The Swans take on Stoke City this evening in a 7.45pm kick off with the name Jordan Thomas ringing in the ears of Paul Watson. More on that later, but it’s match day news first.
Tonight’s game is a battle between two very fragile and out of form sides. Both have sacked their managers in recent times and are yet to appoint a fresh face. Stoke City are after Dean Smith and the Swans are said to be waiting on Daniel Levy to click his fingers on Chris Davies.
Josh Key, we are told has been receiving extra treatment after a bruising Saturday afternoon in South Yorkshire, his recovery from his four weeks out saw him return against Hull City at home, since then another three games have followed. The Swans won’t want Key to be taking backward steps after such intense treatment to get him back in to first team thinking.
We await to hear on Josh today.
The last time Swansea City took the points from Stoke City away from home was in March 2021, in a covid restricted away fixture, the result was 2-1 to the Swans. You have to go back to May 2001 for the next win at the Bet 365 ( then called the Britannia ) Matthias Verschave, Nicolas Fabiano and David Romo all featured for a soon to be relegated Swansea City that night. Kristian O'Leary And Jason Price scored the goals in a 2-1 win.
Last season the game ended 1-1.
Interim head coach, Alan Sheehan, as we reported yesterday is keen for improvement. "If we train and prepare in the same fashion we did last week, then it will give us the best chance of putting a run together. It's a quick turnaround, but it's down to us to continue to give it everything as a group and as a club, and be ready to perform and go again."
Stoke have Paul Gallagher in temporary charge since Sunday and the sacking of Alex Neil.
Watch his Swansea pre match below.
The Swans shouldn’t be going in to this game expecting the Potters to be an easy target. This Stoke side has beaten Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Leeds United this season. They will be desperate for a win, and although this is pretty much new territory for Gallagher he isn’t taking the Swans lightly.
Something which is of note is the ever increasing Swans away support, even with performances being anything but good. We say that after distance and numbers are taken in to consideration and note the Swans support has attracted many younger fans. That has to be good and the club need to seize upon this and incentivise others.
Jordan Thomas
The Swans have been watching young Jordan for a while with a view to securing his services from Bath City. Unfortunately for Sporting Director, Paul Watson, other clubs have been watching the player and this season Bath City have revealed twenty three different scouts have watched him this season. That’s Bath putting him in the shop window for us, he’s a decent finisher with pace.
See below.
Playing in the national league south the Bath man is now twenty two and this surely is his year for a move up the leagues ? Stoke City v Swansea City kicks off at 7:45pm tonight and is on Sky Sports LIVE ( 🔴 button )