Preview | Swansea City v Leicester City
Swansea City are looking to build on a run of four consecutive wins when they host Leicester City at the Swansea.com Stadium this afternoon (3pm kick-off).
They face a tough assignment with the Foxes having claimed 10 wins from 11 Championship outings this season to lie at the top of the standings.
But head coach Michael Duff is hoping a vociferous crowd will help to the Swans make the most of home advantage as they prepare to take on the early title favourites.
TEAM NEWS
Kristian Pedersen is available for selection this afternoon following a short period on the sideline due to a groin injury, while Duff confirmed that Ben Cabango is 50-50 after he picked up a hamstring strain before the international break.
The Swans will also be without Nathan Wood, Joe Allen and Josh Ginnelly who have all suffered long-term injuries.
PRE-MATCH VIEWS
Michael Duff: “We go into the game knowing they are a very good side, they have got Premier League players throughout their squad.
“But we have good players too. There will be periods in the game where we will have to suffer because they are a very good team, but we do not want to sit in with 10 men behind the ball and just survive.
“We will go out there intent on trying to win the game.
“They are coming to our place. If the supporters can get the place rocking and we can start well like we did in the Norwich game, then there’s no reason we cannot make it a good day.”
Enzo Maresca: “I think even if we lose (to Swansea), it’s a fantastic start.
"We are focused about the game. Especially, we are focused on what we have to do. It’s a consequence. If we do the right things, nine (times out) of 10, or eight (times out) of 10, you get the result by doing the right things.
"Sometimes even if you do the right things, unfortunately you don’t win. We are just thinking about the game.”
MEET THE OFFICIALS
Anthony Backhouse will be the man in the middle this afternoon. The Cumbrian official will take charge of a Swans fixture for the second time having overseen the recent home win over Sheffield Wednesday.
REMEMBER THE LAST TIME?
The Swans last hosted Leicester City in SA1 exactly six years ago, suffering a disappointing 2-1 defeat to a Foxes side who were without a manager following the dismissal of Craig Shakespeare.
An own goal from Federico Fernandez and an early second-half strike from Shinji Okazaki gave Leicester a deserved two-goal lead.
Alfie Mawson reduced the deficit but, despite an improved effort in the second half, the Swans were beaten for the fourth time in five home games.
PRIME NUMBERS
4 – The Swans have won four of the last six meetings with the Foxes on home soil. They did not concede in any of those wins.
13 – No side in the Championship has had more different goal scorers in the competition than the Swans. Ollie Cooper and Josh Key both registered their first goals of the campaign last time out at Plymouth to take the total number of different goal scorers to 13.
19 - Despite first meeting in an FA Cup clash in 1929, the two sides have met just 38 times in the nearly 100 years since. The visitors have come out on top 19 times.