The Swans are already on their way to Ipswich having departed west Glamorgan on Thursday for their final fixture before yet another International break. It’s been very much up and down since the championship reconvened after Octobers international games.
Two home losses to Leicester City and Watford respectively were met with satkssfwwcoty comments for the Foxes game but the defeat to Watford was poor all round. However, in true Swans fashion they turned in a tough and uncompromising performance against Blackburn Rovers winning 1-0 away. Last weekends game against Sunderland saw a point for both sides in a game ruined by the official, Bobby Madley. Charlie Patino was sent off and as a result misses todays game, the midfielder very harshly treated by Madley. Conversations this week have revealed Kevin Friend finding in Swansea’s favour regards the sending off, albeit just an opinion. The Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) really have to look closer in to yellow cards when issued in error.
Ipswich start as clear favourites today. Boss Kieran McKenna on the game. "Swansea are an aggressive side, hard running and will try and press us as well and play with a lot of energy, and it should make for a good game. And the last games of a block, certainly with the block we've had with cup games, midweek games, away games every week, you need the whole squad and there's a chance it comes down to the latter stages of the game. Both those games you're speaking about were decided with big impacts from the bench, and maybe we'll need that tomorrow. Let’s see, but it's certainly going to need great energy from everyone on the pitch, great energy from the stands to help us produce a performance and hopefully get a result.”
It sounds ominous for Swansea who will be backed by yet another tremendous away support considering the distance. McKenna isn’t taking things lightly. "I think they're in pretty good form, McKenna reflected. "If you look at the last eight games, they've won five and had a draw as well and I'm sure Michael feels like he's starting to get his imprint on the team. They’re certainly working very hard and look organised, and they have some really good players as well, so we know it's going to be a really tough game.”
Duff mentioned this on Thursday lunchtime. "We are a bit short of numbers with Charlie suspended, and a couple have knocks so we will need to see where they are at,” he told the Swans official website. It’s all hands to the pump, and everyone who has been called upon has put their hands up and performed and we want to take that forward into this weekend. No-one is coming back who missed out last week so we will need to stay as resolute as we have been " Duff, who faced Town twice as Barnsley boss last season, believes the Blues have a real chance of going up for a second successive season given their excellent start to the campaign. They have put themselves in a really good opportunity to go again. I think Kieran has had a long time there now in terms of football”
Two young managers then ready to pit their wits against each other in what is going to be a competitive game, and hopefully one the Swans can take something from. However, it will be a real tough ask. McKenna concluded. "We’re the home side, we love playing at home, we've got our supporters behind us and we'll go and try and make it a really good game of football, try and perform and from that you can never guarantee the result but if we perform as well as we can, if we give maximum effort, then we at least give ourselves a good chance to get the points as well.”
Ipswich Town v Swansea City kicks off later today at 3pm at Portman Road.