Match Pack: Watford v Swansea City - Watford FC Watford have won six of their last nine home league matches against Swansea
City, including the most recent meeting at Vicarage Road in
Norwich know what it takes to earn promotion from the Championship and will again be one of the favourites to do it again with one of the best squads in the division. It isn't all about the battle for promotion, either, with Wigan, Rotherham and play-off winners Sunderland hoping their ascensions from League One aren't short-lived as they battle to avoid the drop at the bottom. We will bring you all the action and updates from today's game in the live blog below:1672168418Reading vs Swansea CityMatch ends, Reading 2, Swansea City 1. 1672168303Reading vs Swansea CitySecond Half ends, Reading 2, Swansea City 1. 1672168258Reading vs Swansea CityAttempt blocked. Tom Ince (Reading) left footed shot from more than 35 yards is blocked. Assisted by Joe Lumley.
Wyke returned to the Stadium of Light with a goal back in October, before Elliot Embleton and Cirkin turned the reverse fixture on its head. Around the grounds (Thursday 7:45pm unless stated) QPR vs Luton (6pm) Blackburn vs Middlesbrough Huddersfield vs Rotherham Coventry vs Cardiff Millwall vs Bristol City West Brom vs Preston (8pm) Blackpool vs Sheffield United (8:15pm) Swansea vs Watford (Fri 7:45pm) Norwich vs Reading (Fri 7:45pm) Stoke vs Burnley (Fri 7:45pm) Birmingham vs Hull (Fri 7:45pm) Tickets & coverage Away tickets for Sunderland’s trip to Wigan Athletic have now sold out.
Cullen is yet to start in the Championship for Swansea this season but has netted in each of his last two league appearances for the club. And Grimes is hopeful that Cullen can continue to add to his goal tally this term. “Liam deserves it. He has been brilliant with his attitude, " the club captain told the Swans' official website.
What is the latest team news? Ollie Cooper, Joe Allen and Ben Cabango have all trained with Swansea since returning from World Cup duty with Wales late last week. All three players are in contention to feature against the Canaries. Michael Obafemi is likely to miss out, although Harry Darling is in contention while Olivier Ntcham linked up with his club team-mates this week after being on international duty with Cameroon in Qatar. As for Norwich, they are assessing Josh Sargent after he picked up an injury while on World Cup duty with the USA. Jacob Sørensen and Sam Byram are both edging closer to returning, although the clash with the Swans will come too soon for the pair. Jonathan Rowe and Marcelino Núñez are unavailable, although Andrew Omobamidele and Adam Idah are both in contention to feature in south Wales.
Goals and Highlights: West Bromwich 2-0 Preston in Championship How to watch West Bromwich vs Preston Live in TV and Stream are in 14th
position with 32 points, tied with Birmingham and
Watford vs Swansea City LIVE: Championship result, final score and reaction Follow live coverage as Watford face Swansea City in the Championship
today. English football's second tier is one of the
"I don't really know Russell at all. I know Matt Gill who is working with him, he was my first ever signing. He's one who has reached out during his coaching career for advice. "There's 25 games left, we're still not at the halfway stage. We're in a decent position, we'd like to be in a better one. We're going to take it game by game and if we get a win this Saturday, that'll be a big boost. " Who is the referee? Stephen Martin will take charge of proceedings in Swansea.
When the two teams met earlier on this season, Paul Ince's side took a two-goal lead thanks to goals from Yakou Meite and Tom Ince in the first half, with Swansea's Harry Darling pulling a goal back just before the break. The second half saw Oliver Cooper and Jay Fulton win it for the home side with the match finishing 3-2 to Swansea. READ NEXT Paul Ince reveals ideal Christmas present as Reading FC boss outlines 'future' aim Paul Ince makes bold Reading FC prediction after 'pleasing' first half of the Championship Reading FC boss Paul Ince drops Scott Dann selection hint ahead of Swansea City clash Paul Ince gives positive Ovie Ejaria injury update ahead of Reading FC vs Swansea City 'We have to! ' - Paul Ince's Andy Carroll contract dilemma ahead of January transfer window Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.
Team news Mowbray delivered a fitness update during Wednesday’s press duties, mainly focusing on his defensive availability. Aji Alese will not make the trip to the DW, whilst Danny Batth and Lynden Gooch have been labelled as ‘touch-and-go’ by the Head Coach. Dennis Cirkin awaits a scan result following his withdrawal in Monday’s win on Wearside. Opposition Wigan Athletic currently sit 23rd in the Sky Bet Championship table, with only Huddersfield Town sitting adrift of them. The Latics – now under the stewardship of Kolo Toure – were beaten in their previous two outings, losing 4-1 at Middlesbrough on Boxing Day.
Swansea City v Norwich City kick-off time and latest team newsSwansea City return to action on Saturday afternoon as they host Norwich City in their first match since the World Cup break. Here's everything you need to know about the Championship fixture at the Swansea. com Stadium: What time is Swansea City v Norwich City kick-off? Swansea City v Norwich City kicks off at 3pm on Saturday, December 10. SIGN-UP:Subscribe to our Swansea City newsletter for FREE! Is Swansea City v Norwich City on TV? No, the match has not been selected for live TV coverage. The game will be streamed on SwansTV in selected international areas. You'll be able to follow live blog updates via WalesOnline from Saturday afternoon here.
