S
wansea have endured
a difficult first half of the
season and will be hopingthat 2018 can see them spring
up the Premier League table.
Their last visit to Merseyside
eight days ago saw them lose
3-1 at a resurgent Everton, a
result that sees them head into
the busy Christmas football
programme lying bottom of the
standings. Even so, they are
only ten points from the relative
safety of mid-table and indeed
Everton have shown that a string
of good results can change
everything.
Swans boss Paul Clement
said after the match at Goodison
Park: “Every game with each
THE VISITORS
defeat it gets harder, but it
doesn't affect my confidence
and belief that we're going to get
some good results.”
Clement had guided his team
to a fifteenth-place finish last
season, seven points clear of the
relegation zone, after taking the
managerial reins last January.
Yet this season has been one of
struggle with goalscoring proving
to be a particular problem.
After that Everton defeat, the
team from South Wales had
found the target just ten times
in 18 matches, three short of the
next lowest tally in the division- West Brom's thirteen. To make
matters worse, they lost one
of their main strikers, Wilfried
Bony, just five minutes into that
midweek game across Stanley
Park with a pulled hamstring.
The Swans went into last
Saturday's home game against
Crystal Palace with just three
wins and only one of those
victories came on their travels- a 2-0 triumph at Selhurst Park
in August courtesy of goals
from Tammy Abraham and
Jordan Ayew.
Away from home they
have also picked up points
at Southampton (0-0) and
Tottenham (0-0) but lost
narrowly at West Ham (0-1),
Arsenal (1-2), Chelsea (0-1)
and Stoke City (1-2) as well
as at Burnley (0-2).
SWANSEA CITY AFC
WELCOME TO...
SWANSEA CITY AFC
Founded: 1912
Stadium: Liberty Stadium
Capacity: 21,088
Seasons in Premier League: 7
Best finish: 8th (2014/15)