Swanseavs.Hull City

With four games remaining, the visitors lead the drop zone by three points, while their hosts have moved into the top half with three straight wins.

Match preview

Swansea City kick off an Easter weekend double-header on Friday aiming to continue a strong run of form into the end of the Championship season, having moved into the top half with a hot streak in recent weeks.

Heading into the March international break, the Welsh outfit sat 16th on 44 points from 38 outings on the back of consecutive losses, having earned seven points from their first five games under the interim management of Alan Sheehan after Luke Williams's departure.

The Swans have returned from the break in style, though, going unbeaten in their last four outings and winning their last three, having followed up a creditable draw against promotion-chasing Leeds United by beating Derby County and Plymouth Argyle at home with a pair of clean sheets.

A trip to fourth-placed Sunderland then followed on Saturday, and they made it three consecutive three-point hauls for the first time this season as Ben Cabango netted the only goal on the hour mark.

Now sitting 12th thanks to their improved run and just two points outside of the top 10 with four games remaining, Swansea City will aim to extend their winning streak over the Easter weekend, starting with a third straight home triumph on Friday.

In their way stand a visiting side desperate for three points in their survival bid, having moved slightly above the bottom three in recent weeks.

After winning two and drawing two of their final four games before the March international break, Hull City suffered a defeat to fellow relegation-battlers Luton Town on their return to action, leaving them in a precarious position just above the drop zone on 41 points from 39 outings.

The Tigers bounced back from that disappointment with a crucial 1-0 victory away at Sheffield Wednesday thanks to Charlie Hughes's injury-time leveller, but they failed to build on that result in a trip to Watford, falling to a 1-0 defeat at Vicarage Road.

Ruben Selles's men then hosted playoff-chasing Coventry City on Monday, and after trailing 1-0 heading into the final 10 minutes following Matt Grimes's opener, they were at least able to take a share of the spoils as Abu Kamara forced a 1-1 draw.

Now sitting 20th in England's second tier, two places and three points above the relegation zone with four games remaining, Hull City head to south Wales aiming to take a huge step towards guaranteeing their safety with an away win on Friday before welcoming Preston North End to the MKM Stadium on Monday.

Swansea City Championship form:

L

L

D

W

W

W

Hull City Championship form:

W

D

L

W

L

D

Team News

Alan Sheehan may field an unchanged Swansea City starting XI from last week's win over Sunderland, with Kristian Pedersen and Myles Peart-Harris remaining sidelined by injuries.

Zan Vipotnik will hope to lead the line from the outset, but Liam Cullen may instead get the nod again, having notched up 10 Championship goals so far this season.

Ji-sung Eom, Lewis O'Brien and Ronald should continue in support behind a lone striker, while Jay Fulton and Goncalo Franco will hope to again partner up in the engine room despite competition from Joe Allen and Oli Cooper.

Hull City may head to South Wales without defender John Egan, who picked up a knock in Monday's draw with Coventry City, while Eliot Matazo, Mohamed Belloumi, Louie Barry and Liam Millar remain sidelined by injuries.

If Egan is not fit to feature, Alfie Jones will come back in to rejoin Charlie Hughes at the heart of the back four, while Sean McLoughlin will again line up on the left-hand side.

Abu Kamara, Nordin Amrabat, Matt Crooks and Mason Burstow will all compete for attacking spots, with the former having netted his fifth goal of the season off the bench last time out, after Joe Gelhardt, Kasey Palmer and Lincoln supported lone striker Joao Pedro from the start on Monday.

Swansea City possible starting lineup:

Vigouroux; Key, Cabango, Darling, Tymon; Franco, Fulton; Ronald, O'Brien, Eom; Cullen

Hull City possible starting lineup:

Pandur; Coyle, Jones, Hughes, McLoughlin; Slater, Alzate; Gelhardt, Crooks, Kamara; Pedro

We say: Swansea City 2-1 Hull City

Written by

Sam Varley

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