Talking Tactics | Swansea City v Stoke City

Swansea City host Stoke City in the Sky Bet Championship on Wednesday evening (8pm) as they look to bounce back from defeats to Queens Park Rangers and Middlesbrough.

Ahead of the game, WhoScored.com preview the contest, looking at what to expect from the visitors, a key battle and key stat.

What to expect from Stoke

Stoke head to south Wales with 46 points to their name in the Championship - one fewer than the Swans - while they sit 19th in the table.

Steven Schumacher’s side are unbeaten in their last three matches, having earned a creditable victory away to Hull City, along with draws at home to Huddersfield Town and West Bromwich Albion.

In the reverse fixture, back in December, Swansea earned a point at the bet365 Stadium thanks to an 89th-minute equaliser from Harry Darling.

Since that match in Staffordshire, Stoke have accumulated 24 points from their 20 league matches, while the Swans have picked up 22.

Over the season so far, the Potters have found more joy on the road, scoring 23 goals in 20 away matches and just 17 in 21 at home.

WhoScored.com’s statistically-calculated characteristics suggest Stoke excel at dispossessing their opponents, but have been guilty of not making the most of their scoring chances.

The visitors tend to focus the majority of their attacking sequences down the right-hand side of the pitch, where the likes of Ki-Jana Hoever - Stoke’s highest-rated player this season - can pose a threat.

Key Battle

Speaking of Hoever, the 22-year-old Wolves loanee could be part of a crucial battle on Wednesday evening.

Hoever, who has scored and assisted six goals in the Championship this term from right-back, could find himself up against Swans attacker and top goalscorer Jamal Lowe.

Perhaps significant in the context of this clash, then, will be how much impact each of these players will be allowed to have on the contest.

Hoever could also have the likes of Jamie Paterson and Liam Cullen to keep tabs on but, should he be allowed to get forward, the Dutchman can prove dangerous.

Hoever’s statistically-calculated WhoScored.com characteristics suggest his strengths lie in intercepting and tackling, and that he has no significant weaknesses.

For the Swans to limit the his impact, they will need to be accurate and avoid turnovers along the right flank that could allow him to attack space and create chances.

Key Stat

Only six Championship sides have allowed fewer shots than Stoke’s 469 so far this season, but the Potters’ defensive record is still that of a bottom-half team (56 goals conceded).

The numbers would suggest that Schumacher’s side are effective in limiting their opponents to few goalscoring opportunities, but those that are created are often converted.

Swansea, then, will need to be clinical in what is a potentially pivotal game for these sides ahead of the final run-in.