Preview | Swansea City v Blackburn Rovers
The busy schedule means Swansea City get a quick opportunity to recover from their heaviest defeat of the season when they host Blackburn Rovers tonight (7.45pm).
A five-match run without a victory has seen the Swans fall to 11th in the Championship table, having been among the division’s pacesetters for much of the campaign to date.
They saw their unbeaten away record ended by an emphatic 5-1 loss at West Brom on Sunday, with head coach Steve Cooper and captain Matt Grimes acknowledging the need for a vastly-improved display against Tony Mowbray’s visitors.
A four-match winning run has seen Rovers leapfrog the Swans in the table. Indeed, the Lancashire club’s recent form can only be matched or bettered by the current top three.
With Middlesbrough visiting the Liberty hot on the heels of Rovers’ midweek trip to SA1, the hosts will know they have a big opportunity to get themselves heading in the right direction again.
But it promises to be a test against a Blackburn side – including ex-Swans striker Danny Graham - who are bang in form.
Team news
Wayne Routledge is a major doubt to face Rovers at the Liberty.
Routledge has not played since sustaining a calf problem in the 1-0 defeat by Millwall at the Liberty last month.
The experienced winger is set to miss out again on Wednesday as Swansea aim to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat at West Brom, but he could be available for the visit of Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Declan John is also sidelined with a hamstring injury, while Joe Rodon and Jordon Garrick are still some way away from a return.
Pre-match views
Steve Cooper: “We need to believe in each other more than ever. We really need the fans behind us.
“We’re not going to shy away from it; we have to put it right.
“We’re only two points off the play-off places, but we must use that as motivation. We must earn the right to be there, but we didn’t on Saturday.
“We must try to keep believing in each other, stick with each other and if we do that, we will turn things around.
“I don’t care who we play on Wednesday. This situation is about us and nobody else.”
Tony Mowbray: "We have to get the mentality right, be positive and also have to be aware of the qualities of the opposition.
“I think Swansea will be hurting after getting beat 5-1 at West Brom, and yet they’ve been in the top six for the majority of the season.
“I did hear their manager say that they have two home games to come and they have to target points. We’re the first game for them.
“We’re going there on the back of a good run, full of confidence, and will go there to try and make life difficult for them."
Remember the last time?
Swansea City came back from a goal down to claim their first win in four matches as in-form Blackburn Rovers were beaten at the Liberty Stadium in October 2018.
The Swans fell behind to a Charlie Mulgrew penalty midway through a low-key first half, but it was a different story after the break.
Half-time substitutes Jay Fulton and Leroy Fer were both influential as the Swans fought back to claim their third home victory of the season.
Fulton’s long-range effort brought the hosts level as the ball hit the post and bounced in off Rovers' keeper David Raya.
The Swans very quickly took the lead, with Connor Roberts guiding the ball home from Daniel James’ pass.
And the points were sealed five minutes from time when Bersant Celina lifted his shot over Raya and inside the far post.
Prime numbers
3 - No player has scored more Championship goals this season without netting at home than Sam Surridge's tally of three.
6 - Blackburn have scored a league-high six goals in the opening 15 minutes of games in the Championship this season.
