On Tuesday evening will be played the first out of two replays in the FA Cup round of 16, given that Premier League Swansea and second-division Sheffield Wednesday played a goalless draw in Sheffield 10 days ago. In the meantime the Welsh were defeated by Brighton away in the league, while Sheffield Wednesday lost two consecutive matches in the Championship.
Defeat in Brighton of 4-1 meant for Swansea end of very nice 10-game unbeaten streak. After the defeat Swansea again moved in the drop zone, or more precisely at the 18th place in the Premier League table. True, the Welsh have the same number of points like 17th-placed Crystal Palace and 16th-placed Southampton, while 11th-positioned Bournemouth has just five points more, which means that everything is still open in regard to the survival struggle.
However, the last defeat by Brighton and recent goalless draw with Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup should worry manager Carvalhal, and he will surely ask from his players a far more serious approach in order to win at home and reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. Regarding problems with absences, due to injuries still out of action are defender Rangel, midfielders Fer, Sanches and Britton, and forward Bony, while midfielder King and forward A. Ayew are suspended.
Probable lineups Swansea: Nordfeldt – Bartley, Mawson, van der Hoorn – Naughton, Carroll, Ki Sung-Yong, Olsson – Narsingh, Abraham, Routledge
We have said in the introduction that the guests from Sheffield lost two Championship matches in a row after the first goalless draw with Swansea; away to Millwall 2-1 and last weekend to third-placed Aston Villa 4-1 at home. Still, the team has seven points more than teams in the drop zone, but there is no room for easing up in remaining 12 rounds as the situation can get much worse for Sheffield Wednesday in no time.
In two previous years the team even reached the promotion play-off but surprising departure of manager Carvalhal, who moved to Swansea, has left a scar, while new manager Luhukayu has more and more problems with absences. Due to injuries out of action for match with the Welsh are goalkeeper Westwood, defenders Lees and van Aken, midfielders Hutchinson, Lee and Bannan, and forwards Forestieri, Hooper, Rhodes and Fletcher.
Probable lineups Sheffield Wednesday: Dawson – Venancio, Loovens, Pudil – Hunt, Clare, Pelupessy, Reach, Boyd – Joao, Nuhiu
After they pulled a goalless draw with a defensive approach in Sheffield 10 days ago, we expect from Swansea to play far more offensively at home and win this match that will qualify it for the quarter-finals of the FA Cup
Pick: Swansea wins 1.82 -
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