Preview | Swansea City v Brentford
Swansea City return to the Liberty Stadium looking to get back to the sort of form that has made the ground a fortress for them for much of 2019.
Brentford are the visitors to SA1 on the back of a come-from-behind win over Millwall at the weekend, while the Swans secured a draw and retained their unbeaten away record at Barnsley.
Having gone eight-and-a-half months without a home league defeat, the Swans have now lost two of their last three at the Liberty.
The draw against Reading means they are three games without a win at the Liberty, and they will be desperate to return to winning ways in front of the Jack Army.
History is on the Swans’ side as they have won their last five league games against Brentford, while the Bees have won just once in their last 18 league visits to Swansea.
The hosts also emerged victorious in all three games against the west London club last term, scoring 10 goals and conceding just three across the Championship and FA Cup fixtures.
But Brentford have a deserved reputation for a positive, attractive style of play and have added a solidity without the ball that sees them boast one of the best defensive records in the division.
Team news
Swansea are waiting on the fitness of centre-half Joe Rodon as he looks to shake off an ankle knock.
The centre-half was forced off during the draw with Barnsley, and was rated “touch and go” to face the Bees by head coach Steve Cooper at his pre-match press conference.
Ben Wilmot or Ben Cabango could come in if the Wales international is ruled out, while Aldo Kalulu remains sidelined by his own ankle problem.
Pre-match views
Steve Cooper: “We definitely want to get back to firing at the Liberty.
“Home is where you want to play first and foremost. The last few results have not gone as we would have liked, and it’s disappointing, but it’s not something we can dwell on too much.
“You have to look forward to the next one, and we are.
“We are facing a good team who had a good comeback on the weekend, so it promises to be a good game.”
Ollie Watkins: “We got three points at the weekend and now we have another game just a couple of days later.
“Before the international break I felt we had been unlucky, so hopefully we can build on this and go on a run.
“It’s always a good game when we play Swansea, like us they liked to play football and there will be goals, although hopefully not for them.
Remember the last time?
Nathan Dyer’s first league goals for Swansea City in nearly five years set Graham Potter’s men on the way to an emphatic win over Brentford.
The Swans ended a run of four-straight defeats in all competitions with Dyer netting twice in the opening half, having last scored for the club in a league fixture against West Brom in August 2014.
Daniel James made the game safe with 12 minutes remaining to continue an excellent run of form at the Liberty.
Dyer had opened scoring inside a minute, following up after James’ pace had caused chaos in the Bees’ defence.
The winger went on to capitalise on Kristoffer Nordfeldt’s quick-thinking to slot home the second, with James then prodding home a loose ball last on to seal it.
Prime numbers
3 – Swansea have gone three home games without a win for the first time since May 2018.
5 – Brentford have won just five of their last 31 Championship away games, losing four of their last five.
