The key issues his men in the
AFTER two weeks of frustration and having to stew over the defeat to Ipswich, Swansea City return to Championship action with an intriguing trip to face Aston Villa today (3pm).
The hosts will have new manager Dean Smith and assistant John Terry in charge for the first time and a buoyant, expectant atmosphere is set to greet the visitors in the Midlands.
It promises to be a major test of Swansea’s credentials after an encouraging start to life under Graham Potter which the manager and his players feel ought to have yielded a few more points. But what should we expect to see at the home of the Villans, and what are likely to be the big issues?
WHO STARTS IN GOAL?
Potter’s willingness to tinker and tweak his side has been clear to see, and it says much about the work going in on the training ground that no matter how Swansea have lined up this season they have been competitive.
But the change that arguably drew the most attention was the decision to put Kristoffer Nordfeldt in goal for the games against Wigan and Ipswich.
Erwin Mulder had made the most of the Sweden international’s groin injury against Preston and had gone on to record five clean sheets in nine appearances.
So it was a surprise to see Nordfeldt back between the sticks at the DW Stadium, where he made an important late save to deny Will Grigg.
But, while he was not solely responsible for the defeat against Ipswich, he will have been disappointed he did not do better with at least one of the three goals conceded by the Tractor Boys. On the back of that will Potter stick with him at Villa, or will we see Mulder wearing the gloves?
WILL THE JINX OF THE FORMER SWAN STRIKE AGAIN?
The fans of most clubs will tell you that former players have a habit of returning to haunt their side, but for Swansea City supporters it has come to almost feel like a certainty that an old face will find the net against the Liberty Stadium outfit.
When Gwion Edwards headed home for Ipswich a fortnight ago he added his name to a list that has become so long that you have to laugh about it otherwise you would cry.
Edwards was the 12th former Swan to net against them in recent memory.
So the more fatalistic among the Jack Army will already be predicting that a certain Tammy Abraham – who spent last term on loan in SA1 from Chelsea – or Neil Taylor will be getting their name on the scoresheet.
CAN THE SWANS SPOIL THE PARTY ON POTTER’S HOME TURF?
Just prior to the international break and this would have appeared to be a fixture primed with opportunity for Swansea.
After a sluggish, disjointed start to the season the natives were restless at Villa Park with Steve Bruce’s side playing in a difficult and often toxic atmosphere in their own back yard.
Potter acknowledged as much in his pre-match press conference, admitting an away side could have looked to go to Villa to frustrate for the opening 25 minutes knowing the crowd would start to turn and the odds start to slant in the visitors’ favour.
But, one bad result and one cabbage too many and Bruce was out, meaning a whole new management team will be at the helm for Swansea’s first trip to face Villa in three years.
Dean Smith worked wonders at Walsall and Brentford, and was among the names weighed up by Swansea at the end of last summer, although Potter was always their first choice.
A very different atmosphere and a very different challenge against a group of players out to prove a point to their new boss now awaits.
Spoiling the Villa party would be something of a statement from this