Talking Tactics: Wilfried Bony
Ahead of the FA Cup trip to League Two side Notts County, we have teamed up with football stats experts WhoScored.com to preview the encounter.
Confidence will be high among the Swans squad following Monday night’s gruelling 1-0 win over Liverpool and they’ll look to continue their good run of form at Meadow Lane today.
The Swans have won back-to-back matches and have lost just one of their last six competitive outings and with a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup up for grabs, head coach Carlos Carvalhal will demand another victory in Nottingham.
Swansea, though, can expect a tough meeting with Notts County. Kevin Nolan’s side are second in League Two coming into this tie and secured a commendable 1-0 win at Brentford in the third round to set up this tie. Having netted 48 league goals this term, the third best return in the league, the Swans need to be wary at the back if they are to progress.
That being said, Notts County are on an indifferent run of form having won only one of their last five league matches and have succumbed to back-to-back home defeats.
Keeping just one clean sheet in their last four League Two games at Meadow Lane, Notts County have been suspect in defence in front of their own fans of late and this benefits their Premier League counterparts.
Wilfried Bony has been used sparingly recently, but the Ivorian can be expected to start this afternoon.
Bony scored the winning goal in the 2-1 FA Cup replay victory over Wolves earlier this month and has now scored three goals in his last five Swansea starts, which included a WhoScored.com man-of-the-match award in the 1-0 win over West Brom.
With an average of 2.6 shots per 90, more than any other Swansea player, Bony’s confidence and willingness to test his luck against opponents is a boost for the south Wales side in their quest to secure their place in the next round of the cup.
From corners and free-kicks, too, the 29-year-old has the means to hurt Notts County having developed a statistically-calculated WhoScored.com style of play of ‘indirect set-piece threat’.
Maximising his physical qualities as well his striking ability should prove to be Swansea’s best route to goal, though it won’t be all easy for Bony today.
Shaun Brisley has started all but two league matches this season and has featured from the off in all three of Notts County’s FA Cup wins this term. Standing at over six foot, the 27-year-old will be on hand to ensure Bony endures a long afternoon at Meadow Lane.
Yet Bony has the Premier League experience and striking nous to get the better of Brisley today and fire Swansea into the next round of the FA Cup.
