After four consecutive league defeats, a trip to face the league leaders away from home is the last thing we need as we try to steer clear of getting dragged into the pack at the foot of the League One table. The Cobblers will be looking to get something from the game to halt the poor run of form in the league following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Walsall in the F.A. Cup.
The Cobblers have been dealt a double injury blow ahead of the trip to South Wales with both Jason Crowe and Poul Hubertz struggling to be fit for the game. Both players came off in the Walsall cup tie at the weekend and neither will know on their availability until late in the day. Dean Bowditch comes back into contention after sitting out of Saturday’s game because Ipswich wouldn’t allow him to play but Chris Doig and Giles Coke remain on the sidelines. Coke had been looking to make progress in his recovery but suffered a set-back last week and will is now another few weeks away from first team action.
Swansea captain Garry Monk will miss the game after he picked up five bookings and serves a one match ban against the Cobblers. Ferrie Bodde and Paul Anderson could return from thigh and knee injuries respectively while Darren Pratley and Marcos Painter will be hoping to shake off a flu bug that has been going around the Swansea camp.
THE STORY SO FAR…SWANSEA CITY IN 2007/08…
Swansea sit top of the table and are looking good to mount another promotion challenge this time around.
Swansea began the 2007/08 campaign with defeat at Oldham but quickly bounced back with a League Cup win over newly promoted Walsall and a good home draw with fellow promotion favourites Nottingham Forest. They saw off Walsall again, this time 3-1 in the league at the Bescott Stadium before ending August with a 1-0 home defeat to Premiership side Reading in the second round of the League Cup, Leroy Lita scoring the only goal in extra time.
September brought a mixed bag of results and started with a 2-1 home defeat to Doncaster Rovers. After beating Millwall in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, late goals from Darryl Duffy and Paul Anderson gave them a 2-1 win over Carlisle United. This score line was repeated a week later as the Swans beat Cheltenham Town at Whaddon Road but a trip to Leeds ended in a 2-0 defeat. Swansea ended the month with a goalless draw at home to Brighton.
October was a superb month for the side as Roberto Martinez led his side to four straight wins to catapult them into the top six. A 2-1 home win over Swindon was followed by an incredible 5-0 success away at Leyton Orient. After seeing off Wycombe in the JPT, they won big away from home again, this time 4-1 at Bournemouth, and then claimed a 2-1 victory at Yeovil as Jason Scotland and Ferrie Bodde scored the goals.
This run of success was followed by two draws, at home to Gillingham and away at Millwall but they were soon back to winning ways. After seeing off non league Billericay in the F.A. Cup, they beat Yeovil in the JPT to progress into the area semi finals. Back in the league, there was a slight set back as Huddersfield won 1-0 at the Liberty Stadium but City responded with single goal wins at Tranmere and at home to Hartlepool United.
Last weekend, Horsham held the Swans to a 1-1 draw in the F.A. Cup Second Round but they will face a third non league outfit, Havant and Waterlooville, should they progress through the replay.
RECENT MEETINGS…
24/03/07: SWANSEA 2-1 COBBLERS
Brad Johnson hits a goal of the season contender in the first five minutes to give the Cobblers the lead but Swansea score on the stroke of half time through giant defender Dennis Lawrence. A minute after the break, the home side grabbed what turned out to be the winner as Andy Robinson scored following a quick break away.
28/10/06: COBBLERS 1-0 SWANSEA
The Cobblers finally record their first home win of the season thanks to a Luke Chambers volley in the 55th minute.
19/03/05: COBBLERS 2-2 SWANSEA
With both sides chasing promotion from League Two, Paul Connor puts the visitors in front. Goals from Martin Smith and Andy Kirk turn the game in the Cobblers’ favour but Lee Trundle rescues a point with twenty minutes to go.
07/08/04: SWANSEA 0-2 COBBLERS
In the opening game of the 2004/05 season, Scott McGleish outs us into the lead after just three minutes before an own goal from Sam Ricketts seals the perfect start to the season in our last ever visit to the Vetch Field.
24/04/04: SWANSEA 0-2 COBBLERS
A double from Eric Sabin the first half sends the Cobblers on the way to victory at the Vetch Field and proves to be a vital win in the race for the League Two playoffs.
17/11/03: COBBLERS 2-1 SWANSEA
Loanee Richard Walker heads the Cobblers into the lead in front of the Sky Sports cameras before Leon Britton equalises just after half time. But Martin Smith produces a moment of magic to give us victory ten minutes later.
