Preview | Swansea City v Bournemouth
Swansea City will look to underline their progression under Russell Martin when they host automatic promotion candidates Bournemouth at the Swansea.com Stadium.
The Swans are unbeaten in eight games and have taken 16 points from the last 24 on offer; their best run of the campaign and a sequence that has made them one of the form teams in the Championship.
They welcome a Cherries side who sit second in the table and are closing in on a return to the Premier League with just a few games remaining.
However, Scott Parker’s men are not there yet and cannot afford too many slip ups.
The visitors won the reverse fixture 4-0, although the Swans had by far the better of the opening exchanges, and head coach Martin and his players will be keen to show how far they have come.
Team news
Jamie Paterson is back and in contention to face Bournemouth after sitting out the weekend draw with Middlesbrough.
The midfielder picked up a minor knock, but Swans boss Martin has confirmed he is available.
The Swans have no other injury concerns, while the visitors are waiting on the fitness of midfielder Philip Billing, who was forced off with a back complaint at the weekend.
Pre-match views
Russell Martin: "They've scored a huge goal at the weekend in terms of how late it was and how much it will mean to them, I'm sure that will energise them ready for Tuesday.
"If you look at the squad they've built and the financial power they have, they are a threat. They have a manager who has done it before, a lot of players who have experienced getting promoted and playing in the top league.
“They're athletic, powerful, they can win in different ways and have a real strength at the top end of the pitch and have conceded the fewest goals as well.
"It'll be tough, but it's a great challenge and one to really look forward to.
“All we can ask for the guys is to run as hard as they can for each other and to be really brave with the football. If we do that we have a chance."
Scott Parker: “It will be a tough game for us because they are a good side.
“Swansea have a real identity about them and the way they play. They can stress you.
“Russell Martin has done a very good job there, so it’s a game that will bring many difficulties for us going to their place.
“They want to play in a certain way, they want to dominate possession, and it can stress you and cause you problems.”
Remember the last time?
Swansea City extended their unbeaten home run to six matches after playing out a goalless draw against Championship leaders Bournemouth on the Cherries last visit to the Swansea.com Stadium.
The second-leading scorers in the division, Bournemouth arrived in SA1 with their tally of 29 only bettered by Blackburn Rovers.
However, they were unable to find a way past the stubborn Swans, who maintained their record as boasting the best defence in the Championship.
The visitors, who moved to the summit of the table, had the better chances of the two sides, with David Brooks and Junior Stanislas going closest to scoring.
But the fourth-placed Swans held firm with the clean sheet moving them onto 30 points from 17 games.
Prime numbers
10 – The Swans are winless in 10 games against Bournemouth dating back to a 4-1 win in League One back in October 2007.
31 – Michael Obafemi is proving to be Swansea’s most clinical finisher this season. His 11 goals have come from just 36 shots at a conversion rate of 31 per cent.