What have the managers said? Swansea City head coach Russell Martin: “They are one of the top teams in the league. They have a squad littered with players who have been promoted, some who have been promoted twice. "They have a huge amount of experience in this league and a manager with a huge amount of experience in this league. They are up there with the likes of Burnley, Sheffield United and Watford. “They live in a bit of a different world to us but we have something we believe can narrow that financial gap, so it’s going to be an interesting game. ” Norwich City boss Dean Smith: "Swansea are a good challenge for us, a footballing team like ourselves. It's always a tough place to go, Swansea. But, it's a reset that everyone's had and we've reflected and improved, hopefully we'll see that tomorrow.
Preview: Lads finish 2022 at Wigan Wigan Athletic currently sit 23rd in the Sky Bet Championship table, with
only Huddersfield Town sitting Swansea vs Watford (Fri
How To Follow: Swansea City v Watford All UK-based and overseas Watford fans will be able to tune in to live
video coverage of the Hornets' away clash against Swansea City
Swansea players were given the day off on Christmas Day ahead of Reading tieSwansea City were given Christmas Day with family as the prepared for the upcoming Championship clash against Reading FC. Russell Martin's side make the trip to the Select Car Leasing Stadium on December 27 aiming to end a seven-game winless run, their previous match being a 3-3 draw in which they were 3-0 down. With that match taking place on December 17 and ten days between the Royals encounter, Martin gave his players two days off in the immediate aftermath of the fixture at the CBS Arena. READ MORE: What Paul Ince will want to 'iron out quickly' at Reading FC amid Swansea City prediction And Swans players were also granted the day off on Christmas Day to spend with family due to no Championship tie for them on Boxing Day, the game being moved to 24 hours later to be shown on Sky Sports. The match will pit the 11th-placed Swans against 12th-placed Reading, both teams on 32 points, and victory could see the winning team move into the play-off spots if results go their way on Boxing Day.
Pilgrims boss Schumacher has Sam Cosgrove, Nigel Lonwijk, Bali Mumba and Whittaker on loan, as well as the injured Finn Azaz. And he expects them to see the campaign out on the south coast. Schumacher said: "There have been no conversations with them (the parent clubs). With Dean Smith leaving we will see how that one plays out, but all of the loan managers are delighted with how their players' seasons are going. "They are putting themselves in the shop window, they are gaining valuable experience and they are enjoying their football, which previously on their other loans they didn't as much as this. "We have ticked our box what we were supposed to do.
The agreement was to be until the end of the season and I'm sure they want their players to continue enjoying what they are doing. "All we have had is assurances of 'We are happy with how it's going and we want that to continue'. They haven't told us any different. " Ntcham latest Olivier Ntcham missed Swansea's 2-1 defeat at Reading due to illness. Speaking after the loss to the Royals, Russell Martin admitted a number of players had been unwell in the build-up to the trip to Berkshire, although he hopes to have Cameroon international Ntcham back in his squad for the clash with Watford.
Away Tickets: Swansea City & Norwich City Information Tickets for Watford's trips to Swansea City (Friday December 30, 7.45pm KO)
and Norwich City (Monday January 2, 3pm KO) in the Sky
What Swansea City did on Christmas Day as they prepared for Reading FC Championship clash The match will pit the 11th-placed Swans against 12th-placed goals from
Yakou Meite and Tom Ince in the first half, with Swansea's
Swansea vs Cardiff: South Wales derby live on Sky Sports in October Queens Park Rangers host Reading on October 7, Norwich meet Watford for the
first time following their relegation from the Premier League
Morgan Whittaker's Plymouth future becomes clear and illness hits Swans campYour latest Swansea City headlines on Friday, December 29. Whittaker's future clearer Morgan Whittaker's future at Plymouth has become clearer with news boss Steven Schumacher expects all his loan signings to remain at Home Park until the end of the season. Whittaker has been a hit in Devon and has described as the division's hottest property since signing on loan last summer.
Alongside Rotherham United, Wigan were automatically promoted to secure their Championship return last term, later of course joined by Sunderland through the Play-Offs. Former manager Leam Richardson steered the club to their success, before his departure after two years at the helm in November. Toure now takes his first senior management job following spells coaching Celtic and Leicester City alongside Brendan Rodgers. Up to a quintet of former Lads players could come up against Mowbray’s men on Thursday, with Max Power, Charlie Wyke, Nathan Broadhead, James McClean and Ashley Fletcher all amongst the Wigan squad.
"He's ill. We've had illness spread throughout the squad, " he said on Tuesday night. "He's unfortunately not got well enough soon enough to be involved. "He'll be back with us hopefully for the Watford game, fingers crossed. Hopefully everyone else stays healthy and well, obviously it's a quick turnaround. " Cullen impact praised Matt Grimes lauded Liam Cullen's attitude following his impact off the bench for Swansea since the World Cup break.
Reading vs Swansea City LIVE: Latest Championship updatesA general view of The Madejski Stadium (Getty Images)Follow live coverage as Reading face Swansea City in the Championship today. English football's second tier is one of the most-watched leagues in Europe with a relentless fixture schedule and the prize of a place in the Premier League on offer combining to make it one of the most dramatic and exciting competitions in world football. Burnley were relegated from the top tier in 2022 but return refreshed and hopeful of making it back and equally Watford no doubt enjoyed their time in the Premier League too and are also keen to return.
Swansea City boosted by return of World Cup quartet in build up to Norwich City clash The Swans had Joe Allen and Ben Cabango at the World Cup for Wales but
he had a real impact in that game against Brazil when he came
Norwich City's next six Championship fixtures compared to rivals Burnley, Watford and more READ MORE: Luton Town backed to get result against Norwich on Boxing
are six points ahead of Blackburn in third, while Watford (4th)
How To Follow: Bristol City v Watford International Supporters. Watch a live video stream on Hive Live with a £10
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