Middlesbrough are coming off a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool which would have come as a blow to them. Boro have put up commendable performances in matches against the big clubs till now and it was expected they might finally cross the line against one of the big clubs.
While they seemed overawed by the demands and the competition in the Premier League in the beginning, they recovered well and have looked competitive since. But in trying to solidify their midfield, Karanka has had to forego a lot of the attacking impetus.
Swansea City, on the other hand, are in a mess and need to start winning games soon. Francesco Guidolin’s replacement Bob Bradley has not being able to turn their fortunes around and now faces a fight to keep his own position as the manager. Against Boro, they have a realistic chance of getting a win under their belt but the same sentiment is echoed by the opposition as well.
It promises to be a competitive encounter and both the teams will be gunning for the 3 points which has been difficult for both the teams to acquire till now.
TRIVIA
- This will be the first top-flight meeting between these two clubs since May 1982.
- In fact, 1981/82 was the only other season that these two clubs played in the top-flight together.
- Swansea have won each of their last three competitive meetings with Middlesbrough, all by a one-goal margin (1-0, 4-3, 1-0).
- The Swans have lost four of their last five away games against newly promoted sides in the Premier League, with a solitary victory coming at Burnley on the opening day of the season.
- Swansea City have conceded 15 goals in five Premier League away matches under Bob Bradley – an average of three per game.
- Only Southampton’s St. Mary’s Stadium (13 goals) has witnessed fewer Premier League goals this season than Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium (16).
- The Swans have conceded 34 league goals this season – 10 more than they have after 16 games in any previous Premier League season (24 in 2015-16 after 16 games).
MIDDLESBROUGH
TEAM NEWS
Middlesbrough will assess George Friend, who is back in training after a knee problem, and fellow defender Calum Chambers, who has a shoulder injury.
Boro will also monitor Gaston Ramirez and Cristhian Stuani, who are both nursing foot problems.
PREDICTED LINE-UP (4-3-3)
Valdes; Barragan, Chambers, Gibson, Fabio; Forshaw, Clayton, De Roon; Fischer, Negredo, Traore
SWANSEA CITY
TEAM NEWS
Swansea may again be without Ki Sung-Yeung and Federico Fernandez, both of whom are recovering from a broken toe.
The likes of Mo Barrow, Borja Baston and Jack Cork may earn recalls if boss Bob Bradley opts to rotate his squad.
PREDICTED LINE-UP (4-2-3-1)
Fabianski; Taylor, Amat, Mawson, Naughton; Fer, Cork; Routledge, Sigurdsson, Barrow; Llorente
BETTING ODDS
MIDDLESBROUGH- 11/10
DRAW- 12/5
SWANSEA CITY- 3/1
