Preview | Swansea City v Hull City
Swansea City host Hull City this afternoon as they seek to bounce back after suffering injury-time defeat to league leaders Sheffield United last time out. (12.30pm kick-off).
Visitors Hull are themselves looking to respond following a 3-0 home defeat to Stoke City in midweek which condemned them to a third-consecutive loss in the Championship.
Interestingly, both the Swans and Hull have played the same three previous opponents (Stoke, Queens Park Rangers and Sheffield United) in their past three games. The Swans have picked up four points in this trio of fixtures while the Tigers are yet to record a point.
And after the frustration of seeing a positive performance against the Blades end without points on the board, Russell Martin's side will be determined to add to their tally today.
TEAM NEWS
Head Martin will have the same players available for Saturday’s Championship meeting with Hull City, but will consider making changes against the Tigers.
The head coach has no new injury concerns following the midweek defeat to Sheffield United, although he admitted he may make alterations to his line-up.
Liam Cullen, Joel Latibeaudiere and Liam Walsh are sidelined by injury, with Cullen and Latibeaudiere due to return after the upcoming international break.
PRE-MATCH VIEWS
Russell Martin:
“I was extremely frustrated on Tuesday, as of course were the players.
“But we need to turn that frustration into energy and bring that into our performance.
“We should have scored more goals than we have this season and we’ve conceded very few chances. Performances eventually turn into results, and we’re talking about performances a lot.
“If we can keep the level of performances we have in the last couple of games – and show more composure than we did in the first half on Tuesday – then we’ll start going in the right direction."
Shota Arveladze:
“I’m not here to point fingers at people. We can’t wait for a reaction. We have to act and not react. We’ve been reacting to our opponents in the last three games.
“It can be being more aggressive, it can be braveness. I don’t want to make excuses, but we have lost more creative players with speed and power, more creativity. At the end of the day, it’s my responsibility and I have to work on it, that’s the way it is.”
REMEMBER THE LAST TIME?
Swansea City could not find the reward for a dominant performance with the ball as they were held to a goalless draw by Hull City at the Swansea.com Stadium in September 2021.
The Swans had the lion’s share of possession, and 16 shots to just three from the Tigers, but they could not break the deadlock.
Matt Grimes went closest as his free-kick was palmed onto the post, while the Swans were also denied what look a cast-iron penalty when Ethan Laird was brought down in the box.
The hosts undoubtedly showed the impact of a couple of weeks of extended time on the training pitch under new head coach Russell Martin, but were disappointed not to take all three points.
PRIME NUMBERS
7 - No one has scored more Championship goals in 2022-23 than Hull’s Óscar Estupiñán. He’s found the back of the net seven times in nine appearances. These goals came in just three games, however, scoring two braces and a hat-trick.
16 – The Tigers have been a familiar foe for the Swans since 2010. They’ve met 16 times with Swansea coming out on top just twice, while five of these contests have ended in draws.
18 – Hull City have conceded more goals than anyone else in the league having let in 18 so far. The Swans have conceded 12 (fewer than 10 other clubs) but have scored seven, whereas the Tigers have bagged 11 so far.
19 – It would be remiss not to mention that famous day in May 2003 ahead of this fixture. It’s been 19 years since James Thomas’ hat-trick and a Lenny Johnrose finished helped Swansea to a vital win over this afternoon’s visitors which retained their Football League place.
