Looking to strengthen their case for a top-six finish, Swansea City will welcome Premier League-chasing Leeds United to Swansea.com Stadium for a Championship clash on Sunday afternoon.
The Swans were denied a point by a late winner for Burnley prior to the international break, whilst the Whites enjoyed another routine success at Elland Road.
Match preview
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Following three straight mid-table finishes, Swansea City are on a mission to seriously challenge for the playoffs this time around, with Welsh head coach Luke Williams beginning to restore the club's identity after an ill-fated spell with Michael Duff at the helm last term.
The Swans commenced the November schedule with back-to-back league wins over newly-promoted Oxford United and Watford, although the Welsh outfit were unable to make it three on the spin on November 10, when an added-time Jay Rodriguez penalty snatched all the points for Burnley at Turf Moor.
After a heartbreaking defeat prior to the international pause, Swansea are currently occupying 11th spot in the Championship standings ahead of this weekend, six points away from Watford in the lowest of the playoff positions and only four points ahead of Cardiff City in the drop zone.
Collecting 12 points from seven matches, the Swans have fared pretty well at their South Wales base so far this season, but Williams's troops will be looking to find the net more often, with Sunday's hosts scoring just seven at home - only West Bromwich Albion (2) and Portsmouth (6) have bagged fewer at their respective bases.
Key to an upturn in Swansea's attacking output is likely to be academy graduate Liam Cullen, with the 25-year-old leading the Golden Boot race at the club and coming into this fixture off the back of a sensational match for Wales on Tuesday night, providing four goal contributions in the battering of Iceland.
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After heartbreak in the final of the Championship playoffs last season, Leeds United are doing their utmost to secure a place in the Premier League automatically at the second time of asking under Daniel Farke, who has been forced to deal with the exit of star player Crysencio Summerville over the summer.
The Whites have collected a healthy tally of six points from three second-tier contests in November before the two-week hiatus, with both of their victories coming in front of a passionate Elland Road support, smashing Wayne Rooney's Plymouth Argyle 3-0 prior to putting a pair past Queens Park Rangers.
Leeds have been mightily impressive on their own patch but will need to improve their away form if they wish to pip the likes of Sheffield United and Sunderland to a top-two finish, with Sunday's visitors winning just two of their seven Championship away matches to date.
Farke's men are in fact enduring a four-game winless run on their second-tier travels, a spell that includes the trip to the Black Cats on October 4, when a freakish blunder from goalkeeper Illan Meslier gifted Regis Le Bris's men a share of the points in the final moments.
Back at the home of his former employers this weekend, Joel Piroe is Leeds' leading marksman so far, boasting six Championship strikes, with the Dutchman aiming to continue his impressive form against Swansea after scoring in both games between the clubs during 2023-24.
Team News
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Swansea remain without the services of goalkeeper Andy Fisher, meaning that summer arrival Lawrence Vigouroux continues as the unopposed option in between the sticks.
The Swans have a pair of players who will not be seen until after the New Year, with Josh Ginnelly and Oliver Cooper battling back from Achilles and foot injuries respectively.
With Matt Grimes's usual partner-in-crime Jay Fulton on the sidelines, Portuguese midfielder Goncalo Franco will retain his spot in the engine room for the hosts.
Leeds are unable to call upon the talents of Wales international Ethan Ampadu, who suffered a knee injury in September and will not feature again until late January.
The Whites' options in attack have been limited by the injuries of Joe Gelhardt (hip) and summer arrival Largie Ramazani, who was signed to fill the Summerville-shaped hole in Farke's side.
Swansea City possible starting lineup:
Vigouroux; Key, Cabango, Darling, Tymon; Grimes, Franco, Peart-Harris, Allen, Pereira; Cullen
Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Byram; Rothwell, Tanaka; Gnonto, Aaronson, Solomon; Piroe
We say: Swansea City 0-1 Leeds United
Fresh off the back of an international break, Leeds should pose a serious threat on the road in South Wales and should have enough to earn a rare away victory.
That being said, Swansea's defence has been one of the best in the Championship in recent times, so we are not expecting the hosts to be blown away on Sunday afternoon.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