FOR THE RECORD…SWANS v COBBLERS…
GAMES PLAYED: 51
SWANSEA WINS: 22
DRAWS: 12
COBBLERS WINS: 17
The Cobblers have been dealt a double injury blow ahead of the trip to South Wales with both Jason Crowe and Poul Hubertz struggling to be fit for the game. Both players came off in the Walsall cup tie at the weekend and neither will know on their availability until late in the day. Dean Bowditch comes back into contention after sitting out of Saturday’s game because Ipswich wouldn’t allow him to play but Chris Doig and Giles Coke remain on the sidelines. Coke had been looking to make progress in his recovery but suffered a set-back last week and will is now another few weeks away from first team action.
Swansea captain Garry Monk will miss the game after he picked up five bookings and serves a one match ban against the Cobblers. Ferrie Bodde and Paul Anderson could return from thigh and knee injuries respectively while Darren Pratley and Marcos Painter will be hoping to shake off a flu bug that has been going around the Swansea camp.
THE STORY SO FAR…SWANSEA CITY IN 2007/08…
Swansea sit top of the table and are looking good to mount another promotion challenge this time around.
Swansea began the 2007/08 campaign with defeat at Oldham but quickly bounced back with a League Cup win over newly promoted Walsall and a good home draw with fellow promotion favourites Nottingham Forest. They saw off Walsall again, this time 3-1 in the league at the Bescott Stadium before ending August with a 1-0 home defeat to Premiership side Reading in the second round of the League Cup, Leroy Lita scoring the only goal in extra time.
September brought a mixed bag of results and started with a 2-1 home defeat to Doncaster Rovers. After beating Millwall in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, late goals from Darryl Duffy and Paul Anderson gave them a 2-1 win over Carlisle United. This score line was repeated a week later as the Swans beat Cheltenham Town at Whaddon Road but a trip to Leeds ended in a 2-0 defeat. Swansea ended the month with a goalless draw at home to Brighton.
October was a superb month for the side as Roberto Martinez led his side to four straight wins to catapult them into the top six. A 2-1 home win over Swindon was followed by an incredible 5-0 success away at Leyton Orient. After seeing off Wycombe in the JPT, they won big away from home again, this time 4-1 at Bournemouth, and then claimed a 2-1 victory at Yeovil as Jason Scotland and Ferrie Bodde scored the goals.
This run of success was followed by two draws, at home to Gillingham and away at Millwall but they were soon back to winning ways. After seeing off non league Billericay in the F.A. Cup, they beat Yeovil in the JPT to progress into the area semi finals. Back in the league, there was a slight set back as Huddersfield won 1-0 at the Liberty Stadium but City responded with single goal wins at Tranmere and at home to Hartlepool United.
Last weekend, Horsham held the Swans to a 1-1 draw in the F.A. Cup Second Round but they will face a third non league outfit, Havant and Waterlooville, should they progress through the replay.
RECENT MEETINGS…
24/03/07: SWANSEA 2-1 COBBLERS
Brad Johnson hits a goal of the season contender in the first five minutes to give the Cobblers the lead but Swansea score on the stroke of half time through giant defender Dennis Lawrence. A minute after the break, the home side grabbed what turned out to be the winner as Andy Robinson scored following a quick break away.
28/10/06: COBBLERS 1-0 SWANSEA
The Cobblers finally record their first home win of the season thanks to a Luke Chambers volley in the 55th minute.
19/03/05: COBBLERS 2-2 SWANSEA
With both sides chasing promotion from League Two, Paul Connor puts the visitors in front. Goals from Martin Smith and Andy Kirk turn the game in the Cobblers’ favour but Lee Trundle rescues a point with twenty minutes to go.
07/08/04: SWANSEA 0-2 COBBLERS
In the opening game of the 2004/05 season, Scott McGleish outs us into the lead after just three minutes before an own goal from Sam Ricketts seals the perfect start to the season in our last ever visit to the Vetch Field.
24/04/04: SWANSEA 0-2 COBBLERS
A double from Eric Sabin the first half sends the Cobblers on the way to victory at the Vetch Field and proves to be a vital win in the race for the League Two playoffs.
17/11/03: COBBLERS 2-1 SWANSEA
Loanee Richard Walker heads the Cobblers into the lead in front of the Sky Sports cameras before Leon Britton equalises just after half time. But Martin Smith produces a moment of magic to give us victory ten minutes later.
FOR THE RECORD…SWANS v COBBLERS…
GAMES PLAYED: 51
SWANSEA WINS: 22
DRAWS: 12
COBBLERS WINS: 17
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