The Indy dedicate today’s game to Marcus Howells, lead singer of Foreign Legion and avid QPR fan from Merthyr who died in June 2023. Marcus was one of those totally positive people who embraced life to the full. Those that knew him will know why.
Today’s teams will both see small changes. Luke Williams has more options with Liam Walsh fit for at least a squad inclusion. The other consideration has to be top scorer Jamal Lowe who has had twenty two starts for the Swans this season. Despite injury he has the best goals per game stat this season for Swansea City with eight goals and two assists from twenty eight.
The stadium home ends have sold out bar a handful of single tickets. QPR have sold 1,300 tickets with away fans able to purchase tickets online until kick off.
Luke Williams, Swansea City head coach : "I cannot wait for us to be back at home again. I think we have a huge responsibility on us, as a squad and a staff. I cannot wait for us to be back at home again,” said theI think we have a huge responsibility on us, as a squad and a staff. We have a huge responsibility to try and ensure we make something enjoyable for our supporters. We have to try to ensure we help them make that atmosphere where they can join in because of the performance.
Marti Cifuentes, QPR head coach : "It is always important to keep pushing when you have momentum and because of how emotional the victory against Birmingham was, it is a good moment to keep creating. We are aware this is going to be a big challenge and Swansea play in a way that is completely different to Birmingham, and we need to be ready for that."Those things are going to be important, they are going to be key.It will be a different game in the sense it is a much bigger pitch and they play in possession, and we need to be clear in the plans we have for this game.”
QPR OS : Part of Cifuentes’ preparations since the win against Blues has been assessing his squad and whether rotation will be needed for the second game in three days, while also studying the Swans threat.For us, it is all about recovering and preparing as best you can on the training pitch. I need to lock my door, sit in front of the computer, watch a couple of their games and look at the clips the analysts have sent me, and then make decisions.”
While the R’s have a little bit of breathing space between them and the bottom three, Cifuentes is keen to stress there is still much work to do. It puts us in a better place because no-one wants to be in the relegation zone for as long as we have been but, at the same time, all of us are very aware there is still a big job to be done,” he said. The players are all ready mentally for what is coming up. We are in a better position yes, but the job is not done yet.”
TEAM NEWS IS IN -
Swansea City: Carl Rushworth, Josh Key, Harry Darling, Joe Allen, Matt Grimes (captain), Jerry Yates, Jamal Lowe, Josh Tymon, Nathan Wood, Ollie Cooper, Ronald.
Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Jay Fulton, Ben Cabango, Jamie Paterson, Charlie Patino, Liam Cullen, Liam Walsh, Aimar Govea, Azeem Abdulai.