Preview: Swansea City vs. Barnsley - prediction, team news, lineups

Barnsley make the trip to the Liberty Stadium to face Swansea City having won their last three fixtures in the Championship.

Despite their surprise defeat at Derby County in midweek, Swansea still sit in fourth position in the standings.

Match preview

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Having only avoided relegation from the Championship on the closing week of last season, the majority of Barnsley supporters would have been content with a year away from the drop zone.

However, since the appointment of Valerien Ismael, the Tykes have collected 24 points from 12 games, the third-best return in the second tier.

With Barnsley now 12 points clear of the bottom three, Ismael can afford to place full focus on trying to reduce the four-point gap which separates the Yorkshire side and the playoffs.

On the back of three successive wins against Wycombe Wanderers, Sheffield Wednesday and Preston North End, they will play with confidence at the Liberty Stadium.

Cauley Woodrow remains the club's star player with three goals and two assists coming from his last five appearances.

While the visitors are very much a team on the up, Swansea's lack of consistency has meant that they have been unable to keep pace with Norwich City and Bournemouth.

Nevertheless, they are still in fourth position in the standings despite producing one of their worst performances of the season at Derby in midweek.

Steve Cooper 's side allowed the Rams to seize the early initiative, and the Swans never recovered as they lost their second game in five contests.

Although victory on Saturday would get the Welsh team back on track, it will be far easier said than done with just six goals coming from as many matches.

Swansea City Championship form: WLWDWL

Barnsley Championship form: LWLWWW

Team News

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Despite naming a settled side for much of the season, the manner of Wednesday's defeat may lead to Swansea boss Cooper ringing the changes for this contest.

Yan Dhanda and Liam Cullen could earn a recall in the final third, while Ben Cabango will expect to replace Kyle Naughton in defence.

Ryan Manning and Kasey Palmer will also feel that they are due a run of matches in the first team.

The extra day of recovery may lead to Barnsley manager Ismael opting for the same starting XI.

Despite starting three games in succession, Matty James is likely to keep his place ahead of Herbie Kane.

Swansea City possible starting lineup:

Woodman; Cabango, Bennett, Guehi; Roberts, Smith, Fulton, Bidwell; Dhanda; Ayew, Cullen

Barnsley possible starting lineup:

Walton; Sollbauer, Helik, Andersen; Brittain, James, Mowatt, Styles; Frieser, Chaplin; Woodrow

We say: Swansea City 1-1 Barnsley

While Barnsley have been excellent since the arrival of Ismael, Swansea will be motivated to hit back after their defeat in the East Midlands. Both sides have the potential to nick this by the odd goal in three, but we are going to back a share of the spoils.

Top betting tip

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