Preview | Swansea City v Burnley

15th March
First team
Swansea.com Stadium

Swansea City will look to round off a run of four games in 11 days on a positive note when they face promotion-chasing Burnley in their final game before the international break (3pm).

The Swans suffered defeat at Watford in midweek from a contest where they could easily have come away with a point, but have still taken seven points from their last four games.

Burnley, meanwhile, are firmly in the hunt for automatic promotion, but sit two points behind the second-placed Sheffield United with nine games of the campaign remaining.

 

Team news

 

Hannes Delcroix

Hannes Delcroix is unavailable for the Swans under the terms of his loan move from Burnley, while Myles Peart-Harris and Kristian Pedersen are also missing for the hosts.

But caretaker head coach Alan Sheehan is waiting on the fitness of Harry Darling after the defender missed out in midweek with a hip injury.

The visitors are able to select CJ Egan-Riley after the defender’s red card at the conclusion of their midweek draw with West Bromwich Albion was rescinded on appeal.

 

Pre-match views

Alan Sheehan: "It will be a test of course, and our biggest test yet in this run of games.

"We have to be the best version of ourselves, which I feel like we have been for large parts of the last four games.

"You can win any game if you are perfect and I think you have to be perfect in every way against these teams  – tactically, physically, mentally – to compete against them, because they have quality individuals and a really strong defensive base.

"But we have to find a way to make us as competitive as possible.

"I am sure people view us as underdogs and would see it as an upset if we were to win, and I think that's fair if you look at the table.

"But we have to have the mentality to rise to the challenge because it's not a free hit."

 

Scott Parker: “They (Swansea) have definitely changed a little bit in terms of the way they play and the way they go about things.

“I think there's probably been a bit of a shift, but you're right there's not a massive volume of games to go on, but there are some clear differences.

"But as always, we'll try and prepare to the best we can. And again, we just need to bring the best version of ourselves at the weekend to get a result."

 

Meet the officials

Oliver Langford is the referee in charge of this afternoon's contest.

You can find out more about him and his team of officials below.

Remember the last time?

Ollie Cooper

Swansea City went toe to toe with Championship leaders Burnley but an Ian Maatsen brace ensured the Clarets took all three points when they last visited the Swansea.com Stadium in January 2023.

The visitors, who had lost just two league games all season, surged into a two-goal lead as Maatsen fired in a free-kick following by a swerving strike from distance.

But the hosts responded through Ollie Cooper’s fourth goal of the season and caused real problems for Vincent Kompany’s team, particularly during the closing stages of an engrossing first half.

They continued to search for an equaliser in the second period but could not carve out the chance they needed.

 

Prime numbers

Liam Cullen Burnley

1 - There has been just one draw in games between these sides in 15 meetings stretching back to 1995. 

11 - Burnley have conceded just 11 goals in their 37 Championship games so far this term. The Championship record for fewest conceded in a full season is 30. The Clarets have kept an incredible 26 clean sheets.