Preview: Swans v Crystal Palace
Swansea City welcome Crystal Palace to the Liberty Stadium this afternoon as they play their first game under caretaker manager Leon Britton.
The Swans go into the match off the back of a 3-1 loss to Everton at Goodison Park on Monday, which proved to be the last game of Paul Clement’s reign.
Currently bottom of the Premier League, the Swans are four points from safety having managed only three wins in 18 top-flight games this season.
And they know they will face a big test this afternoon against a Palace side who have turned their fortunes around under new boss Roy Hodgson.
After an awful start to the season, the Eagles have climbed out of the relegation zone and currently sit 14th in the league.
But Britton’s men can take heart from the history books, as they are unbeaten in their previous five meetings with Palace.
Team news
Wilfried Bony has been ruled out of today’s fixture and the Boxing Day clash with Liverpool due to a hamstring injury.
Ki Sung-Yueng could come back into contention after he missed out at Everton with a calf problem, while Leroy Fer hopes to shake off a back complaint.
Britton, meantime, has revealed he is not available to play because of a calf strain.
Palace are set to be without Mamadou Sakho, Damien Delaney and Connor Wickham, while Joel Ward is battling to be fit.
Christian Benteke will miss out through suspension, but Luka Milivojevic is back after a ban.
What they said
Swans caretaker boss Leon Britton: “I believe with the squad of players we have, we can get out of the situation we are in. Palace have shown how quickly fortunes can be turned around in this league and we’re hoping to do the same.”
Palace manager Roy Hodgson: “I’m not going into this game thinking ‘Swansea have beaten us the last three times’ because I wasn't here for any of those games. It’s a vital game and we need points.”
Last six meetings
24.05.15 Crystal Palace 1 Swans 0
28.12.15 Crystal Palace 0 Swans 0
06.02.16 Swans 1 Crystal Palace 1
26.11.16 Swans 5 Crystal Palace 4
03.01.17 Crystal Palace 1 Swans 2
26.08.17 Crystal Palace 0 Swans 2
Pre-match stats
13 – The Swans have a fine recent record against Palace, having lost just one of the two clubs’ last 13 encounters.
5 – The Swans scored five goals in their home game against Palace last season. They have only scored five times in one other Premier League game, against QPR in 2012.
