Talking Tactics | Swansea City v Hull City
After late heartbreak against Sheffield United in midweek, attention turns to today's welcome of Hull. Swansea City will look to head into the international break on a high as they take on the Tigers. Here, WhoScored.com preview the lunchtime kick off.
What to expect from Hull
Hull fell to a disappointing 3-0 home defeat to Stoke in midweek to extend their losing streak to three matches. That in itself is now the joint-longest run of its kind in the Championship, and Tigers boss Shota Arveladze will look to make amends when they make the trip to the Swansea.com Stadium for Saturday's early kick off.
Arveladze usually favoured a 4-2-3-1 upon his appointment last season, yet has, like many Championship managers, preferred a three-man backline in the early stages of the 2022-23 campaign.
The change to the system is not having the desired effect, however, at least defensively. Hull have conceded more goals (18) than any other team in England's second tier this term and this means that six of their eight statistically calculated WhoScored.com weaknesses are defensively focused.
That being said, it could be worse for Hull. Goalkeeper Matt Ingram has been the busiest shotstopper in the division having made more saves (42) than any other player in England's second tier this term, so Arveladze has a solid last line of defence to call upon.
Even so, he will know demanding so much of his keeper is not sustainable, and with Hull conceding more shots per game (15.2) than any other Championship team this season, it's no surprise that one of their WhoScored.com weaknesses is 'Stopping opponents from creating chances'.
It's these defensive trends that Swansea will seek to capitalise on in order to get back to winning ways ahead of the international break.
The Swans were undone by another late goal in midweek as they fell to a 1-0 loss to league leaders Sheffield United, and this area is one Russell Martin and his players know needs to be improved upon if they are to progress up the table.
And they will have to beware a red-hot marksman in the opposition ranks today.
Oscar Estupinan has scored more goals (7) than any other player in the division, and he is a key reason why the Tigers will be a threat today.
Estupinan may have failed to score for three straight games, but he has already shown a habit of scoring goals in bunches and if Swansea are to put three points on the board keeping him quiet will be key.
Key battle
Tuesday's 1-0 loss to the Blades ended Joel Piroe's goal run. The Dutchman had scored three in three prior to the welcome of the league leaders, yet he was unable to add to his record in midweek.
Given Hull's defensive issues, Piroe will certainly hope he can get back among the goals at lunchtime. The 23-year-old has developed a statistically calculated WhoScored.com strength of 'finishing', so if his team-mates can create the chances, then the young forward will fancy his chances of making an impression on the contest.
As such, Jacob Greaves can expect to have his hands full against Swansea today. Greaves is one of four players to have played every minute for Hull in the Championship this season, and the 22-year-old has earned a WhoScored.com rating of 6.82 this term, that the third best for Hull.
Key stat
Not only do Hull have the worst defensive record in the division, but only two teams - Coventry and Huddersfield (both 0) - have kept fewer clean sheets than Arveladze's side (1) this season.
That shut-out came in a 0-0 draw with goal-shy Preston last month, with Hull keeper Matt Ingram earning the WhoScored.com man of the match award in that stalemate.