Preview | Oxford United v Swansea City
Swansea City will look to bounce back quickly from the disappointment of defeat to Blackburn when they visit Oxford United in the Carabao Cup this evening (7.45pm).
The Swans suffered a 3-0 defeat against Rovers in their first home Championship fixture of the season, but have a chance to return to winning ways as they travel to face their League One hosts.
Oxford are fresh from picking up their first win of the season against Cambridge at the weekend, and will be looking to create another upset after beating the Swans on their last trip to the Kassam Stadium in the FA Cup in 2016.
But Russell Martin’s side will be determined to get a victory under their belt in a game in which both bosses are expected to make changes.
Team news
Ben Cabango is expected to get some game time under his belt following his return from an ankle injury, while Joe Allen could also be in contention for involvement and a second Swansea debut.
Russell Martin has no fresh injury worries, although midfielder Liam Walsh is a long-term absentee with an Achilles injury.
Pre-match views
Olivier Ntcham: “I think we have to have confidence in every game even if there are things that are not going right at times.
“We have to trust the way we work in every game and training session and put that into the performance.
“Obviously, it is the first game at home, everybody wants us to win in a good manner and sometimes it doesn’t always work out well. It didn’t work the way we wanted it to against Blackburn.
‘We must learn from our mistakes against them and the goals we conceded. We will have to watch the game again and analyse it to then do better in the next game.
“We have a game soon in the cup and in football you never say a game is going to be easy.
“As a player, we all know every game, whether it is playing a team in the league below or above us is going to be tough. So we have to get ourselves ready.”
Karl Robinson: “Some players are going to be given an opportunity and then we’ll take stock from a physical point of view.
“We had a meeting to go through the physical data from Saturday. We look at who is high risk and where do we have cover - just to make sure we protect the players in the positions we don’t have cover.
“You can never say 100 per cent you’re not going to get any kicks, but we feel the preparations will be fine leading up to the game.”
Remember the last time?
Oxford United caused an FA Cup upset as the League Two side dumped the Swans out at the third-round stage in the last meeting between the sides at the Kassam Stadium in January 2016.
The Premier League visitors went ahead after Jefferson Montero finished superbly, following a neat run which saw him latch onto Marvin Emnes' return pass before slotting home after 23 minutes.
But the hosts were level as Liam Sercombe converted his spot-kick just before the break to set up a tense second half.
Oxford were quick out of the blocks and Kemar Roofe rifled home from an angle to send the hosts ahead, before he added a second just before the hour mark.
Bafetimbi Gomis pulled a goal back for the visitors, but it was not enough.
Prime numbers
2 – Two members of the Swansea squad who were involved in the 2016 FA Cup tie remain at the club; skipper Matt Grimes and midfield partner Jay Fulton.
15 – Swansea City have only failed to get past the first-round stage of the Carabao Cup on one occasion in the last 15 seasons, with them skipping the opening round during their seven years in he Premier League.
27 – The two sides have met on 27 occasions stretching back over 56 years. The Swans have won 10 and drawn six of those meetings.