Preview | Fulham v Swansea City
Two sides looking to boost their respective promotion aspirations face off tonight as Swansea City take on Fulham at Craven Cottage.
The Swans got back to winning ways against Huddersfield at the weekend, and kept themselves five points off the play-off places with a dozen games of the season remaining.
Fulham currently occupy one of those play-off spots, but Scott Parker’s Cottagers also have their eyes trained upwards as they look to overhaul Leeds and West Brom in the battle for one of the automatic promotion spots.
It means there is plenty at stake in south-west London this evening, and the victor will feel they have claimed an important result in their respective causes.
The reverse fixture at the Liberty was a hard-fought and entertaining encounter, and there is no reason to expect anything different under the lights at Fulham’s famous old home.
Team news
Swansea City have no new injury concerns heading into Wednesday’s clash at Craven Cottage.
Wayne Routledge and Mike van der Hoorn are sidelined by knee injuries, while Nathan Dyer also looks unlikely to be involved.
George Byers is out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury.
Pre-match views
Steve Cooper: “It’s about trying to get that consistency and momentum, and there’s no better time to try and do that than after a win.
“We got that at the weekend, so we need to build on that.
“It’s all to play for isn’t it? We say it every week, anything can happen, particularly in a three-game week where things can all look so different come the end of play on Saturday.
“So, you have to tighten the focus, and give yourself the best opportunity to be ready for the game in front of you.”
Remember the last time?
Jonjo Shelvey came off the bench to score the winner as the Swans moved up to 10th in the Premier League table thanks to a 2-1 win over Fulham on their last visit to Craven Cottage in November 2013.
In a game which really came to life in the second half, an own goal from Aaron Hughes edged the Swans ahead in the 56th minute only for Scott Parker to level eight minutes later.
But Shelvey, on for Nathan Dyer just before the hour mark, claimed all three points for the Swans with a fantastic curling effort that nestled in the top corner with 10 minutes to go.
This was a third league win on their travels for the Swans and a first victory in five games in all competitions.
It also continued their fine form at the London venue, with this a third consecutive victory at Craven Cottage.
Prime numbers
3 – Swansea City have a record of played three, won three from their last trio of visits to Craven Cottage.
4 – Swansea City have won four league games in London since the start of last season, only Bristol City (five) have managed more in that time in the Championship.
