Preview | Swansea City v Sunderland

Swansea City will look to continue their excellent recent form when they host Sunderland at the Swansea.com Stadium this afternoon (3pm).

Russell Martin's side could not have wished for a better resumption of Championship action after the international break, claiming away victories over West Brom and Watford sides many were predicting to be part of the promotion hunt.

Overall, it is three wins in a row and four wins from five for the Swans. With their tally of 13 points from the last 18 available the third-best record in the second tier over that period.

But they face a Sunderland side who have made a strong start on their return to life in the Championship.

Tony Mowbray's visitors have lost just one of their last five games, and sit one point and two places below the Swans.

Team news

Russell Martin will weigh up whether to make changes for this third game in a week given the travelling his side have done and the quick turnaround from that win at Vicarage Road.

Joe Allen could potentially be involved following a hamstring injury, while Jamie Paterson is also nearing a return although this game will come too soon for the attacking midfielder.

Liam Cullen and Liam Walsh remain sidelined.

Sunderland, meanwhile, are without strikers Ross Stewart and Ellis Simms, while defender Dennis Cirkin is also among their absentees.

Pre-match views

Russell Martin: “We know they (Sunderland) are bringing a big following, and we know the huge part our fans played away from home last Saturday and on Wednesday night.

“They were incredible, my brothers were in there with them at Watford and they absolutely loved it.

“So, we know their fans will be looking to play their part in the same way ours did, and that ours will be looking to do so again, I am sure.

“I hope we get a lot through the door, and after the last two games - and our last home game against Hull - I am sure there is going to be a brilliant atmosphere and our guys will need that energy after two tough away games and a long week.

“I think it will be a great atmosphere, I am certain that will help the game.

“We know it will be a tough one, but if we play with the same honesty and intensity the guys have shown for a while now, then we back ourselves to get a good result.”

Tony Mowbray: "I'm not sitting thinking 'expect five changes at the weekend' - I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen. I know we've drawn three of the last four, but I think the lads have done pretty well.

"They've worked really hard and they have deserved to keep going and see how it goes. Whether we tinker with it, let's wait and see.

"At some stage we have to look at the assets we have got and how best to utilise them to help the team."

Remember the last time?

Fernando Llorente grabbed a brace as Swansea City ran out comfortable 3-0 winners when they last hosted Sunderland in SA1 back in 2016.

After a goalless opening half Gylfi Sigurdsson had put the home side ahead from the spot after a foul by Jason Denayer.

Llorente soon added the second courtesy of a low, angled drive from a cleverly-worked corner routine.

And the points were sealed when Llorente rose to plant a bullet header beyond Jordan Pickford from Jefferson Montero's cross.

Prime numbers

2 - Oliver Ntcham's goals at West Brom and Watford marked just the second time he had scored in consecutive league games in his career, the first instance had come during a loan spell with Genoa during the 2016-17 season when he netted against Bologna and Empoli.

4 - Swansea have scored four goals inside the opening 15 minutes of Championship games this season, no second tier team can currently match that tally.

7 - No Championship side has recorded more points from losing positions that Swansea City's tally of seven.