Preview | Swansea City v Fulham

29th November
First team
Fulham home preview graphic

Two of the Championship’s top six lock horns at the Liberty Stadium tonight as Swansea City host Fulham (7.45pm).

The sixth-placed Swans and third-placed Cottagers currently each occupy a play-off spot as the season closes in on its halfway point.

Steve Cooper’s side will be looking for a return home to provide some comfort after a difficult sequence of results in SA1.

Having gone 14 Championship games without defeat on home turf, the Swans have won just one of their last six and will be keen to end that run against opponents who are in good form.

Fulham took a little time to adjust to life back in the second tier following relegation from the Premier League, but they have started to find form and consistency of late.

Indeed, Scott Parker’s men have won their last three games in a row and boast the talents of Championship topscorer Aleksandar Mitrovic and playmaker Tom Cairney among their ranks.

It promises to be an entertaining contest under the lights, with head coach Cooper insisting the task of improving home results is one his side must attack head on.

Team news

Huddersfield Mike van der Hoorn

Swansea City are waiting on the fitness of Nathan Dyer, Wayne Routledge and Mike van der Hoorn ahead of the clash with the Cottagers.

Wingers Dyer and Routledge picked up knocks in defeat to Millwall, while van der Hoorn was forced off in the midweek draw at Huddersfield.

Should the Dutchman miss out, youngsters Ben Cabango and Ben Wilmot are likely to continue in defence after impressing against the Terriers.

Joe Rodon and Jordon Garrick remain sidelined, while Aldo Kalulu will feature for the under-23s this weekend as he nears a return to action.

Pre-match views

Fulham Scott Parker

Steve Cooper: “They play good football. they are highest for percentage of possession in the division.

“They are a Premier League squad. They could compete week in, week out in the Premier League, there’s no doubt about that.

“They have massive resource put into their squad compared to others, so I am not surprised they are winning games and playing good football.

“I think it’s expected of them.

“I think they will come here and try to play the way they play so it has got the makings of a really good game.”

Scott Parker: "We know they're a very good side and we know the problems they can cause us. Steve's done a very good job there in a short space of time, so I'm looking forward to the challenge.

"Our main aim and our main focus, like always, is to go to Swansea and try and get a positive result.

“We realise this is a tough match, they've shown that this year with the way they've started this season, they've got positive results and they're right up there.

“This is going to be a tough place for us, but it's one which my team will be fully prepared for and we look to go there and get a positive result."

Remember the last time?

Fulham Jonjo Shelvey

Goals from Jonjo Shelvey and Chico Flores saw the Swans end a run of eight Premier League games without victory at the Liberty in January 2014.

After a goalless first half, the Swans started the second half slowly but the introduction of Nathan Dyer proved a key moment.

The winger wasted no time to tee up Shelvey for the opening goal on the hour mark. The Englishman’s effort striking Steve Sidwell and Brede Hangeland before nestling in the net.

Just 15 minutes later, Fulham’s keeper Maarten Stekelenburg was beaten once again when Flores flicked on Jonathan de Guzman’s free-kick, which resulted in the effort being deflected into the net by Dimitar Berbatov.

Prime numbers

Wayne Routledge Joe Rodon

3 – Swansea City have scored three 90th minute goals so far this season, more than any other Championship club.

5 – Swansea have won five of their last six league meeting against Fulham, the sole defeat coming at the Liberty in May 2013.