Swansea City go in search of their first win at Ewood Park since 1971 in a game that many don’t give the side much of a chance this afternoon in Lancashire. There is little to worry about regards Russell Martin’s team selection, but we can expect a change after the struggles of Wednesday evening despite a 2-1 win.

Blackburn Rovers boss Jon Dahl Tomasson has had an indifferent season at times but his side sit in eighth four points ahead of the Swans and everyone knows what one result can do to the Championship standings. Talking yesterday he said. “I think we’re extremely difficult to beat which is a compliment to the boys who have done an excellent job. It’s good to be difficult to beat, it says something about the togetherness within the squad and it’s great. But you need to score goals and I think we need to be more clinical in those circumstances. I think we’re creating more chances, there was a period where we weren’t creating that many chances in my head, and it can always be better, and should be better over time, but it’s about taking those chances that you get.”

Rovers have kept four clean sheets in their nine matches in 2023, and Tomasson believes that does give them the platform to win games. “It’s about the choices you’re getting and making the right choices,” he added. It’s important to be solid and a big compliment to the lads in that way. We need to be more clinical and create chances to score more goals.”

Russell Martin will hope his side will display far more confidence than they have in recent times. The two wins since the turn of the year, on Wednesday and away at Sunderland in January have come against sides reduced to ten men. Martin has acknowledged his sides failings. "I'm really excited about going back there. it was an interesting game against them earlier in the season, and it’s one we want to put right. There's a lot of belief in here. The result on Wednesday night has definitely helped people here. especially the young ones, to relax a little bit and feel confident. We're going there to try and win. If we do, we'll be right back in the hunt.”

The real issue is the strength of the Swans side and it’s ability to maintain any sort of run of form, especially now Martin is looking at the play offs. His side have hardly looked top six material at any point this season, and the brief foray in to those standings saw a drop in form follow. Scoring goals is not an issue, it’s the defence which is shocking at times, especially in the last knockings of games. Managers know this and have capitalised time and time again this campaign and little has been evidenced to prove this season is any different to last. But surely this team after weeks and weeks of learning from their mistakes and focussing in on a more competent game management plan can move forward with Martin’s ideas on the pitch ?

The Swans head coach remains stoic and resilient in the face of mounting opposition. "I hope there’s an understanding of the bigger picture and what's going on here. I really feel that if we are allowed time to build and to keep improving, we will be successful at some point. We've got some tired bodies as you'd expect but everyone will be ready and raring to go. It's three games in six days so we've got to utilise the squad over the next two games, we've got a few players who haven't played for a while that came back into the team”

It seems Joe Allen and Luke Cundle could enter in to his immediate plans come kick off today, more likely Cundle and Nathan Wood is receiving the plaudits from his boss after his recent performances.
“Players like Nathan Wood who has been excellent over the last few weeks, Ben Cabango has made big strides in the time we have been there, Ollie Cooper has really progressed in his journey. It’s not easy to win games every week in this league, but the players work so hard for us and the togetherness as a group is outstanding” That’s all well and good as we have said already this week but Swans fans will once again travel in large numbers with an expectation Swansea City can win this game.

Fans can pay on the day at the turnstile by cash or card.

Blackburn Rovers v Swansea City Kicks off at 3pm later today.

Artwork by Swansea Independent

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