Swansea City host Sheffield United in the Championship on Tuesday, with the visitors looking to remain at the top of the table
Swansea, meanwhile, recorded only their second league win of the season last time out to move up to 19th.
Match preview
© Reuters
After ending last season with a winless run of six matches, it would be fair to say that Russell Martin's time in charge of the Swans is not going fully to plan.
The 36-year-old, who replaced Steve Cooper last year after an excellent spell at MK Dons in League One, is fairly dogmatic in terms of his preferred playing style, ensuring his team plays out from the back as much as possible and attempt to build-up the play in a mostly slow, methodical manner.
This can produce some very attractive football on its day, but with nine points from eight games so far, there has to be a question mark as to whether it is getting the most out of a talented group of players who were expected to challenge for a play-off position this season.
It is still incredibly early days, of course. Having fallen into the relegation places, last weekend's 1-0 win against Queens Park Rangers at the Liberty Stadium did at least move them out of the bottom three, but Martin's side will need to play at an even higher level if they are to defeat in-form Sheffield United on Tuesday.
© Reuters
Indeed, having agonisingly missed out on promotion after losing against Nottingham Forest on penalties in the Championship play-off semi-final last season, Sheffield United appear to have returned with a score to settle this time around.
The Blades have generally looked an incredibly solid outfit since Paul Heckingbottom replaced Slavisa Jokanovic last November. The 45-year-old sets his team up in a very similar manner to Chris Wilder, whom he had previously replaced as interim manager for a couple of months in March 2021, with overlapping centre-backs in a fluid 3-5-2 system.
Heckingbottom's side have won three of their last four league games without conceding a goal, including an excellent 2-0 win away to Yorkshire rivals Hull City last time out. Sander Berge was on the scoresheet for the third time already this season, with him and Iliman Ndiaye continuing to progress as a partial result of the tactical freedom afforded to them by their manager.
That victory was their first win in four attempts on the road, and should provide plenty of confidence that they can escape the South Coast of Wales with all three points to guarantee their stay at the top of the Championship table
- W
- D
- L
- L
- D
- W
- D
- W
- W
- D
- W
- W
Team News
© Reuters
Swansea will remain without Liam Walsh, Joel Latibeaudiere and Liam Cullen due to injuries, with the trio unlikely to return until after the international break.
Having returned to winning ways against QPR, Martin may stick with the same starting XI, although Michael Obafemi and Olivier Ntcham do provide credible options to come into the side having not been considered for that match.
Sheffield United, meanwhile, have a whole host of injury problems, making their recent form even more impressive.
John Fleck suffered a broken leg against Luton Town last month and is unlikely to return for several weeks, while Jack O'Connell and Jack Robinson are also long-term absentees with knee injuries.
Ben Osborn, Ciaran Clark, Billy Sharp, Adam Davies, Jayden Bogle and Enda Stevens have also all missed recent games through various issues, and this match is likely to come too soon for them.
As such, Heckingbottom's options are limited, meaning he may go with the same starting XI which defeated Hull. That would mean another start for Oli McBurnie against his former club, having bagged the opener last time out.
Swansea City possible starting lineup:
Benda; Naughton, Wood, Cabango, Manning; Sorinola, Allen, Grimes, Paterson; Piroe, Cooper
Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Foderingham; Ahmedhodzic, Egan, Norrington-Davies; Baldock, Berge, Norwood, Doyle, Lowe; McBurnie, Ndiaye
We say: Swansea City 1-1 Sheffield United
Sheff Utd are not generally as impressive away from home, and they have several key players missing through injury at present.
As such, we can envisage Swansea getting something out of this game, with a share of the spoils the most likely outcome.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
