The Match
Swansea just keep winning. Three out of three this season, five of their last six in the Premier League... there's some good (inconsequential) stats kicking around at the moment. As for the match itself, we're up against a WBA team who are both still unbeaten and looking for their first win. The Monk will almost definitely reap the changes once again as a raft of first team players rested for Rotherham come back into the side, and if we can build on the performance level shown against Burnley we should be able to claim all three points
West Bromwich Albion took a lot of criticism following the appointment of Alan Irvine. The main problem fans had seemed the "who's he?" aspect of the appointment, but he has done well in the past at Preston, and you don't run the Everton youth system if you don't have something about you. Still looking for their first win after three draws in three matches, they'll most definitely view this as an opportunity to get three points on the board, and they'll definitely head to South Wales fired up.
Prior Form (Most recent at top)
| League Cup | Swansea | 1-0 | Rotherham |
| Premier League | Swansea | 1-0 | Burnley |
| Premier League | Manchester Utd | 1-2 | Swansea |
| Friendly | Swansea | 0-3 | Villarreal |
| Friendly | Reading | 1-3 | Swansea |
| League Cup | WBA (won on pens) | 1-1 | Oxford United |
| Premier League | Southampton | 0-0 | WBA |
| Premier League | WBA | 2-2 | Sunderland |
| Friendly | WBA | 1-3 | Porto |
| Friendly | Port Vale | 2-3 | WBA |
Completely guessed lineups
Team News
For Swansea, Garry Monk is hoping to turn the Liberty Stadium into a fortress as The Jacks prepare to take on The Baggies in the Premier League this weekend. Argentine defender Federico Fernandez could make his domestic debut on Saturday following his appearance on Tuesday night against Rotherham with Jordi Amat the man likely to make way. Knee injuries keep Marvin Emnes (cartilage) and Leon Britton (stress fracture) side lined with Rory Donnelly expected to return in November following ankle surgery.
WBA boss Alan Irvine will be without defender Sebastien Pocognoli after the full-back was replaced last weekend because of a thigh complaint but fellow injury victim Victor Anichebe is expected to return following a groin issue. Graham Dorrans and Craig Gardner were rested midweek due to a slight niggle but will return to the match day squad; summer signing Joleon Lescott just misses out as he continues his recovery from a knee injury. Christian Gamboa and Brown Ideye both featured during the penalty win over Oxford United and will be in contention but Georgios Samaras and Silvestre Varela are both out as they look to improve their match-fitness.
Thanks as usual to Ben for providing us with up-to-date team news. You can follow him on Twitter @BenDinnery, and you can also find him on Talksport, ESPN & PremierInjuries.com
Key Players
A new feature in the preview this year, I'll be using statistical radars to show two of the key attacking threats on display
Gylfi Sigurdsson vs Saido Berahino
Statistics & Trivia
- Swansea have been winning at both half time and full time in their last 3 matches in the Premier League.
- West Brom have failed to score in their last 3 away matches in the Premier League.
- Swansea have won 5 of their last 6 matches in the Premier League.
- Swansea have seen over 2.5 goals in 5 of their last 6 matches against West Brom in all competitions.
- There have been under 2.5 goals scored in 5 of West Brom's last 6 away games in the Premier League.
- West Brom have failed to win their last 5 matches in the Premier League
West Brom goal locations - 2013/14 - provided by wearepremierleague.com
Straight from the horse's mouth
Garry Monk is looking to make the Liberty a fortress:
“West Brom will be tough, but we are at home and we want to make this place a bit of a fortress. It would be nice to go into the international break with nine points.
"We need to improve and keep doing what we're doing well. The boys have done well and have been focused in training, we want to put in a good performance."
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/garry-monk-revealed-hes-targeting-7684367
Alan Irvine is aware of the task at hand:
"They're a good team, they have a good way of playing. They pass the ball very well.
"If you're not able to compete with them in terms of the way they move the ball then you're going to have problems.They're a very good football side and you've got to be very well organised and very disciplined."
http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/swansea-city-v-west-brom-monk-wants-liberty-fortress#2chOoveg5agpvSXF.99
Analysis
Can you really analyse games this early in the season? I can talk about the Swans at least. Midweek we saw players like Federico Fernandez and Jefferson Montero make their full debuts, though whether they'll retain their places this weekend is doubtful. I'd imagine Montero stands more of a chance, given Amat has impressed so far (and Ashley Williams was in the press saying as much today).
Against a likely WBA midfield duo of Mulumbu and Gardner the Swans will have to be quick in possession lest we get mugged. I'm a big fan of Mulumbu in particular, and think if we ever get the chance he'd do a great job for us if and when Leon's legs start to go. I remember him scoring a ridiculous wandery goal against us too, not that it counts for anything.
It's hard to see us going with anything other than Gylfi, Ki & Jonjo in midfield due to Leon's prolonged absence and Jay Fulton's bit part on Tuesday, but I'm pretty confident we'll control proceedings in the middle of the park. If Jonjo can rein in his Hollywood tendencies we should be able to retain possession, and keep an eye out for the amount of defensive work Gylfi is currently doing. He's started the season in blinding form, and in two league games so far he's only been dispossessed once. Once! That's not even considering his two assists and a goal, or his four key passes thus far. Very, very impressive stuff, and if he keeps this up Spurs may start to rue letting him go.
Last season WBA conceded quite a few goals from range (thanks to Dan from wearepremierleague.com for those charts) and with Shelvey, Sigurdsson, Bony and even Ki known for strikes from range it's definitely worth chancing our arm from the edge of the area. Bony makes such a good foil for teeing up an advancing midfielder it'd be rude not to. They'll likely have Gareth McAuley and Jonas Olsson to deal with, and while they're good defenders I'd hope the calibre of our attack would shine through.
An area of concern I'd say should be out wide. I don't know much about the new man up top but I do like the two men who are likely to be supplying him - Chris Brunt & Graham Dorrans. Both have a great strike on them so if they get past their fullbacks and cut inside we could be in trouble. It's important we don't let Rangel get isolated, and that Taylor doesn't dive into the tackle too much, lest we leave ourselves exposed.
I'm hopeful and confident of a Swansea win, and at home I should be. I do think that we're a better team than West Brom though, and I expect us to win by a couple of goals. Bony has looked impressive so far but hasn't yet found the back of the net - expect that to change this weekend. He's looking hungry and how he didn't score when he came on against Rotherham I don't know. Surely a goalless run for Wilf can't continue too much longer?