It’s the morning of the Swans biggest game of the season and it’s the visit of Leeds United. A fixture that in the past created huge interest in the city. Nowadays with Sky TV, financial constraints, a general feeling of apathy and it has to be said, performances on the pitch times are a lot different,

Approximately two thousand tickets remain for this fixture, generally in the more gentile surroundings of the south stand where families often gather, there’s still time to make the game. The bigger concern is why this continues to happen with attendances some two thousand a game down on last season. It’s difficult to gauge as all Championship clubs now include their season ticket holders in gate receipts irrespective if they are at the game or not. So, most grounds unless they are sold out often look far less.

The fixture today should sell out, it’s way too short on that possibility, and most certainly will not. There are still a large number of tickets remaining. That’s a clear indication as the Swans embark on a new era with new investment that it is going to take a lot more than words. Despite the sterling efforts of Chairman Andrew Coleman to bring this together, he has a massive mountain to climb and thousands of Swansea fans to convince.

The availability this morning is below. The blue dots are unsold seats.

It’s not a complaint but it’s definite proof of the season ahead and what needs to be done to attract back a dwindling fanbase. And it isn’t unique to the Swans. However, we have seen what is on offer for the club with what looks like one hell of a team assembled in the boardroom. We just have to rely on their judgment and professionalism. Even with all the latest news and Leeds United in town it hasn’t convinced too many to risk the weather this afternoon.

Andrew Coleman addressed his concerns yesterday on the gap that needs to be bridged between the club and its supporters. “The first thing is we need to better connect with our supporters. My hope is that we've got a long waiting list here for season tickets etc. We've got to continue to perform inside the 'Swansea Way'. We've got to give exciting football for the supporters to watch, which gets them out of their seats and again we've got to give them an ownership group that they can be proud of and that represents them and their beliefs”

This fixture may be many things, but it is no cup final.

It is a day where crosses need to reach the right heads, and where the chances the Swans make have to be buried. We all know that if those chances are taken, Leeds United will be beaten. But we have been saying that all season. A look at the league table tells us that the Whites can take top spot with a win, conversely with the right numbers the Swans could end the day back in ninth. That’s the position head coach, Luke Williams has stated is his sides personal drop zone. The place in the Championship that the Swans need to be, and then looking above. Currently that isn’t the case with Swansea City in fourteenth and again ‘aspiring’ not content with their lot, that has to change.

Daniel Farke, Leeds United manager has earmarked this game as ‘extremely difficult’ despite netting seven times in the two ties last season. The last time the Swans faced Leeds United at home it was a four nil drubbing. That was in February and both managers were in charge that time as well. Farke said: “It’s not easy to score goals against them. I have to say they’re well-structured, I like a lot what they do in build-up and midfield play. “Cullen will play with confidence after scoring a brace for Wales. We are respectful, we have to be on it. We want to dominate this game and possession. We have to be more efficient than we have been before. We want to give ourselves the chance to create chances.”

Luke Williams : “We know what we’re up against, but I think we’ve competed this season against top sides in the division better than we did last season. So we have to take some confidence from that, be brave and try make a really good performance at home where we’ve been pretty good. This is going to be the ultimate challenge. We’re going to have to be immaculate defensively and ruthless at the other end to have a chance of being really competitive. I think they will finish in the top two and I don’t say that like there aren’t other excellent sides.”

Our information was that Aimar Govea wouldn’t play or be involved today, and that was confirmed pretty much by his involvement for the U21 side yesterday. On the other hand Josh Key is most certainly having a superb season. Luke Williams acknowledges that. "Josh is an exciting player. He’s supposed to be playing right-back but I don’t think anyone told Josh that. He looks to me like he’s enjoying his football but he’s concentrating. He's focused in the game, he's not out there playing like a free spirit. But he’s confident in his ability. He understands what he can and can’t do. I think he’s performing at a very high level and he’s a very exciting player to watch”

Key will most certainly start, he is fast becoming one of the first considerations on the team sheet. Lawrence Vigouroux has returned fully fit to the squad in midweek as has Liam Cullen, Joe Allen and Ben Cabango from what we here. The squad did train yesterday with a clean bill of health bar the obvious reports from before the international break. The players are itching to get back to business with three games over this week. Today of course, and then Derby County away at Pride Park on Wednesday night. Next Saturday the Swans welcome Portsmouth.

Much will change over these three games.

Well, the first knockings of this remarkable two weeks are settled for now, it’s down to Swansea City on the pitch to back up the hard work. Nothing should inspire a player or a team than the visit of a quality football side who like the Swans have a rich history. It’s now over to them, we will have team news later.

Artwork by Swansea Independent & Photographs Open Source

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