Swansea v West Brom: Inside track on Steve Cooper's side
West Brom take on Swansea tomorrow as they look to get back to winning ways in the Championship.
To get a better look at the Swans, we spoke with Steven Carroll, from the SoS Fanzine and the JackCast podcast, to get an in-depth look at Albion's opponents.
See what he had to say here...
How would you rate the season so far at the Liberty Stadium, would you say things have met expectations?
We started superbly in terms of results even if performances probably didn’t reflect that. Since then we’ve tailed off to say the least.
Only eight wins in our last thirty games and performances continue to leave a lot to be desired.
So while it may look reasonable in terms of our league position and we’re probably doing a bit better than expected, it doesn’t feel like that because of our form.
Steve Cooper has been at the club since the summer now, how has the football been under him - has he stamped his style down now?
It’s not great if I’m honest. It was far easier on the eye under Graham Potter.
We were far more fluid under him whereas we’re more rigid under Cooper.
We don’t create enough chances or score enough goals. It’s been quite boring on the whole and it needs to improve.
What sort of line-up and style can we expect to see this weekend?
Probably similar to the last few games, where we have actually improved going forward.
We’ll be looking at Conor Gallagher and Andre Ayew to create something and if given an opportunity then Rhian Brewster is a natural finisher.
Obviously the Swans sit outside the playoffs right now, but do you feel they can make a push for the top six?
I think it’s unlikely, as I said our form is poor.
Plus of those eight wins in thirty, seven have come against sides currently 17th or lower.
That tells me we can’t beat anyone half decent, and we play a lot of sides above us in the remaining games.
It wasn't a great day for Swansea at The Hawthorns earlier on this season, will Cooper's side have learned from that encounter?
Good question, defensively we were poor that day.
We haven’t had many days close to that bad this term.
But hopefully we’ve learnt that if we defend like we did that day then we have no hope of winning.
Are there any injury worries right now at the Liberty Stadium?
Mike Van Der Hoorn is out for the season. That’s a big loss, Bersant Celina has been missing the last couple of weeks but he should be close to a return
What's your predicted XI?
Woodman, Naughton, Rodon, Cabango, Bidwell, Grimes, Fulton, Garrick, Gallagher, Ayew, Brewster
What have you made of Albion from afar, do you feel like they have the quality to claim the Championship title and compete in the Premier League?
West Brom seem likely to go up. They’ve got a decent gap to third, but in this league you never know as last weeks defeat at home to Wigan says a lot.
I think the Baggies would need to strengthen but they would have a chance of survival.
The bottom end of the Premier League isn’t great so that gives promoted sides a chance.
Your match prediction?
I’ll say a 1-1 draw.
