Swansea v Fulham

By Martin Fisher
Match of the Day commentator

TEAM NEWS

Swansea midfielder Joe Allen is suspended, with Wayne Routledge in contention to replace him.

Striker Danny Graham is available again after an Achilles problem kept him out of the defeat at Blackburn last week.

Fulham captain Danny Murphy could be available after making a quick recovery from an ankle knock.

Midfielder Simon Davies may make his first league appearance of the season after a long-term knee injury.

MATCH PREVIEW

The alarm bells aren’t ringing just yet in South Wales, but last week’s 4-2 defeat at beleaguered Blackburn needs to have acted as some kind of wake-up call.

There was evidence at Ewood to support those critics who claim Swansea’s attractive passing approach will win plenty of friends but not enough points.

It’s just one win in seven games now and with away trips to come at Newcastle and Everton pre-Christmas, Brendan Rogers will be targeting this game as the most likely source of three valuable points.

With Joe Allen suspended, Wayne Routledge is expected to start against one of his eight former clubs. I’m a big fan of Allen but it will be more significant if Danny Murphy is absent from the Fulham side due to an ankle injury picked up in Monday night’s win over Liverpool. An ever-present in the Premier League this season, his calming influence on the visitors will be difficult to replace.

I’ve commentated on two of Fulham’s three wins this season. Outstanding in the 6-0 triumph over QPR, they were unspectacular if solid in a 2-0 success at Wigan.

Normally a little flaky on their travels, Fulham have had some steel instilled in them by Martin Jol. Unbeaten in the last three on the road, he’ll see no reason why they can’t make it four at the Liberty.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• This is a first-ever top-flight meeting between Swansea and Fulham.
• The last league meeting between the sides came in the bottom tier of English football in 1996/97, when Fulham did the double over Swansea, winning 2-1 both times.

Swansea

• Swansea have won just one of their last seven league matches.
• Champions Manchester United are the only side to have won at the Liberty Stadium this season.
• Swansea have kept six clean sheets in this season’s Premier League – only Manchester United boast a better record.
• But the Swans have scored just 14 goals – only West Brom and Wigan have found the net fewer times.

Fulham

• Fulham are unbeaten in their last three league games (W1, D2).
• Like Swansea, Fulham have kept an impressive total of six clean sheets in this season’s Premier League. Three of Fulham’s six have come in their last three matches. The Cottagers have conceded just 16 league goals this season – only the two Manchester clubs, Liverpool and Newcastle have let in fewer.
• Martin Jol’s side are unbeaten in their last three away matches (W1, D2).
• Clint Dempsey’s winner against Liverpool last Monday was his 37th in the top flight and set a new record for Premier League goals by an American player.