Match Pack: Swansea vs Saints
Having equalled a 103-year club record last time out, Saints head across the border looking to move 21 games unbeaten in all competitions. Get set for the clash with our Match Pack...
THE MATCH
Swansea City vs Saints
Sky Bet Championship
Swansea.com Stadium
Saturday 20th January, 12.30pm GMT
THE OFFICIALS
Referee: Oliver Langford
Assistants: Hristo Karaivanov, Graham Kane
Fourth official: Sam Allison
WHAT KIT WILL SAINTS BE WEARING?
Saints will be in their New Forest inspired black home kit with grey shorts and black socks.
Saints last wore the kit in a 1-0 win at QPR in December.
HOW TO WATCH?
Due to regional TV rights, this game is only available to Saints Play viewers with a Seasonal Video Pass or match-by-match pass, only in the markets listed here.
However, you can listen to live commentary of the match wherever you are in the world
For UK subscription holders, the match will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event.
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
Saints could set a new club record, since joining the Football League in 1920, should they avoid defeat in South Wales. Currently on a 20-game unbeaten run in all competitions, a win or a draw would see them enter the history books.
Of higher importance to Russell Martin and his players will be the three points on offer, with Ipswich not playing until Monday night meaning Saints could move up into second for the weekend should they win.
In a game already full of talking points, Martin will head back to his former club for the first time since departing in the summer, while coming up against Luke Williams in the opposite dugout, who was Martin's assistant at both Swansea and MK Dons.
TEAM NEWS
New signing Joe Rothwell will be in the squad for the trip across the border, although Russell Martin has said the midfielder will need time to transition to Saints' style of play.
James Bree, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Ross Stewart and Juan Larios remain absent due to injury, with Joe Aribo still away on international duty with Nigeria.
THE MANAGERS
Luke Williams: "They are a brilliant side, and Russell has done an incredible job. We will need to play a really good game if we are to get anything.
"We are trying to make our preparation as clear as we can to perform to the level we will need to be at."
Russell Martin: "The guys have been amazing. I'm looking forward to going back and seeing people, but I really want to win.
"It can be really brilliant if we can make a bit of history, but the biggest incentive for us is to finish in second at the end of the day."
TOP SCORERS
Swansea
Goals:
Jerry Yates 7
Jamal Lowe 6
Jamie Paterson 5
Assists:
Matt Grimes 5
Paterson, Tymon, Patino 4
Liam Cullen 3
Southampton
Goals:
Adam Armstrong 14
Ché Adams 8
Ryan Fraser 7
Assists:
Adam Armstrong 11
Alcaraz, Kamaldeen 3
Eight players 2
ONES TO WATCH
Harry Darling: The full-back is Swansea's top performer on WhoScored.com, chipping in with three goals and assist so far this season.
On target in the 2-2 draw at Birmingham last weekend, Darling offers an outlet for Luke Williams's side.
Ché Adams: The striker has four goals in his last five games, two of which coming from the bench with Adams proving effective as an impact sub.
However, having marked a start against Sheffield Wednesday with a goal last weekend, the Scotland international will want to get on the scoresheet against the Swans again, having netted in December's 5-0 demolition at St Mary's.
HEAD TO HEAD
Played: 72
Swansea: 20
Draws: 16
Saints: 36
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
December 2023: Saints 5-0 Swansea (Fraser 2, Aribo, Edozie, Adams)
January 2022: Swansea 2-3 Saints (Redmond, Elyounoussi, Long) FA Cup
May 2018: Swansea 0-1 Saints (Gabbiadini)
August 2017: Saints 0-0 Swansea
January 2017: Swansea 2-1 Saints (Long)
DID YOU KNOW?
- Adam Armstrong became the first player in the top four tiers of England this season to register 10+ goals (14) and 10+ assists (11) with his three goal involvements against Sheffield Wednesday last time out (1 goal, 2 assists). He’s the first Saints player to reach 25 goal involvements in a single league season since Rickie Lambert in 2011/12 (40).
KEEP UP TO DATE
Not joining us in Wales? We’ve got you covered! We’ll bring you all the behind-the-scenes content alongside the in-game action as Saints travel to take on the Swans.
Check out our interactive match centre at southamptonfc.com, with live streaming of the game, key updates and audio commentary of the match, and be sure to download the official Saints app and follow us on social media for further updates and exclusive content:
