Bristol City v Swansea Preview

Posted on | December 5, 2008 | No Comments

Six places separate these two sides, although they are not positioned in the order imagined at the start of the season. Having narrowly lost in the play off final last season, Bristol City were tipped for great things this year but as it stands that’s simply not the case. Swansea on the other hand are surprising everyone and Roberto Martinez is building on last season’s promotion with the club sat in 8^th position.

Bristol City are really struggling at the moment but Gary Johnson claims it’s important that everyone sticks together so they can work through this difficult period. The Robins have won just once in their last eight games which hardly matches their play off aspirations. They’re sat in 14^th position at the moment, five points from the top six, but considering the number of teams battling out for that zone it will take a phenomenal run for them to break back into it. It would be fair to say that over the last few weeks they’ve played teams that are perhaps tipped for bottom half finishes this season after fixtures against Preston, Watford and Nottingham Forest. However, their lack of points against these sides will lord massive pressure onto them as they come to face the arguably better sides in the upcoming weeks and months.

As for Swansea, they look to be doing similar to what City did last year. After walking the League One title last season, Roberto Martinez has continued to raise eyebrows with his Swans side now sat in 8^th position. Just two points separate them from the top six and with recent form being encouraging, Martinez may believe that the festive period is where they make their move. Unlike a lot of sides around the play offs, Swansea have lost very few games of late with the statistic reading just two defeats in their last twelve league games. Considering both of those were narrow losses to league leaders Wolves and 2^nd place Birmingham, there’s plenty of optimism at the Liberty Stadium at the moment yet the next few weeks will give a clearer idea of how the Welsh side are likely to fare this season.

In terms of team news, Bristol City could be missing two players with striker Dele Adebola doubtful while Jamie McAllister will definitely miss out through suspension.  Visitors Swansea have problems of their own though, with Leon Britton another who’ll miss the clash through suspension while Ferrie Bodde and Marcus Painter are injured. However, Jordi Gomez returns from a ban, so it’s not all bad news for Roberto Martinez.

Despite suffering very few defeats recently, Swansea do have a lot of draws to their name and that would suggest that this could turn out even stevens as well. Bristol City’s poor form also suggests they won’t get all the points, so in this one we’ll go for the draw – 0-0.

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5. Swansea City vs Fulham preview- FA Cup, February 14, 2009

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