Preview: Swans v West Brom
Swansea City go in search of their second Premier League home win of the season this afternoon as they welcome West Brom to the Liberty (3pm).
The Swans were beaten 2-1 by Stoke at the bet365 stadium last Saturday, a result which saw them slip to the bottom of the Premier League.
Paul Clement’s side started brightly at Stoke, with Wilfried Bony scoring the Swans’ first league goal since October 28 within the first three minutes of the game.
But the Potters fought back to take the points thanks to goals from Xherdan Shaqiri and Mame Diouf.
They now face a West Brom side who are also struggling for form.
The Baggies are looking for their first Premier League win since August 19 and currently sit one place above the relegation zone.
The Swans’ last win against Albion came on the final day of last season, when goals from Fernando Llorente and Jordan Ayew saw Paul Clement’s side finish on a high at the Liberty Stadium.
Team news
Federico Fernandez is available again this weekend following the death of his father, but Mike van der Hoorn is set to continue in central defence as the Argentine focuses on next Wednesday's game against Manchester City. It could be that Fernandez is in the squad today, however.
Kyle Bartley is Swansea’s only absentee, though he is edging towards a return.
West Brom’s Craig Dawson, Gareth Barry, James Morrison and Nacer Chadli are all expected to miss out, but Chris Brunt and Matt Phillips hope to return after lay-offs.
What they said
Swansea boss Paul Clement: “They started off the season so well, with two wins, then like us they have had a disappointing run. But they have still got a lot of attacking threats in their team and, with a new manager in Alan Pardew, they could be very dangerous.”
West Brom boss Alan Pardew: “Paul Clement is being given time to turn things around and I think he’ll say he deserves that after what he did last season. He’s worked under the best, he knows what it takes but, like us, his team just needs a win to raise their confidence.”
Last six meetings
30.08.14 Swans 3 West Brom 0
11.02.15 West Brom 2 Swans 0
26.12.15 Swans 1 West Brom 0
02.02.16 West Brom 1 Swans 1
14.12.16 West Brom 3 Swans 1
21.5.17 Swans 2 West Brom 1
Pre-match stats
5 – The Swans have won five of their last six Premier League matches when they’ve started that day bottom of the league, with one of those victories coming against West Brom in September 2013.
1 – Of the teams to play in the Premier League both last season and this season, only Everton have won as few away matches in the competition as West Brom in 2017 (W1 D6 L9).
