Preview | Swansea City v Bournemouth
Swansea City will look to extend their unbeaten home record and claim a notable scalp in the Championship promotion picture when they host Bournemouth tonight (7.45pm).
The Cherries have lost just twice in the league this season, and have been among the pacesetters from the off having retained a number of players who had them established the club in the Premier League prior to their relegation in July.
They can call on the likes of Dominic Solanke, David Brooks and Junior Stanislas in a potent attacking unit that has racked up 29 goals in just 16 games; a tally only bettered by Blackburn’s 31.
But they face a Swans’ side in good form of their own. They have lost just once at home this term, and have won four and drawn one of their last five at the Liberty, conceding just one goal in that time.
The hosts also have the superior defensive record, having let in a division-low of 10 goals in 16 games, while still offering an attacking threat of their own.
It’s an eagerly-awaited contest and just the sort of test Steve Cooper says his side must relish.
Team news
Defender Ryan Bennett is set to again miss out with the hamstring injury he suffered at Middlesbrough, while Marc Guehi was being assessed after being forced off following a kick to the head against Luton.
Morgan Gibbs-White and George Byers remain on the sidelines.
Pre-match views
Steve Cooper: "They've scored a lot of goals recently. For me, they're the strongest squad - in terms of talent and depth - in the league.
"I'm not surprised at how well they're doing with the amount of good players they have at their availability. They can make loads of changes and they don't lose any strength in the team.
"But we're at home and we want to win.
"We just know that when we come up against them on Tuesday and when we play them again later in the season, it's going to be as tough a game as any.
"But at the end of the day, we need to get excited about these games."
Jason Tindall: “It meant a lot (to get a clean sheet at Barnsley) because we know it’s something we need to do more of.
“We managed to do it and I was really pleased with a clean sheet.
“We want to attack, we want to create chances and score goals – and I do believe we will score goals.
“But we need to tighten up at the back defensively at times.”
Remember the last time?
The Swans had to settle for a point as they ended a four-match losing streak with a tense 0-0 draw against Bournemouth at the Liberty in November 2017.
Wilfried Bony, who captained the Swans for the first time, thought he had struck his first Swans goal since returning to the club only to see his goal ruled out on the stroke of half time.
Aside from that, substitute Leroy Fer went the closest to breaking the deadlock during a closely-fought encounter in SA1, with the Dutchman first being denied from close range by Asmir Begovic before directing his follow up effort wide.
The Swans, who were without Federico Fernandez due to personal reasons, pushed for a winner but they just couldn't find the killer touch.
Prime numbers
4 – Bournemouth are unbeaten in their last four visits to the Liberty Stadium, winning two and drawing two.
50 – Swansea City have a clean sheet success rate of 50 per cent so far this season, recording eight shut-outs from 16 Championship fixtures.
Today’s mascots
Tonight, we welcome our virtual mascots, Skylar Sloan and Milli Jenkins.
Skylar is aged two, comes from Swansea and her favourite player is Andre Ayew.
Milli is aged 10, comes from Neath and plays football for Afan Lido. Milli’s favourite player is Yan Dhanda.
