SWANSEA CITY v WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 30th August 2014, 3:00pm
Liberty Stadium

Albion return to league action this weekend still looking for their first victory of the season following the lacklustre draw against Oxford United on Tuesday.

Whilst much has been made of the fact that a number of the players were making their first appearances of the season, and so were lacking match fitness, it cannot be denied that the performance in general, especially during the second half, was nowhere near good enough from the calibre of players that were fielded. United more than held their own against an Albion team made up almost entirely of full internationals and many fans considered the visitors unlucky not to have won.

The game at Swansea will see a number of changes from the side on show against the U’s with Youssouf Mulumbu, Graham Dorrans, Jonas Olsson and Ben Foster all expected to return to the starting line-up. £10million record signing Brown Ideye will also be hoping to start the game despite a disappointing performance against Oxford. Whilst the effort he put in cannot be questioned he quite often looked well off the pace of the game and his penalty during the shoot-out just about summed up his night.

In contrast to Albion, Swansea have started the season in fine form with three straight wins including an opening day victory over Manchester United. The Swans were many neutrals’ tip to struggle this season but those neutrals will be having second thoughts after the start Garry Monk’s men have made. With Wilfried Bony looking likely to stay despite a summer of rumours linking him with a move from the club, City possess a player capable of unlocking the best of defences, something Albion have lacked since Romelu Lukaku and Peter Odemwingie departed.

Whilst Albion have yet to really impress so far this season, they have on the whole looked a fairly solid and organised team more akin to the sides put out by Roy Hodgson as opposed to the club’s last two managers. The big worry for supporters however is the lack of goals or even chances created. With Georgios Samaras and Silvestre Varela still considered not ready for action, the onus is on the trio of Saido Berahino, Victor Anichebe and the aforementioned Ideye to produce the goods.

Swansea will go into the game as favourites but if Albion can produce a repeat of their Sunderland and Southampton performances then they are more than capable of at least a point. Whilst the Swans’ performance against United on the opening day was reportedly excellent, their showing against struggling Burnley was not so good. If Albion can keep the influential duo of Bony and Gylfi Sigurdsson quiet then it could be a productive day for Irvine’s men.

ATWD Prediction: 1-1

MATCH NOTES

The game will be the 34th competitive meeting of the two clubs. Swansea have a slight edge in terms of victories with 14 compared to Albion's 12.

The Baggies' last game on August 30 came in 2008 in a Premier League fixture at the Reebok Stadium where they played out a 0-0 draw with Bolton Wanderers. Albion's last win on this date came back in 2003 when they beat Derby County 1-0 at Pride Park thanks to a Rob Hulse goal.

City's last game on this date also came in 2008 when they drew 1-1 at home to Sheffield Wednesday in a Championship encounter.

Excluding the penalty shoot-out against Oxford, the Baggies have won only five of their last 36 league and cup games, a run stretching back to October 2013.

2004/05 was the last time Albion drew three successive league games from the start of a season.

Albion have previously played 14 away Premier League games during the month of August and have failed to win any of them, drawing six and losing eight.

Albion's last six games: Oxford United (H, LC) 1-1 (7-6 after pens); Southampton (A) 0-0; Sunderland (H) 2-2; Porto (H, Fr) 1-3; Port Vale (A, Fr) 2-3; Nottingham Forest (A, Fr) 0-1

Swansea City's last six games: Rotherham United (H, LC) 1-0; Burnley (A) 1-0; Manchester United (A) 2-1; Villarreal (H, Fr) 0-3; Reading (A, Fr) 3-1, Bournemouth (A, Fr) 1-3

TEAM NEWS

Albion

Recent signings Georgios Samaras and Silvestre Varela have both been ruled out by Baggies' boss Alan Irvine with the duo reportedly not yet match fit.

Joleon Lescott has returned to training following his knee and calf injuries but will sit out the trip to South Wales.

Victor Anichebe and Sebastien Pocognoli both face late fitness tests after the pair were forced off by injuries during last weekend's draw at Southampton. Belgian left-back Pocognoli is rated very doubtful.

Swansea City

City will once again be missing the duo of Leon Britton and Marvin Emnes (both knee).

MATCH ODDS

Result

Albion Win: 3/1, Swansea City Win: 5/6, Draw: 12/5.

First Goalscorer

Albion: Ideye 15/2, Berahino 9/1, Anichebe 9/1, Sessegnon 11/1, Gardner 14/1, Brunt 16/1, Morrison 16/1, Dorrans 20/1, Mulumbu 25/1, Dawson 25/1, McAuley 33/1, Baird 33/1, Yacob 33/1, Pocognoli 33/1.

Swansea City: Bony 9/2, Gomis 6/1, Sigurdsson 13/2, Montero 8/1, Dyer 8/1, Shelvey 9/1, Ki 12/1, Routledge 12/1, Carroll 20/1, Sheehan 25/1, Rangel 33/1, Fernandez 33/1, Williams 33/1, Bartley 33/1.

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REFEREE

Paul Tierney (Lancashire)

The Lancashire official will be taking charge of his first ever Premier League match. It will also be the first time he has officiated a game involving Albion.

