Don't think that AFCB have done all the hard work yet. Their next game against Swansea will be their most tricky game that they have faced in 2017 in my mind, as the need for both teams to get the points is bigger than ever. While AFCB have just beaten a team higher up in the league it is the lower half teams that are really scrapping for everything, and this game might not be pretty, but neither team can afford to lose at this stage of the season.
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| AFCB have to be ready for this massive game before the international break. |
Swansea may be slightly weakened not only because they had a disappointing defeat against relegation rivals Hull City last week, but because they also suffered two injuries to key players in the first half with Angel Rangel and Fernando Llorente having to come off and Martin Olsson had to play on with his injury. Rangel is out for the season, while Kyle Naughton, the right back, is recovering from a hamstring pull that he had against Burnley. Can AFCB exploit these problems? Eddie Howe will have to consider what the injuries might mean to a Swansea side that is desperate to pick up points. Paul Clement has given Swansea fans fresh hope though and with Gylfi Sigurdsson on the pitch they always have a punchers chance of coming up with something special.
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Swansea have scored in four of their last five away games, but they have won just two of those games against Liverpool and Crystal Palace. Like AFCB, they tend to leave the back door open and this game has the likelihood of being quite a high scoring affair. Just like AFCB they also have eight wins now which is a tremendous recovery from where they were before the New Year. But if Llorente is not fit, the goals for Swansea may dry up a little. They can't play safe and while AFCB have been finding it hard to keep clean sheets, Swansea will not sit back. Wayne Routledge got himself into the scoring positions against
Hull City, even if he did not manage to put away his early chance - AFCB must be mindful of players like him.
The Swans will have highlighted this game as one in which they must pick up something. It is that prospect which might actually play into AFCB's hands if they can remain patient. UTCIAD.
Swansea Away Form
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AFCB Home Form
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You can also read some views I gave to Read Swansea and another piece on SOS Swansea before today's game.
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