Championship | Gameweek 26

Jan 4, 2025 at 12.30pm UK

Swansea.com Stadium

Swansea vs West Brom

Match preview

After ending 2024 on a positive note with back-to-back home wins, Swansea City were the biggest losers of the Championship's New Year's Day action on Wednesday afternoon, as the Welsh club travelled to Portsmouth and returned with nothing to show for their efforts.

Goals in the opening 30 minutes from Josh Murphy and Paddy Lane gave Pompey a commanding lead at half-time, before goals in the final 45 minutes from Ryley Towler and the returning Colby Bishop sealed the result for the hosts.

Swansea's first defeat of 2025 sees them drop to 12th in the Championship table, 11 points above the relegation zone and six adrift of West Brom, who currently occupy the play-off places.

Luke Williams' side will need to improve their form in South Wales if they are to make a surprise return to the top flight via the play-offs, with the Swans having won just five of their 12 Championship games at the Swansea.com Stadium so far in 2024-25.

For the first time since former boss Carlos Corberan was sacked on Christmas Eve, West Bromwich Albion claimed maximum points from a Championship game on New Year's Day as Preston North End had no answer for the Black Country outfit in a blistering opening period.

A brilliant brace from top scorer Josh Maja and Callum Styles' opener gave the Baggies a three-goal lead at the break, with a late Lilywhite rally and Ryan Ledson strike proving no more than a consolation against an Albion side who had clearly taken their foot off the gas.

West Brom, who enjoyed their first success since Corberan's departure for boyhood club Valencia, now sit sixth in the Championship table ahead of this weekend's trip to Swansea, level on points with seventh-placed Blackburn Rovers and 10 points adrift of second-placed Burnley.

In contrast to previous campaigns since returning to the Premier League in 2021, the Baggies have been relatively solid on the road in 2024-25, losing just three of their 13 away games in the second tier so far, with only title chasers Burnley (2) and Leeds United (2) losing fewer away games.

Recent Performance

Swansea City Championship form:

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West Bromwich Albion Championship form:

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Team News

Swansea will be without the services of midfielder Goncalo Franco, who is expected to return from a tooth problem at the end of January.

The Swans are also without the services of left-back Kristian Pedersen (hamstring), although the defender has struggled to hold down a place in the side regardless of his fitness.

West Brom have suffered a blow to their midfield ranks in recent days, with Alex Mowatt ruled out for several weeks with a groin injury.

As a result, Ousmane Diakite is set for an extended spell in the Baggies' first XI alongside Republic of Ireland international Jayson Molumby.

With Semi Ajayi and Mason Holgate still undergoing treatment, veteran centre-back Kyle Bartley has seen plenty of action over the festive period.

Possible starting lineup

Swansea City possible starting lineup:

Vigouroux; Christie, Cabango, Darling, Tymon; Fulton, Grimes; Pereira, Cullen, Eom; Vipotnik

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:

Palmer; Furlong, Bartley, Heggem, Styles; Molumby, Diakite; Fellows, Grant, Johnston; Maja