The Match
Swansea got an absolutely massive three points away at Newcastle last time out, and they'll be hoping that the positive result gained at St James' can lead to an upturn in form which sees us finish the season with a bang. The win over Pardew's men has made the Swans almost mathematically safe, so it's possible the squad will feel like a weight has been lifted and hopefully that'll result in a positive, expansive performance. With Villa missing players, and Bony seemingly getting better and better, we could be in for a treat.
Aston Villa are a team I consider to be on a par with Norwich right now - and that's not a good thing. They also have common denominators in Grant Holt & Paul Lambert - though again if you asked Villa fans right now they'd probably say they don't particularly count either as positives either. That being said Paul Lambert has a good track record against us (though that is changing slowly), and with his team arguably more in need of points we'll have to guard against a committed performance. Villa have been good on the break this season, so we need to concentrate at the back lest we fall victim to an Abonlahor sucker punch or similar.
Prior Form (Most recent at top)
| Premier League | Newcastle Utd | 1-2 | Swansea |
| Premier League | Hull City | 1-0 | Swansea |
| Premier League | Swansea | 3-0 | Norwich |
| Premier League | Arsenal | 2-2 | Swansea |
| Premier League | Aston Villa | 0-0 | Southampton |
| Crystal Palace | 1-0 | Aston Villa | |
| Premier League | Aston Villa | 1-2 | Fulham |
| Premier League | Man Utd | 4-1 | Aston Villa |
| Premier League | Aston Villa | 1-4 | Stoke City |
Team News
Provided by resident fitness guru @BenDinnery - make sure to follow him on Twitter for the latest injury news and views
Swansea take on Aston Villa this weekend knowing that last Saturdays win at Newcastle all but guaranteed their Premier League status, a result which was secured without the services of Spanish star Michu who failed to travel due to an ongoing ankle problem. The same issue which has restricted Miguel Perez Cuesta to just 249 minutes of Premier League action this year, swelling and pain being cited as the main cause for concern; although not 100% it is unlikely the playmaker will return again during this campaign.
Aston Villa on the other hand travel to The Liberty with a number of concerns, Joe Bennett being the latest addition to the treatment room. The defender sustained an ankle injury in training and will now face a late fitness test; disappointing for a player who has just returned after a long-term back problem. However on a brighter note forgotten man Niklas Helenius is “fit & ready for selection”, the striker has struggled this term with a number of muscular injuries (thigh & groin) but his availability could add some much needed competition up front in the absence of Christian Benteke who unfortunately ruptured his Achilles earlier this month. Despite training Jores Okore (ACL) is unlikely to be included in the match-day squad after missing most of the season; Charles N’Zogbia and Libor Kozak also remain out.
Aston Villa on the other hand travel to The Liberty with a number of concerns, Joe Bennett being the latest addition to the treatment room. The defender sustained an ankle injury in training and will now face a late fitness test; disappointing for a player who has just returned after a long-term back problem. However on a brighter note forgotten man Niklas Helenius is “fit & ready for selection”, the striker has struggled this term with a number of muscular injuries (thigh & groin) but his availability could add some much needed competition up front in the absence of Christian Benteke who unfortunately ruptured his Achilles earlier this month. Despite training Jores Okore (ACL) is unlikely to be included in the match-day squad after missing most of the season; Charles N’Zogbia and Libor Kozak also remain out.
Completely guessed lineups
Statistics & Trivia
- Aston Villa have won fifteen of twenty-two games against the Swans in all competitions.
- They have, however, only won once against their Welsh opponents since their promotion in 2011 (W1 D3 L1).
- Only the league's top five have scored more goals at home than Swansea, who have found the net 29 times.
- Swansea have kept just one clean sheet in their last ten league matches.
- Bony has scored four goals in his last six league games - although they've all come away from home.
- Garry Monk's side have played fifty-eight top-flight games since they last won back-to-back matches.
- Saturday's match will be Swansea's fifty-second match of the season, and they'll go on to play a massive fifty-four by the time the season draws to a close.
- Swansea have lost five of their last 10 Premier League games at the Liberty Stadium.
