Preview | Swansea City v Birmingham City
Swansea City go in search of back-to-back victories when they host Birmingham City on Saturday. (3pm)
The Blues are looking to bounce back from midweek defeat to Middlesbrough at St Andrews.
While head coach Russell Martin felt the performance in midweek was mixed, the Swans will be able to take confidence from an utterly dominant first-display as they go into Saturday’s game.
Team news
There are no fresh injury concerns ahead of this match. Martin has the same squad that travelled to Peterborough available though Nathanael Ogbetta is edging closer to a start. Ryan Manning is still serving his ban after being sent off against Fulham in Swansea's last home match.
Pre-match views
Russell Martin:
“Birmingham pose a threat. They have a really clear style and they’re very good at it.
“They have a lot of talent at the top end of the pitch in particular which we need to be aware of, but it’s about us and we’re at home.
“It’s down to us to play the game on our terms and be the team we want to be.
“We have to bring big energy tomorrow. It’s the last game before the international break and we’ve had a long week in terms of travelling but there’s no excuses.
“When the players step on the pitch, we need one last big hit of energy and one big performance and if we do that, we’ll be ok.”
Lee Bowyer:
“Russell has done a good job there.
“He has stuck with his principles, they play out from the back and join their goalkeeper in as part of their defence.
“They go long on the odd occasion but mainly playing out from the back and possession based. They are a good side – I went to the game on Wednesday night it was difficult conditions with the wind and the rain but they still tried to do the right things.
“It will be tough they have good people in the final third so we’ll have to be at it, but when we win the ball there will be opportunities where we can hurt them.
“[The Birmingham City players] are good lads and on the odd occasion where we have put on a performance like [the one against Middlesbrough] the reaction in the next game has always been good. So I’m looking forward to the game, and looking forward to seeing the reaction.”
Remember the last time?
Swansea City suffered frustration in their first home game of the 2020-21 season as they were held to a goalless draw by a dogged Birmingham City side.
The hosts dominated possession and territory for long spells, but found it tough to break down Aitor Karanka’s Blues.
The best chances of the afternoon fell to Morgan Gibbs-White, Ben Cabango and Marc Guehi, with the midfielder firing straight at the ‘keeper and Cabango heading wide from a first-half corner.
Guehi, meanwhile, was denied a late winner as his low strike was parried to safety.
At the other end Freddie Woodman made sharp stops from Jon Toral and Harlee Dean ensured Swans kept their second clean sheet from as many league games to remain unbeaten at the start of the campaign.
The result also stretched the Swans unbeaten streak against Birmingham to seven games – though that record fell when the sides met later in the season.