Preview: Swans v Brentford

2nd April
First team

Swansea City will look to get back to winning ways when they host Brentford in the Sky Bet Championship tonight (7.45pm).

It has been a frustrating period for Graham Potter and his side. They performed strongly for spells against Norwich, West Brom, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest, yet have nothing to show for their efforts.

Having controlled possession, the Swans had looked on course for victory at the City Ground when Connor Roberts' deflected a George Byers' volley beyond Costel Pantilimon in the home goal.

However, Swansea - as they had done at West Brom - were undone by set-pieces as headers from corners gave the Reds the three points.

But Potter's men return to the Liberty on a good run of form in SA1. They have lost just one of their last eight on home turf, and that came against all-conquering Manchester City.

They also have a good record against Brentford, winning the last six meetings between the two sides, including the league meeting at Griffin Park and the FA Cup fifth-round meeting between the two sides this term.

Not that the Swans will be taking anything for granted. Thomas Frank's Bees produced a fierce fightback in the first of those encounters, and led at the Liberty just a few weeks ago before Daniel James' star-turn helped alter the course of the contest.

But, having lost five of their last six in the league, Swansea will be desperate to put three points on the board under the Liberty lights.

Team news

Wayne Routledge is available for the Swans having sat out the defeat at Forest. The 34-year-old winger was given time to spend with his family after his wife gave birth to a baby boy on Friday.

Oli McBurnie will be assessed after making his first club appearance in nearly a month at the weekend, but Joe Rodon will not be risked as he builds up his fitness.

Erwin Mulder (broken finger), Leroy Fer (hamstring) and Martin Olsson (Achilles) remain sidelined.

Pre-match views

Graham Potter: "We have had four games and come away with nothing, but the performances have been good, I would say improving.

"So it has been frustrating but you have to stick to the positives, stick to what you have been doing well and keep going."

Oli McBurnie: "The fans have been great for us all season, home and away. We feel we can beat anyone at home with them behind us and we need to pick up as many points as possible.

"We are hurting with the defeat and the manner of it. We know we have to be better in both boxes. We should be killing games off when we have the lead.

"We want to put things right, we have a lot of games and we want to get back out there as soon as possible."

Thomas Frank: "We lost down there and we know they are a very good football side. I think we are two teams in this division who can dominate the ball. So I expect an open game and I hope we can keep what we did in the first half there last time for two halves."

Remember the last time?

You only have to go back a matter of weeks for Brentford's last visit to the Liberty in the last-16 of the FA Cup.

The Bees had the better of the opening period and took a deserved lead when Ollie Watkins finished off a flowing counter-attack and the Swans were up against it.

But they responded superbly after the break and levelled within four minutes of the restart as Bersant Celina's free-kick hit the post and the back of keeper Luke Daniels to find the net.

Then James produced a wonderful solo goal, racing over 80 yards to fire the hosts ahead, and his pace caused more problems when Ezri Konsa was dismissed for bringing the Wales winger down as he threatened to go in on goal.

Celina showed twinkle-toed footwork to add a third, before teeing up George Byers for a fourth to round off the victory.

Prime numbers

3 - Brentford have failed to score in their last three league games. The last time they failed to find the net four times in a row came in League One in September 2010.

8 - The Swans have won their last six in a row against the Bees, dating back to Leon Knight's brace in the League One play-offs in 2006, and are unbeaten in eight games against the team from West London. Can they keep that record going this evening?