Looking to bounce back from a sobering defeat on New Year's Day, Swansea City will welcome West Bromwich Albion to Swansea.com Stadium on Saturday afternoon in the Championship.
The Swans were smashed at the home of relegation candidates Portsmouth last time out, whilst the Baggies recorded a home success over Preston North End.
Match preview
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Following back-to-back home wins to end 2024 on a very positive note, Swansea City were the heaviest losers of the New Year's Day action in the Championship on Wednesday afternoon, when the Welsh club travelled to Portsmouth and returned with nothing tangible to show for their efforts.
Goals within the opening 30 minutes of the contest from Josh Murphy and Paddy Lane fired Pompey into a commanding lead at the half-time interval, before further strikes in the closing 45 minutes from Ryley Towler and the returning Colby Bishop put a gloss on the result for the hosts.
After losing their maiden bout of 2025, Swansea have dropped down to 12th place in the Championship standings ahead of the weekend, 11 points ahead of the relegation zone and six points behind opponents West Brom, who are currently guarding entry to the coveted playoff spots.
Luke Williams's troops will need to improve their form in South Wales if they wish to secure an unexpected return to the top flight of English football via the playoffs, with the Swans winning just five of their 12 Championship games at the Swansea.com Stadium so far in 2024-25.
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For the first time since the departure of former head coach Carlos Corberan on Christmas Eve, West Bromwich Albion enjoyed maximum points in a Championship fixture on New Year's Day, when Preston North End had no answer to the Black Country outfit during a blistering opening period.
A brilliant brace from leading marksman Josh Maja and Callum Styles's strike fired the Baggies into a three-goal lead at the break, meaning that a late Lilywhites resurgence and Ryan Ledson goal was a mere consolation against an Albion side who had taken their foot off the gas significantly.
Relishing their first success since the loss of Corberan to boyhood club Valencia, West Brom currently occupy sixth spot in the Championship rankings ahead of this weekend's trip to Swansea, level on points with seventh-placed Blackburn Rovers and 10 points behind Burnley in second.
Unlike in previous campaigns since returning from the Premier League in 2021, the Baggies have been relatively solid on the road in 2024-25, losing just three of their 13 second-tier outings to date, with only title chasers Burnley (2) and Leeds United (2) defeated fewer times across away matches.
Team News
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Swansea remain without the services of midfielder Goncalo Franco, who is expected to return to action in late January from a tooth issue.
The Swans are also unable to call upon the talents of left-back Kristian Pedersen (hamstring), although the defender has struggled to cement his spot in the side regardless of fitness.
West Brom have suffered a big blow to their midfield ranks in recent days, with Alex Mowatt sidelined for a few weeks due to a groin injury.
As a result, Ousmane Diakite is set for an extended run of games in the first XI of the Baggies alongside Republic of Ireland international Jayson Molumby.
With Semi Ajayi and Mason Holgate still in the treatment, veteran centre-back Kyle Bartley has been put through plenty of work over the festive period.
Swansea City possible starting lineup:
Vigouroux; Christie, Cabango, Darling, Tymon; Fulton, Grimes; Pereira, Cullen, Eom; Vipotnik
West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Palmer; Furlong, Bartley, Heggem, Styles; Molumby, Diakite; Fellows, Grant, Johnston; Maja
We say: Swansea City 1-1 West Bromwich Albion
After a battering on the South Coast, Swansea are up against it once again as they welcome a playoff-chasing West Brom side in South Wales.
The Baggies are still going about their second-tier duties admirably despite the shock departure of Corberan and should be good enough for a point this weekend.
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Carter White
