With 1,200 allocated tickets snapped up by the Jack Army, Blackburn Rovers have agreed to pay on the day facilities for travelling swans fans for the season opener in Lancashire. Today’s game is seen as a watershed for the COVID-19 pandemic with sporting events and numerous other events opening up day by day.

Talking to a contact within South Wales Police yesterday the expectation is that a few hundred more swans fans will take advantage of the last minute opportunity to see Swansea City at Ewood Park. Turnstyle entry is sensibly available. The club has many supporters in the north west of England, and countrywide in its thousands for sure. To feel that glow that the first game of the season brings for many Jacks will be something they haven’t felt for many months, eighteen plus for many.

A revitalised Swansea City following with a new coaching and management team, revitalised hope with the arrival of Russell Martin, plus new signing Janie Paterson yesterday the swans will have their eyes on all the points today. Hospitality packages have been snapped up via coaches from the Liberty Stadium. Unfortunately a little more thought needed here for a few more stops, at least across Wales for supporters who are not from the city would help. Some will prefer the choice of a car, and many travelled yesterday evening by train to Manchester for an overnight stay, not a bad idea at all.

Blackburn Rovers are giving the impression of being down on their luck with manager Tony Mowbray bemoaning his lack of options for the season opener. Speaking last night he said, “My frustration is that Rankin-Costello is still injured, a player who could cover three or four positions, Bradley Johnson is injured, Dack and Wharton are injured long-term. Johnson would strengthen us considerably in that one position, Rankin-Costello would. I sit here feeling as though we have a team that can compete in this division in my mind at this moment. Beyond that, we’re playing kids who probably need to go out on loan and play in League One or League Two and learn”

Tough times for Mowbray but all swans fans will know no matter the opposition it’s always a tough ride at Ewood Park. Mowbray went on, “That’s where we are. We can put a team out who can compete in this division, too many injuries and that probably wouldn't be the case. Swansea have had their issues, no Andre Ayew, Connor Roberts is injured, they have got some issues so it’s a game we can go into and be really positive and start the season on a high.”

Russell Martin’s first game in charge will excite him after a week of seeing the sheer quality he has on his hands at the Liberty. He is very keen as well to give Yan Dhanda a real opportunity this season, last chance saloon it may well be, but Dhanda will be pleased to hear his words. “ We had a good chat with Yan. I was really impressed with his self-awareness and how honest he is about his situation. "He's been really keen to learn more about what's expected of him from us. It's great for us as a group of coaching staff. He knows what we feel he can maybe improve on to help him with us. As he said to me, it's up to him to go and deliver that so I'm excited to see what he's capable of producing. For him, he just wants to really try and kick-start his career now and turn himself into a player that gets picked every single week."

Yesterday’s free transfer signing Jamie Paterson seems as keen as anybody to get down to work as well. “ I am buzzing to be here, to be honest. The season is nearly upon us and I cannot wait to be out there playing football for Swansea,” he told the club website. I’ve played against Swansea before and I know about the style of play, and from speaking to the manager I feel like the style he wants to play will really suit me” He could certainly feature this afternoon.

So it’s today Jacks, the army moves north, the passion is rekindled and new hope is with us.

Come on my lovely boys !

Photographs licensed from Reuters

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