Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Twenty-Two: Swansea City v Barnsley

Team News

Reds boss Simon Davey has a major injury crisis ahead of the club's second ever trip to the Liberty Stadium. Iain Hume, Martin Devaney, Rob Kozluk, Diego Leon and Darren Moore who all missed the weekend defeat by Reading are all out and they have been joined by Anderson De Silva and Simon Whaley. De Silva needed stitches for a foot injury suffered against The Royals and the swelling of his foot has ruled him out, whilst winger Whaley has returned to Preston after his loan spell ended. Youngsters Jacob Butterfield and Luke Potter will come onto the bench. 18 year old midfielder Butterfield's last first team appearance was the 3-0 defeat at Cardiff on the final day of 2007-2008, whilst 19 year old full back Potter has not featured since having a torrid debut in the 7-0 thumping at West Brom on the final day of 2006-2007.

Likely Line-Up:

Heinz Muller

Marciano Van Homoet

Dennis Souza

Stephen Foster ©

Bobby Hassell

Mounir El Haimour

Jamal Campbell-Ryce

Hugo Colace

Jamie Cureton

Kayode Odejayi

Jon Macken

This is the two sides first meeting since the epic League One Play-Off Final at the Millennium Stadium in May 2006 which The Reds won in a penalty shootout. Even though it was in Wales, it was a neutral venue and The Reds have a torrid record at Swansea, whether at the Liberty Stadium or their former stadium- Vetch Field. Barnsley have won there just four times in 31 visits, losing the last six.

The last victory in Swansea came in August 1974 when The Reds secured a 3-0 success in the Fourth Division. They did the double over the Swans that year- winning 1-0 at Oakwell in April 1975. Barnsley finished 15^th that year, Swansea 22^nd.

This is the first time the two sides have met at this level since 1983-1984 when Swansea won 1-0 at the Vetch and Barnsley won 3-2 at Oakwell. Barnsley ended that season 15^th whilst Swansea were relegated to the Third Division in 21^st place. The one and only visit to the Liberty Stadium came in August 2005 when The Reds were soundly beaten 3-1. Kevin McLeod put the Swans 1-0 up on 14 minutes, before Jacob Burns equalised for The Reds after 35 minutes. But second half goals from Lee Trundle and McLeod again sealed Swansea the points.

In the return game at Oakwell in March 2006 both sides played out an entertaining 2-2 draw. Andy Robinson put the Swans ahead before Daniel Nardiello and Marc Richards turned the game on its head. Trundle though grabbed an equaliser. At the end of the season Barnsley finished 5^th in League One with Swansea 6^th, a point separated the two sides. Barnsley saw off Huddersfield and Swansea saw off Brentford in the Play-Off Semis before The Reds finally triumphed in Cardiff.

Barnsley 2-2 Swansea (Barnsley win 4-3 on pens) 27/5/06 Match Report

Barnsley 2-2 Swansea 4/3/06 Match Report

Last Six Barnsley v Swansea Results:

27/5/06 Barnsley 2-2 Swansea (Barnsley win 4-3 on pens) (League One Play-Off Final)

4/3/06 Barnsley 2-2 Swansea (League One)

29/8/05 Swansea 3-1 Barnsley (League One)

10/3/84 Swansea 1-0 Barnsley (Second Division)

12/11/83 Barnsley 3-2 Swansea (Second Division)

27/10/81 Barnsley 3-2 Swansea (League Cup)

Overall Record:

Barnsley Wins: 23

Swansea Wins: 30

Draws: 11

Barnsley Goals: 83

Swansea Goals: 98

At Swansea:

Barnsley Wins: 4

Swansea Wins: 23

Draws: 4

Barnsley Goals: 29

Swansea Goals: 64

Swansea are having a terrific time in their first appearance in the second tier for 25 years. They stormed to the League One title last season, winning it by ten points, and now sit just two points off the Championship Play-Off places. Its their form at home which has propelled them to 10^th in the league. The Swans have lost just once at the Liberty Stadium this season- to Birmingham in November and thumped league leaders Wolves there 3-1 back in October. They are though some what draw specialists, having had nine stalemates this campaign- the joint most in the division. Five of these have come at home. They haven't won at home since the 9^th November, losing two (one in the cup) and drawing one. Last time out they drew 2-2 with arch rivals Cardiff, and then followed that up with a 0-0 blank at Bristol City on Saturday.

Barnsley meanwhile are hoping not to slip to a third successive defeat, after 1-0 reverses to Nottingham Forest and Reading. If they do it will equal their worst run of the season as they lost the opening three league games. December has been a bad month for Barnsley. In December 2005, 2006 and 2007 The Reds have won just one game each year.

A win for Swansea could take them up to 6^th, whilst a win for Barnsley could move them as high as 15^th.

Last Six Results:

Barnsley:

6/12/08 Barnsley 0-1 Reading (Championship)

29/11/08 Nottingham Forest 1-0 Barnsley (Championship

24/11/08 Barnsley 3-2 Burnley (Championship)

22/11/08 Preston 2-1 Barnsley (Championship)

15/11/08 Barnsley 2-1 Watford (Championship)

8/11/08 Barnsley 1-2 Sheffield United (Championship)

W:2 D:0 L:4 F:7 A:9 GD:-2 Points:6

Swansea:

6/12/08 Bristol City 0-0 Swansea (Championship)

30/11/08 Swansea 2-2 Cardiff (Championship)

25/11/08 Coventry 1-1 Swansea (Championship)

21/11/08 Swansea 2-3 Birmingham (Championship)

15/11/08 Norwich 2-3 Swansea (Championship)

11/11/08 Swansea 0-1 Watford (League Cup)

W:1 D:3 L:2 F:8 A:9 GD:-1 Points:6

Barnsley lie 18^th in the Coca-Cola Championship with 24 points from 21 games.

Swansea lie 10^th in the Coca-Cola Championship with 30 points from 21 games.

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