SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 18 hrs 12 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
SL
Championship | Gameweek 45
May 1, 2021 at 3pm UK
Liberty Stadium
DL

Swansea
2 - 1
Derby

Whittaker (63'), Roberts (66')
Whittaker (62'), Lowe (67')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Lawrence (48')
Byrne (26')

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

:Headline: Preview: Swansea City vs. Derby County - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Swansea City and Derby County, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Derby County head to promotion hopefuls Swansea City on Saturday afternoon with their Championship survival hopes now in their own hands.

The Rams can confirm their second-tier status with victories in their remaining two games, while Swansea are already guaranteed a playoff spot.


Match preview

Wayne Rooney's side enter this penultimate game of the season on a five-match losing run, most recently going down 2-1 to Midlands rivals Birmingham City.

Going further back, it is one win in 13 matches for County - a terrible run that had them as odds-on favourites for relegation up until Tuesday night.

That was until Rotherham United, who have had games in hand to play on the sides above them, lost 1-0 at Brentford - their fifth straight defeat, four of those without scoring.

Rotherham now have just one more game in hand to play on Derby - away at Luton Town next Tuesday - and they have a four-point deficit to make up on the Rams.

Effectively, then, Rooney's men will be certain of survival if they beat Swansea at the Liberty Stadium and fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday at Pride Park next week.

That is easier said than done given their current form, of course, although they did beat the Swans 2-0 in December's reverse fixture.

The Rams could therefore achieve a league double over the Welsh side for the first time since 1985-86, and just the second time ever.

City are not exactly in the greatest form, either, having won just two of their last nine matches.

That includes a run of a couple of 2-2 draws against Wycombe Wanderers and Reading, either side of losing at home to Queens Park Rangers in their last match at the Liberty Stadium.

In fact, Steve Cooper's charges have picked up just eight points in their last nine league games, compared to 19 in their previous nine in the Championship.

Swansea have ultimately done enough to book a playoff spot with time to spare, though, and they are now jostling for position with Brentford, Bournemouth and Barnsley.

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

Derby County Championship form:
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • L


Team News

Cooper will have one eye on the upcoming playoffs, but there is still a few weeks until the semi-finals so there is no need to rest players for this match.

Andre Ayew scored as a second-half substitute in the 2-2 draw with Reading last time out and is expected to return to the starting lineup here.

Connor Roberts is also in contention for a recall at the back, while Korey Smith will hope to be given some minutes.

As for the visitors, they are having to contend with a whole host of injury issues, with defensive trio Curtis Davies, Andre Wisdom and Teden Mengi among their absentees.

Rooney opted for Martyn Waghorn alongside Colin Kazim-Richards up top against Birmingham, but that loss could usher the return of Graeme Shinnie in midfield as part of a reshuffle.

Wales international Tom Lawrence has two goals in his last five appearances and will almost certainly start at the Liberty Stadium.

Swansea City possible starting lineup:
Woodman; Roberts, Guehi, Cabango, Bidwell; Hourihane, Grimes, Fulton; Ayew, Cullen, Lowe

Derby County possible starting lineup:
Marshall; Clarke, Edmundson, Forsyth; Byrne, Bird, Shinnie, Buchanan; Knight; Lawrence, Kazim-Richards


We say: Swansea City 1-0 Derby County

Swansea have struggled for momentum in recent weeks and are winless in four league home league matches, losing three of those.

Derby have collected just one point from the last 24 on offer on their travels, however, and it is difficult to see them picking up the win they need this weekend.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or draw in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home/Draw:data




body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__445349 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-04-29 16:09:49:
html db last update - 2021-04-29 15:39:07 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Lee Bowyer hails Birmingham survival as "some achievement"
Liverpool 'resigned to missing out on top managerial candidate'
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds38257670284282
2Leicester CityLeicester37264774334182
3Ipswich TownIpswich38249580493181
4Southampton36227773472673
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381991059362366
6Norwich CityNorwich381871369541561
7Hull City371610115346758
8Coventry CityCoventry3715121059431657
9Preston North EndPreston37168134954-556
10Middlesbrough38166165352154
11Cardiff CityCardiff38165174351-853
12Sunderland38146184845348
13Watford381212145351248
14Bristol City38138174245-347
15Swansea CitySwansea381210164858-1046
16Millwall381110173650-1443
17Blackburn RoversBlackburn38119185164-1342
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth381011175462-841
19Stoke CityStoke38118193553-1841
20Queens Park RangersQPR381010183650-1440
21Birmingham CityBirmingham38109194259-1739
22Huddersfield TownHuddersfield38815154261-1939
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds38115223061-3138
24Rotherham UnitedRotherham38311243077-4720
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Man City injury, suspension list vs. Arsenal - De Bruyne, Stones and more

1

MC

Real Madrid 'priced out of move for Liverpool's Alexander-Arnold'

2

RM

Man City quoted £86m for "exceptional" Newcastle man?

3

MC

Key Man City duo miss training ahead of Arsenal title clash

4

KM

Man Utd could raise £105m through player sales this summer

5

MU

How Barcelona could line up against Las Palmas

6

HB

Record-breaking Arsenal teenager signs first professional contract

7

RA

Key midfield trio 'absent from Real Madrid training on Thursday'

8

KM

Preview: Bayern vs. Dortmund - prediction, team news, lineups

9

PB

Preview: RB Leipzig vs. Mainz - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PR


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .