Coventry v Swansea

[jackaway]

Coventry v Swansea, Boxing Day Fri 26 Dec 15:00
Two contrasting games coming up over Xmas. We’re playing the runaway leaders Coventry on Friday then we play just seven points behind us, third from bottom Oxford at their place next Monday. Both tough games in their own way.
Its ironic then, when we talk about table toppers Coventry, that they have four of our ex-players, goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, left-back Jake Bidwell, right-back Joel Latibeaudiere, and captain and midfielder Matt Grimes. ‘Twas ever thus as far as Swansea are concerned. All four played in the 1-1 draw at Southampton last Saturday, where they were down to ten men for the whole of the second-half.
Coventry are very strong at home and are unbeaten in their ten games there so far with 8 wins and 2 draws. They’ve scored a total of 53 goals compared to Swans 24.
The little bit of good news is that they’ve won only one of their last four games whilst Swans have won three of their last four. In the last 22 games we’ve won 8 compared to their 3, with 11 draws.
Clutching at straws maybe but if we can get a draw there we’ll have done well.

[Estoban]

Here we are, it’s Christmas, the time of year when everybody goes mad racing around the shops splashing money on the credit card.
We thought we’d be clever this year and do our food shopping this morning at 6am in Tesco before the rush. Boy were we wrong, every man and his dog were there, it was like a circus, crazy, never seen anything like it, everybody must have had the same idea.
And it will be the same with the football results, always the shock ones, so I’m hoping we can man up and surprise Coventry and their ex-Swans players.
I would be happy with the draw as would most Swans fans, bring it on!

[Iolo]

Pre-match press conference Vitor Matos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWHzD94VhAM

[Iolo]

Hi guys, Xmas is here, the goose is getting fat, please put a right-back in the old man’s hat (so Galbraith can move back to midfield!).
Seriously, hoping we can get an experienced one in on loan, window opens in 9 days.
Free coach travel for the Jack Army up to Coventry, a great help but Coventry spoilt it, got greedy and are charging silly prices for match tickets.
I hope we in turn spoil their Xmas party.

[jackaway]

James McClean gets three match ban after the head stamp on Ronald. Videos of the incident were widely circulated on social media after the Wrexham match.
Report here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/czrkjr8dn8xo

[jackaway]

With the new coaching team in place, the appointment of Ryan Maye from Aston Villa as assistant head-coach has gone under the radar a bit.
Details here:

https://www.swanseacity.com/news/swansea-city-confirm-staff-additions

[jackaway]

Another well known American billionaire has joined the Swans as a minority shareholder - Martha Stewart.
Details here:

https://www.swanseacity.com/news/ownership-update-christmas-2025

[jackaway]

Here’s the alternative view from Frank Lampard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woq1MPnIqyM

[jackaway]

Seems as if Coventry have had some players down with the flu bug.
Defenders Bobby Thomas and Liam Kitching and midfielder Tatsuhiro Sakamoto all missed last Saturday's 1-1 draw at Southampton whilst defender Milan Van Ewijk (Preston) and Victor Torp (Ipswich) also missed previous matches.

[jackaway]

Merry Christmas everybody

[Estoban]

Merry Christmas guys!
Today is the day we take on table toppers, unbeaten at home Coventry.
This afternoon can we get something there, we are about to find out.
Whichever way the match goes as long as we give 100% I will be happy.
Come on boys give us something to cheer about.

[Iolo]

Hope all you girls and boys enjoyed your Christmas dinner and are stuffed full of turkey and chocolates.
Now it’s Boxing Day, sports day, and a ‘biggy’ coming up at Coventry this afternoon.
The disrespect Coventry have shown to our away fans by charging 45 pounds for a ticket has been recognised by our owners and they are offering free bus travel to compensate them, what a great gesture. I wonder if they can recreate the twenty is plenty scheme we had for away tickets some years ago, that would be handy with money tight in these times.
The atmosphere created for the full house Wrexham match was a credit to the owners and fans and hopefully we can do it again on Boxing Day against West Brom, it certainly helped the players get the win.
Meantime there’s the top and bottom clashes against Coventry and Oxford, today and Monday to overcome first.
Good luck to the Swans, let’s cause the biggest upset of the day by getting a result up there this afternoon.

[jackaway]

Swans:
Lawrence Vigouroux, Ethan Galbraith, Ben Cabango (c), Cameron Burgess, Josh Tymon; Marko Stamenic, Goncalo Franco, Liam Cullen; Jisung Eom, Ronald, Zan Vipotnik

Subs:
Andy Fisher, Josh Key, Jay Fulton, Melker Widell, Malick Yalcouye, Ishe Samuels-Smith, Kaelan Casey, Bobby Wales, Zeidane Inoussa

[jackaway]

Coventry:
Rushworth, Van Ewuk, Kitching, Woolfenden, Bidwell, Grimes (c), Torp, Rudoni, Sakamoto, Simms, Mason-Clark

Subs:
Wilson, Allen, Wright, Kessler-Hayden, Latibeaudiere, Eccles, Brau, Perry, Andrews

[jackaway]

Coventry 1 (Mason-Clark 43’) - Swansea 0
A game of missed chances for both sides, but Coventry quality shone through, Mason-Clark particularly.
Vipotnik and Cullen guilty of missing easy chances where the result could have been different.
Now we are back in the relegation mix, four points off third from bottom Oxford who beat Southampton today.