He has refereed Swansea City once before, back in August 2011 in their 3-1 Carling Cup defeat at Shrewsbury Town.

Tierney has issued 18 yellow cards and two red cards in the five games he has officiated so far this season.

TICKET INFORMATION

Albion have been allocated 2,000 seats for the game priced at £25 adults and £12.50 under-16s/full-time students (ID required required on entry)/over-60s.

WEATHER FORECAST

Dry with light cloud, 17°C

FIXTURE HISTORY

LAST MEETING AT THE LIBERTY STADIUM

Swansea City 1-2 Albion
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 15 March 2014, 3:00pm

Swansea City: Vorm; Rangel, Amat, Williams (c), Davies; Britton (Emnes 87), Canas (Michu 63); Routledge, de Guzman, Lamah (Hernandez 77); Bony. Subs not used: Tremmel (gk), Tiendalli, Taylor, Lita.

Goalscorers: Lamah 2

Booked: Routledge 28 (foul)

Albion: Foster; McAuley, Olsson (c), Dawson; Reid, Morrison, Mulumbu, Dorrans (Gera 75), Ridgewell; Sessegnon (Thievy 79); Anichebe (O’Neil, 89). Subs not used: Myhill (gk), Vydra, Berahino, Sinclair.

Goalscorers: Sessegnon 52, Mulumbu 85

Booked: Anichebe 26 (foul), Reid 42 (foul), Olsson 53 (foul)

Attendance: 20,703

Referee: Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire)

West Brom pushed themselves clear of the relegation zone by coming from behind to steal a 2-1 win at Swansea City. Belgian winger Roland Lamah had put the home side in front early on as they enjoyed a dominant first half at the Liberty Stadium. But Stephane Sessegnon equalised after the break and Youssouf Mulumbu was the hero when he fired home on 85 minutes to give Pepe Mel's side their first away victory since September .

Both sides were under pressure to pull themselves out of poor runs of results and pull away from the drop zone. Garry Monk's Swans were six matches without a win and the Baggies hadn't tasted victory since beating Newcastle 1-0 on New Year's Day.

Recharged and revved up after a 13-day break, the home side fired out of the blocks - taking less than two minutes to open the scoring. Leon Britton turned in his own half and played the ball into Wilfried Bony. His perfectly-paced through-ball was latched onto by Osasuna loanee Lamah down the left. When West Brom full-back Steven Reid came steaming into block what he thought would be a cross, Lamah cut back in-field and curled the ball into the far corner, past England international Ben Foster. It was not until the 15th minute that the away support saw anything to excite them. James Morrison slid a pass into Victor Anichebe, who showed great strength to shrug off Ashley Williams before firing his shot straight at Michel Vorm. Jonathan de Guzman came close when he met a Lamah cross, but Foster saved from point-blank range. Lamah was involved again when he had a shot blocked, then glanced a header wide.

Swansea continued to threaten as the half wore on. Bony sliced wide from a tight angle and De Guzman shinned the ball wide from a Lamah cross. The visitors rarely kept hold of the ball long enough to make an impact on the game. The only times they threatened were when Swansea took a few risks trying to play their way out from the back. Home skipper Williams nearly celebrated his 100th Premier League appearance for the club with a goal just before half time, but his downward header from a corner bounced up and over the bar.

West Brom emerged after the break with renewed intent, snapping at Swansea heels and hustling for the ball. The extra aggression paid off and in the 52nd minute midfielder Sessegnon levelled the match from 20 yards. Bony lost the ball on half way, allowing the visitors to press and find James Morrison with his back to goal. He teed up Sessegnon, whose sweetly-struck drive beat Vorm. Swansea almost took the lead again, but De Guzman's curling free kick was well held by the diving Foster. After his side had a hand-ball penalty shout turned down, Monk turned to a cult hero at the Liberty Stadium for some inspiration. On 63 minutes, Spanish striker Michu - last season's top scorer - came off the bench to a standing ovation, making his first appearance since December 15 due to injury. He was not the hero this time, making little impact up front. Both sides exchanged chances before The Baggies took the lead in the 85th-minute through Congolese midfielder Mulumbu. He picked up the ball 30 yards out and was able to drive towards the Swansea goal without anyone closing him down. His side-footed strike from just outside the box went under Jordi Amat's legs and in off the post. Not since September 28 had West Brom won on the road, when they upset Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford.

Sporting Life

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

Swans' defender Ashley Williams was in the youth system at The Hawthorns during the late 1990s before being released at the age of 16.

PAST CONNECTIONS

Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: Paul Agnew, Kwame Ampadu, Paul Anderson, Craig Beattie, Harry Boston, Walter Boyd, Fred Buck, Arthur Cook, Ted Crowe, Robbie Dennison, Roy Finch, Jack Haines, Carl Heggs, Ivor Jones, Des Lyttle, Amos Lloyd, Tudor Martin, Luke Moore, Tony Millington, Stewart Phillips, Ronnie Rees, Scott Sinclair, David Stewart, James Thomas, Kim Wassell and Colin West.

ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS SWANSEA CITY