Preview: Swans v Burnley
Swansea City look to continue their climb up the Premier League table when they take on Burnley this afternoon (3pm).
But Carlos Carvalhal’s men know they will face a stern examination against a Clarets side who sit seventh in the division thanks in no small part to an excellent defensive record.
The Swans are in buoyant mood ahead of the game having put together an eight-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
Carvalhal’s much-changed side hammered Notts County 8-1 in the Emirates FA Cup in midweek – the Swans’ biggest win since they demolished Sliema Wanderers way back in 1982.
But as Carvalhal keeps stressing, the Premier League is the top priority, and there is much work to do before the Swans can begin contemplating another season in the top tier.
They have taken 11 points from Carvalhal’s six league games at the helm to move from the bottom of the table to 17th place.
But they are desperate to put another result on the board against a Burnley side who are notoriously hard to beat.
Sean Dyche’s team have not won in 10 matches, but they are enjoying a fine season nevertheless.
Team news
The Swans are set to include new signings Andre Ayew and Andy King in their squad for the first time.
Ayew has recovered from a hamstring problem, while King is available to Carvalhal having been ineligible for the games against Leicester and Notts County.
But the Swans will again be without Leon Britton, Angel Rangel, Renato Sanches, Wilfried Bony and Leroy Fer.
Burnley are without keeper Tom Heaton, right-back Phil Bardsley and central defender James Tarkowski.
A lengthy injury list also features midfielders Dean Marney, Robbie Brady and Steven Defour plus forwards Jon Walters and Chris Wood.
What they said
Carlos Carvalhal: “There is no good time to play against Burnley. They are very organised, very solid and very compact. They can also dangerous going forward.”
Burnley’s former Swan Jack Cork: “The last three games Swansea have had, they’ve got seven points out of nine and six from teams in the top six, so it’s not going to be an easy game for us. I know from being there that when the club is in a good period like this they can get a good atmosphere and the players will be right up for it.”
Last six meetings
18.11.17 Burnley 2 Swans 0
4.3.17 Swans 3 Burnley 2
13.8.16 Burnley 0 Swans 1
28.2.15 Burnley 0 Swans 1
23.8.14 Swans 1 Burnley 0
16.4.11 Burnley 2 Swans 1
Pre-match stats
8 – The Swans go into this fixture having put together an eight-game unbeaten run in all competitions, their longest sequence without defeat since the 2009-10 Championship campaign under Paulo Sousa.
4 – The Swans have won four of their five Premier League meetings with Burnley, with their first defeat coming at Turf Moor in November.
