the back of three wins from their last four league games, the most recent of which saw them snatch a dramatic 2-1 victory over Wrexham.
They face a Coventry side who hold a six-point lead at the top of the table and are unbeaten on home turf having taken 26 points out of a possible 30 on offer.
Team news
Swansea City head coach Vitor Matos will be without Ricardo Santos for today's trip to Coventry City, but otherwise has a fully-fit squad to select from.
Cape Verde international Santos, who missed the opening months of the season after suffering a knee injury in a pre-season friendly at Cheltenham, has picked up a hip problem and will be unavailable to take on the Sky Blues.
But everyone else, other than Manuel Benson who is away at the African Cup of Nations, is available for selection at the start of a run of four games in nine days
Coventry are without Brandon Thomas-Asante, while defenders Bobby Thomas and Liam Kitching missed the draw with Southampton through an illness which has affected the Sky Blues camp. Wales international Jay Dasilva misses out through suspension after being sent off against Saints.
Pre-match views
Vitor Matos: “They're all hard games in the Championship this season but, of course, Coventry is one of the best teams in the league.
“The numbers speak for themselves in terms of points and in terms of goals scored. They scored 24 goals in open play situations, 20 goals from set-pieces, so they are a really good team in all the moments of the game.
“That's a challenge, but the beauty of football is that in a specific point any team can beat any team and we will try everything we can to to compete in the game.
“We have to always go to compete and we always want to go with the mentality to win, that's the most important thing because that gives us the winning mentality we want to create, and this culture that we want to create."
Frank Lampard: “I always have a little look out for them since those days when I played for Swansea.
"I think it's a good club and obviously they've had a change of manager recently.
"But they always try and play football in these modern years, in the last 10 or so years, they always try to play in the right way. It's a good football club and it will be a tough match."
Meet the officials
Sam Allison is the man in the middle for Swansea City’s Championship clash with Coventry City this afternoon (3pm).
This will be the eighth time that Allison – a former firefighter – has taken charge of a Swans game, and the first time this season.
During the 2024-25 campaign Allison had the whistle for defeats against Middlesbrough and Coventry, and a draw against West Brom.
The man from Chippenham began his journey as a footballer, and was on the books at clubs including Swindon Town, Exeter City, and Bristol City before becoming a referee in non-league in 2011.
He was added to the professional rota in 2020, and impressive performances in the lower leagues saw him promoted to Select Group 2 in the summer of 2023.
Allison will be assisted by Alex James and Carl Fitch-Jackson, while Elliott Swallow is the fourth official.
Remember the last time?
Coventry City 1 Swansea City 2
Swansea City claimed their first away win of the 2024-25 season as first-half goals from Liam Cullen and Ollie Cooper secured victory over Coventry City at the CBS Arena.
The visitors completely dominated the opening exchanges and took a deserved lead through Cullen’s third goal of the season, before Cooper doubled their lead after a driving run from midfield.
Jack Rudoni quickly halved the deficit for the hosts but the Swans kept their resolve and focus – even when the game was briefly stopped during a torrential second-half rainstorm – to make it back-to-back wins in the Championship.
Prime numbers
1 - Swansea have won just one of their past eight away league games played on Boxing Day (D2 L5), losing 5-0 at Southampton in their most recent on the road in 2023.
9 - Coventry are winless in their past nine home league games against Swansea (D5 L4) since a 3-1 victory in the top-flight in October 1981.