Competition - Sky Bet Championship Venue - Swansea.com Stadium Date - 10 December 2022 Kick off - 3pm Following the mid-season ‘pause’ during the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Russell Martin’s Swansea squad resume their Championship campaign against another side with strong Automatic Promotion / Play Off credentials, Norwich City at the Swansea.com Stadium. On 12th November the Swans' winless run extended to five games as they were held 0-0 by the Championship's bottom side Huddersfield Town. The Swans enjoyed 75% possession and the majority of the chances, but they could not find a winning goal. Substitute Michael Obafemi came closest to a breakthrough, but his 83rd-minute effort struck the crossbar. Swans goalkeeper Steven Benda denied Danny Ward an unlikely Huddersfield winner with a save a minute from time. The stalemate left Huddersfield bottom of the table with Swansea in eighth place, outside the Play-Off places on goal difference. Whilst the Swans were drawing against Huddersfield, substitute Matt Crooks scored a 92nd-minute winner at Norwich City to earn Michael Carrick's resurgent Middlesbrough a third straight win away from home. Josh Sargent, who had been named in the United States squad for the tournament in Qatar just three days earlier, marked his call-up by drilling home his ninth goal of the season - and first since mid-October - to put the hosts ahead after just 7 minutes. Riley McGree, who will be at the World Cup with Australia, levelled with a stunning half-volley into the top corner with Middlesbrough's first shot on goal in the 64th minute. As both sides searched for a late winner - with Norwich goalkeeper Angus Gunn dealing with a header from Chuba Akpom and Gabriel Sara seeing a shot pushed away by Zack Steffen at the other end - Crooks earned the visitors all three points with close-range finish just three after coming off the bench. The dramatic late defeat saw the Canaries slip to fifth in the table and six points adrift of the top two, while Boro moved up to 14th with a third win in five games since former England and Manchester United midfielder Carrick took charge. The Swans have played the Canaries on 57 previous occasions, winning 23, losing 24 and drawing 10. In the corresponding fixture 2 seasons ago, the Swans beat Norwich 2-0 thanks to goals from Ayew and Hourihane: Turning to Saturday, victory for the Swans would lift them above the Canaries. Such an outcome would raise the intriguing thought that this could be ‘an audition’ for Swans Manager Russell Martin - he is a former Norwich player, and Dean Smith’s position as Norwich Manager would undoubtedly come under further scrutiny should they return to Norfolk empty handed. Personally, I will be watching this one from afar - Lapland to be precise, hoping that Santa delivers an early present of 3 points for the Swans. That said, I think it will be a 1-1 draw
Well I’m down the weekend for this one, so better be a positive display 2-1 Swans for me. So it’s will either be celebration’s down Wind Street or drowning my sorrows in the evening.
Damn you all with your optimism. You're not going to fool me into your way of thinking Just play well!
Well I’ve just had a word with Santa and he says he enjoys the enthusiasm of Welsh football fans - but wouldn’t promise 3pts on Saturday