Preview: Huddersfield v Swans
Swansea City will look to build on last week’s emphatic win over West Ham when they take on Huddersfield Town at the John Smith’s stadium this afternoon (3pm).
The Swans secured their seventh consecutive home win in all competitions last Saturday, their best run of results on their own patch since the 2004-05 season.
The Hammers success saw the Swans climb out of the relegation zone and up to the 13th position in the Premier League table, although they are a mere three points clear of the bottom three.
And Carlos Carvalhal’s side face another direct rival today as the battle to avoid relegation heats up.
The Swans go in search of a third away league victory of the season, while Huddersfield will look to build on their 4-1 triumph over Bournemouth in their last home league fixture.
The Terriers and Swans both have 30 points on the board, but the hosts start the day two places behind Carvalhal’s side on goal difference.
TEAM NEWS
Aaron Mooy is expected to return to action this afternoon after missing Huddersfield’s last three games with a knee injury.
Alex Pritchard hopes to shake off a dead leg, but Elias Kachunga, Jon Stankovic and Sean Scannell are set to miss out.
The Swans are waiting to see if Leon Britton will be fit to feature after missing training this week with a back problem.
Renato Sanches is hoping to return to action later this month following his hamstring injury, but remains on the sidelines for now alongside Leroy Fer, Wilfried Bony and Angel Rangel.
WHAT THEY SAID
Carlos Carvalhal: ““The quality of our game is progressing, the value of individual players is higher and the value of the collective is higher. We are very competitive now and we feel very strong.”
Huddersfield midfielder Tom Ince: “The Tottenham match (last weekend) was perhaps more of a free game after we had that fantastic result at West Brom the previous week, but the next four games will define our season.”
LAST SIX MEETINGS
14.10.17 Swans 2 Huddersfield 0
1.3.08 Huddersfield 0 Swans 1
16.11.07 Swans 0 Huddersfield 1
30.10.06 Huddersfield 3 Swans 2
23.9.06 Swans 1 Huddersfield 2
24.2.06 Swans 2 Huddersfield 2
PRE-MATCH STATS
22 – This will be Swansea’s 22nd Premier League game played on a Saturday this season, which will be more than any other side.
2 – Jordan Ayew has scored in his last two appearances for Swansea in all competitions – he has never previously scored in three games in a row in English football.
