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[monks data]
Apr 15, 2022 at 3pm UK at Liberty Stadium
Swansea
1 - 1
Barnsley
Ntcham (64')
Grimes (90+2')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Gomes (54')
Wolfe (16'), Palmer (29'), Morris (78')

Preview: Swansea City vs. Barnsley - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Friday's Championship clash between Swansea City and Barnsley, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Barnsley currently sit 22nd in the Championship and eight points adrift of safety, although they do have a game in hand on 21st-placed Reading, with Poya Asbaghi's team set to travel to South Wales on Friday.

The Swansea.com Stadium is the venue for the South Yorkshire side this week, when they will face an in-form Swansea City, who enter this encounter five games unbeaten.


Match preview

Swansea City manager Russell Martin celebrates after the match on February 28, 2022© Reuters

Russell Martin's side won three consecutive games for the first time this season, after securing a 2-1 win over relegation-threatened Derby County on Saturday.

A brace from Joel Piroe inside 16 minutes of that match set the Swans up well for another three points, but the visitors did make the hosts work hard for their victory after getting back into the game with a Tom Lawrence penalty.

Swansea currently sit 14th in the Championship, with an outside chance of reaching the playoffs as they are eight points behind sixth with a game in hand, but a more realistic aim is to finish Martin's first campaign in the dugout strongly and in the top half of the table.

The Swans are on their longest unbeaten run of the season, and with four of their remaining six games all coming on their own patch, they should be confident about ending the campaign well.

Friday's hosts are certain to dominate possession against Barnsley, and that may help them keep their 17th clean sheet of the year, which seems remarkable considering that the team have conceded 53 goals in 40 matches.

Barnsley's manager Poya Asbaghi on March 19, 2022© Reuters

Barnsley have to pick themselves up after a heavy 4-1 defeat against Millwall last time out, in a game which they did not manage to contain the hosts' attacks, with the Lions registering 10 shots on target.

That result for Asbaghi's side may not have come as a surprise to many, considering that they have only managed to win once on their travels this season, which does not bode well for Friday.

If the Colliers lose both games over this bank holiday weekend, they could be relegated by the end of Monday, which will bring to an end their three-year spell in the second division.

As the visitors can expect Swansea to dominate possession, they will have to be effective with their counter-attacks and could also look to dent the hosts through set pieces.

Goals from Olivier Ntcham and Jamie Paterson secured a 2-0 victory for Swansea in the reverse fixture at Oakwell in November, when the home side struggled to get a foothold in the game, registering just two shots at goal.

Swansea City Championship form:
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • W

Barnsley Championship form:
  • D
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • L



Team News

Swansea City's Michael Obafemi celebrates scoring their first goal on February 13, 2022© Reuters

Swans midfielder Flynn Downes has missed the last two matches due to a slight knock, but he is in contention to come back into the side on Friday, potentially taking the place of Jay Fulton in the starting 11.

Hannes Wolf was praised by manager Martin after his performances against Cardiff, Millwall and in particular last time out against Derby, and he is expected to keep his left wing-back role.

Piroe's brace last weekend took him to 20 goals in all competitions this season, while fellow strike partner Michael Obafemi will look to add to his nine Championship goals on Friday, when he leads the line for the hosts.

Aapo Halme, Cauley Woodrow and Michal Helik have been sorely missed in recent weeks, but Barnsley will have to continue without them this weekend due to injury.

Goalkeeper Bradley Collins was forced off after just 24 minutes during his side's defeat at Millwall, and Jack Walton is now expected to continue between the posts for the Colliers.

Asbaghi will set his side up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Carlton Morris certain to lead the line, while Quina and Callum Styles will look to create chances for the lone striker from wide areas.

Swansea City possible starting lineup:
Fisher; Latibeaudiere, Naughton, Cabango; Wolf, Grimes, Downes, Christie; Paterson, Piroe; Obafemi

Barnsley possible starting lineup:
Walton; Vita, Andersen, Kitching, Brittain; Palmer, Wolfe; Quina, Bassi, Styles; Morris


SM words green background

We say: Swansea City 3-0 Barnsley

Swansea are in the best form that they have been in all season and their confidence will be high going into this game, making the hosts strong favourites to collect maximum points.

Barnsley are fighting to save their Championship status, but a heavy defeat against Millwall may have been the evidence to show that Asbaghi's side are heading closer to relegation confirmation.






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How you voted: Swansea vs Barnsley

Swansea City
80.0%
Draw
12.5%
Barnsley
7.5%
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Bournemouth's Dominic Solanke celebrates scoring their third goal on March 19, 2022
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Tables
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2Bournemouth422212866363078
3Huddersfield TownHuddersfield4421131060461476
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest4221101166372973
5Luton TownLuton4420121262481472
6Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd4419121356441269
7Millwall441715125044666
8Middlesbrough431810155345864
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn431712145345863
10Coventry CityCoventry441712155856263
11Queens Park RangersQPR44189175856263
12Stoke CityStoke441710175548761
13West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom441613154745261
14Swansea CitySwansea431612155459-560
15Preston North EndPreston431416134450-658
16Blackpool431512165251157
17Bristol City441410205775-1852
18Hull City44148224048-850
19Cardiff CityCardiff43147224865-1749
20Birmingham CityBirmingham441113204872-2446
21Reading44138235485-3141
22Peterborough UnitedPeterborough44810263884-4634
23Derby CountyDerby441313184352-931
24Barnsley43612253264-3230

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