The Swans are already within kicking distance of Turf Moor this morning as they prepare for their final game before the international break. A 3pm kick off against Burnley.

The positives are Burnley cannot score goals, that’s the opinion from the north west, but seventeen goals is their tally so far this season compared to the Swans eleven. The positives for the Clarets is their goals conceded, just six. That’s pretty impressive. They also have a plus eleven goal difference compared to the Swans who have conceded just nine but only scored eleven. The odds are very much in Burnley’s favour of course, and Swansea City have hardly impressed there in recent times. Yes, the Swans dominated the Premier League fixtures, but that counts for nothing, and the last two Championship meetings have resulted in two losses home and away, conceding six and scoring one.

Our hosts this morning have won just once in their last six games, the Swans twice. In amongst all that both sides have had a pretty dismal return within those stats. Both of them drawing when really they should have won. Despite all that Burnley are in the play off places, the Swans just five points away from sixth place Middlesbrough, and this is the game in hand.

A draw would see the Swans stay where they are in eleventh, but Burnley would knock Watford out of fourth spot. If Swansea City win today they will be on twenty two points and could move into ninth. The bookies will tell you this morning this game is a draw, with Burnley being favoured for the win. Josh Brownhill is on five goals for the Clarets, the Swans top scorer is shared between two players, Liam Cullen and Zǎn Vipotnik. They have scored two a piece.

Player links between the two clubs are numerous, the lesser known are Nathan Dyer who had a spell on loan at Turf Moor in 2005. Lenny Johnrose of course who died in 2022 had three spells at Burnley, and Josh Ginnelly was there for three years but failed to make any appearances. Those that recall Brad Maylett playing for the Swans will know he signed from Burnley in 2003.

There are many obvious player links such as Jack Cork, Michael Obafemi and Connor Roberts, they are more recent in the memory. The player idolised by both sets of supporters is Leighton James (below) a mercurial winger and Welsh International. Ex Swans manager, John Toshack on hearing of his passing described him as "one of the finest wingers that British football has ever produced, and we were very very lucky at the fact he was a Welshman" Leighton, from Swansea died in this year, aged seventy one. He played nearly four hundred times for Burnley and set the old first division alight (now Premier League) with his wonderful skills and goalscoring for Swansea City. He once stated, ‘Any team playing Cardiff is a team that I want to win”

That will do for us.

⚽️ Gwyn Davies : The official review on David Webb.

Has refereed the Swans 15 times away

Swans Won 4 Drawn 5 Lost 6

For 21 Against 23

Yellow cards: Swans 23 Opponents 22

Red cards: Swans 0 opponents 1

He will be assisted by Daniel Leach and Andrew Fox. Sam Allison will be the fourth official.

That just leaves us to say safe travels to the four hundred plus Jacks on their way to Burnley today. Here’s hoping the three points come home.

Artwork by Swansea Independent : Leighton James photograph from Reuters

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