- Aston Villa haven't won any of their last six away games. Their most recent victory away from Villa Park came at bottom club Sunderland on 1 January.
- Villa have taken one point from five matches since beating Chelsea, who were top at the time.
- Seven of Aston Villa's last 10 Premier League games have been 0-0 at half-time.
- They have won just one of the eight Premier League games that Christian Benteke has missed this season, scoring only six goals in the process.
Straight from the horse's mouth
Ben Davies is hoping for three points which would make up for a lack up birthday celebrations thus far (he was 21 on Thursday!):
"I think it would cap a perfect week if we can get three points. I haven't been able to celebrate properly yet but hopefully that can come on Saturday with a win!
"We are looking to get the three points, and if we put the performance in that we know we're capable of, then it's definitely a possibility. Our form is something that we've got to work on and hopefully we can start that on Saturday."
Garry Monk has insisted Swansea are not yet secure, and isn't allowing himself to think of the summer until it's mathematically impossible for us to be relegated:
'We are not secure. It's not mathematically done yet. When that comes about, I am pretty sure that is when I will be able to sit down with the board and see what the future is.
'The future for me was always to go into coaching and management. Who wouldn't want to do a job like this?'If we go into these (last) three games and we don't get any points and the other teams win, then we are relegated. It's far from over for us.
'When it is mathematically done, that is when I can sit down with the chairman and the club and see what the future is and what their thinking is.'I can only do what I am doing. My job is to keep the club in the league, and we are nearly there, but it is still on us to make sure that we complete the job.
'In terms of my future, until that day is done, I don't care about myself. When that day is done, that's when I will start to think about myself and what the future is for me and also for the club.'
Analysis
Where to start with this one? The obvious talking point is the absence of Villa's talisman Christian Benteke, who, despite not hitting the heights of last season has once again been integral to the Midlanders' fortunes. As mentioned Villa have only scored six goals in matches the Belgian hasn't featured in, so they'll be looking to Grant Holt and Gabriel Agbonlahor for their goal threat as they strive for the three points they so desperately need.
Against Newcastle, we started well but the lack of protection for Angel Rangel on the right threatened to hurt us. Until Wayne Routledge swapped with De Guzman we lacked balance, and with the pace of Agbonlahor to deal with it could well be worth reinstalling Nathan Dyer to the starting lineup on the right-hand side, as his understanding with Rangel is easily the best in the Swansea squad.
Up top Bony should in theory get quite a bit of joy out of young Nathan Baker. He needs to isolate him, and get his midfielders running past him as he's shown he's capable of pulling off deft through balls as well as smashing the ball home in a trying-to-break-the-net fashion. On this week's JackCast podcast (check the podcasts page which is to be found in the top bar of the site on both mobile and desktop sites) we spoke to an Aston Villa fan who highlighted the ineptitudes of the young centre-half, and apparently he also averages a yellow card a game. Definitely an area to aim for.
Elsewhere, Villa's back four could well be looking pretty ramshackle. We need to go for the kill and get in front early, as without Benteke I think Villa will just fold and wilt away. Jordi Amat should continue in place of the suspended Chico Flores, though with Kyle Bartley now back in the fold Monk may throw caution to the wind and include the ex-Arsenal defender. I doubt he'll start personally, but I do think we could see him come on for the last twenty minutes or so as Monk looks to give as many players as he can an opportunity to impress.
Despite his impressive appearance off the bench, I don't think we'll see Emnes start this one. I think De Guzman will come back into midfield, with Pablo making way for Nathan Dyer who'll be out on the right. Jono has been much better in the middle of the park since Monk's appointment, and hopefully a combination of him, Leon and Jonjo will be more than enough to see off Villa's midfield, which doesn't really imbue that much trepidation when you look at it on paper.
As always, I'm confident of a result at home and I think we could see goals in this one. We seem to have forgotten how to keep a clean sheet, while the Liberty Stadium has been a haven for anyone who likes seeing the ball hit the back of the net. There've been fifty-three goals at the Liberty so far this year - more than at any other stadium outside the top five with the exception of Craven Cottage - and they're only included in that list because they've conceded so many goals at home.
So, another Bony masterclass and a 3 or 4-1 home win? Yes please.