The ‘professional punters’ the journalists and even Leeds United fans are confident of steamrolling Swansea City tonight. The facts and figures are there for all to see, Leeds have won all of their last six games and are a free scoring confident side. The Swans have won two of their last six.

However, it’s very easy for someone not connected to the club, or who has not seen the progress under Luke Williams to talk in an allegedly ‘informed’ manner from what they see on paper. David Prutton as an example is someone who hasn’t or very rarely watches the Swans. His take on it is, “Swansea plucked that win at Hull City pretty much out of nowhere on Saturday. They were in no kind of form at all” Well, we saw differently against Plymouth Argyle in what was only can be described as a freak game. On another day etc …

The win against Hull City has come at the right time, it was desperately needed, but the signs have been there for a few weeks. Even against Southampton and Leicester before the loss at home to Plymouth, yes the signs were very much there. Before that we had the 2-2 draw away at Birmingham, a game again which really should have been three points. However, that was really the start of Luke Williams tenure, early games, as per Russell Martin, (to an extent) Luke needed to learn very quickly of his sides limitations. The other win in the last six for the Swans was actually the 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion, and very much like Saturday was down to Alan Sheehan. Luke admitted that himself. He clearly has a coach the Swans should be hanging on to.

A fully fit and best Swansea eleven has been an issue all season, obviously had those many injuries not occurred we would have seen a much better Swansea City this campaign. But those injuries are plaguing the club even now. Possibly more so. Over the last few weeks we have looked at the injury status at the club, there didn’t seem to be an answer. Very few of the squad have played the whole season uninterrupted.

It’s nice though for the outside world to be in a mindset of negativity towards the club. Fans especially, there’s nothing like shoving it up the clubs who have this overbearing mentality that leaks of superiority. That’s why there is always a wry smile after a decent win. The supporters have to come together tonight and bring with them an atmosphere that bites through the cold. Leeds won’t like it at all. They are used to being the club that bullies the atmosphere and gets the results.

There’s nothing like being the underdog, the pressure is off, it only returns when it looks like you could overturn the odds. That’s why Connor Roberts, Joe Rodon, Dan James and Joel Piroe all need an earful tonight, a relentless barrage. Some may frown, but they will not care, all they want is to get the points and the plaudits from tonight’s game. With all due respects they won’t care about anyone but Leeds and what they can take from Swansea. This club gave them all they have, it nurtured them and put them on the road to earning millions in salaries over their careers. If anyone should be clapping tonight it should be these four EX Swansea players to every corner of the ground. And hopefully in defeat as well.

Swansea City v Leeds United kicks off at 7:45pm this evening and is LIVE on SKY Sports Arena.

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Photographs with permission Dimitris Legakis

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