Swansea City welcome Brentford to the Liberty Stadium in the first leg of their Championship Play-Off semi-final.
Swansea dramatically snatched the final play-off spot on the final day, of the regular season in midweek, whilst Brentford finished third after losing to Barnsley to end their automatic promotion bid at the last hurdle.
Team News
Embed from Getty ImagesKyle Naughton is ruled out for Swansea as he serves the last of a three man ban after being red carded at Nottingham Forest less than a fortnight ago.
Mike van der Hoorn and Wayne Routledge are doubts after picking up knocks at Reading in midweek, although Freddie Woodman (hip), Ben Wilmot (knee), George Byers (groin) and Joe Rodon (ankle) remain absent.
Brentford have a full squad available with exception of Nikos Karelis, who is out with a long-term knee injury.
Stat Attack
- Swansea have lost just two of last 11 meetings against Brentford (W8, D1, L2).
- Brentford won both regular season meetings this campaign, scoring three goals on both occasions.
- Swansea won their only previous play-off semi final meeting against Brentford, drawing 1-1 here before winning 2-0 at Griffin Park to win the tie 3-1 on aggregate in May 2006, when met in League One play-offs after finishing in same league positions as now.
Prediction
Swansea are coming into this match after three battling performances with confidence definitely high, which will stand them in good stead against a Brentford team who beat them twice already this season.
Brentford however will want to hit back after two narrow losses which exposed their inexperience in the promotion race, so I expect to see the Bees come out fighting because this is their third consecutive hoodoo match.
I therefore am expecting a good game but if Brentford bring their A game, I can see them finding that advantage to take with them into the second leg at home.
Prediction: Swansea City 1-2 Brentford
Result: Swansea 1-0 Brentford
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