Russell Martin has seen another player go out on loan in Nathanael Ogbeta, this time to Peterborough United in a bid to get some first team game time. The defender joined the swans from Shrewsbury Town last January on deadline day in a controversial manner. Today however, see’s a confident Swansea City take on Sunderland at the stadium of light.
No Michael Obafemi or Jamie Paterson today as they sit at home ‘not in the right frame of mind’ to play for Swansea City. This leaves selection open for another start for Liam Cullen up front with Joel Piroe.
The swans trained at St George’s Park yesterday on route to the north east.
Swans players at St George’s Park yesterday
Russell Martin is impressed with his front two. "I thought he ( Piroe ) was brilliant in the Watford game. After he scored the first goal, he had that spark again. Every week, he works so hard for the team but things haven’t really fallen for him. But recently — the Coventry game and Watford game — he was very good and then he scored again at the weekend. He’s had Culls [Liam Cullen] with him, which I think has taken a bit of the burden from him.”
Swansea always look better when Piroe is firing on all cylinders, they look far more dangerous and accomplished around the penalty area and today we can only hope the accuracy in shooting shown in training yesterday resurfaces this afternoon. Joel Latibeaudiere is under no illusion about the hurdles to overcome today. "We were just discussing that they’ll have nearly forty thousand fans there screaming so we’ve got to rise to that challenge and show the mentality that you need to have. We’ll keep doing what we believe in and hopefully we can go there and put things right after being disappointed with the way the second half went at Bristol City. But these are the challenges you have to want as a player, We have to embrace it and produce."
Joe Allen is fit and we expect him to start this time around.
We will leave the last words for today to Russell Martin. "There's very little between us and them in terms of points. I really like them as a team. I thought they were great at Swansea in the second-half, they're young, vibrant and energetic and have a manager with so much experience at this level. They pose a lot of threats. I really enjoyed playing there as a player with the atmosphere at the stadium. I think the players will enjoy it and relish it. It's one we're really looking forward to and it's one I think the players are excited for."
Here’s hoping those well looked after Swansea players don’t forget the six hundred plus travelling Swansea fans who have battled through the weather in some cases to make the game today. Especially those taking flights from Bristol airport yesterday.