English Premier Swansea City v Leicester City

English Premier

2015-12-05 - Swansea City v Leicester City

Swansea City

Football has to be one of the fastest changing professions where someone can be lauded one day, and then considered a failure the next. Take Garry Monk's situation at Swansea City- a brilliant start to the season had some talking up his chances of managing England next, but recent form has plummeted and he is the favourite for the sack in the Premier League.

Another defeat last weekend dropped Swansea City down to 15th in the Premier League and all talk of potentially cracking the top four has been replaced by fears of being involved in a relegation scrap. The side are just 4 points clear of Bournemouth in the bottom three and Swansea City will try and improve their 2-3-2 record at The Liberty Stadium to increase that margin to the relegation zone.

Since beating Manchester United 2-1 at home, Swansea City have won just 1 of their last 11 games in all competitions. Even that win over Aston Villa has been followed by 4 games without a victory of which Swansea City have lost 3. They have failed to win any of their last 5 home games in the Premier League and Swansea City had to come from 0-2 down to earn a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth last time out here, a result that prevented a run of 3 straight losses at home.

There should be no new injury worries for Garry Monk heading into this fixture.

Leicester City

While Swansea City have fallen away from their early season performances, Leicester City continue to defy the biggest names in English football. A 1-1 draw with Manchester United at home was a decent result for Leicester City, although the headlines were dominated by Lee Vardy's 11th straight game with a goal, a new Premier League record.

The draw means Leicester City have remained above Manchester United in the Premier League table, although they are now 2nd on goal difference to Manchester City having led the way going into last weekend. The Foxes have a 4-3-0 away record in the League having scored 15 goals and conceded 9 in those games.

A 2-5 home loss to Arsenal might have sparked a poor run for Leicester City, but the character and belief in the squad has been highlighted by their 8 game unbeaten run in all competitions since that defeat. Leicester City have been particularly impressive away from home recently with 3 wins in their last 4 games in the League and that is partly down to the goals being scored with at least two goals in 5 straight away games.

Ritchie De Laet picked up a knock and is out until the New Year while Nathan Dyer can't be selected against his parent club.

Head to Head

Both teams were 2-0 victors at home against the other last season.

Swansea City have won 3 straight home games against Leicester City.

Prediction

It has been a strange Premier League season at times and one of the stories that is hard to really get a read on is the sudden collapse of Swansea City. Some good performances haven't been rewarded with the results they deserved, but Swansea City have to be concerned by their slip down the League table.

In fact it might be suggested that Garry Monk will be removed as manager of the club if Swansea City were to be beaten by high-flying Leicester City and this is far from an easy game for the home team.

The counter attack that Leicester City have thrived upon is very effective away from home and that has shown in their unbeaten run on their travels. It has produced chances and goals and Leicester City have scored at least two goals in their last 5 away games in the League while they have won 3 of 4 games on their travels because they have managed to push a bit further and score another goal.

Leicester City have scored three times at West Brom and Newcastle United heading into this game and they will certainly feel they can do some damage against a team that has conceded at least two goals in 3 of their last 4 games at home.

This should be a game that does see chances at both ends with the way Leicester City have been playing. Claudio Ranieri is refusing to put the handbrake on his team and they have responded with plenty of goals and attacking verve which should see Leicester City create chances here.

However they have looked vulnerable at the back and you can't ignore the fact their clean sheet at Newcastle United was their first away from home this season. Prior to that Leicester City had conceded at least twice in 3 of their previous 4 away games and Swansea City have players that can score goals against them.

Either way it would be a surprise if there aren't goals in this one and backing at least three to be scored looks the way to get involved.

The Statistics :

SWANSEA LAST SIX HOME FORM
	DATE	RESULT		OPPOSITION
	2015-11-21	D	2-2	H v Bournemouth
	2015-10-31	L	0-3	H v Arsenal
	2015-10-19	L	0-1	H v Stoke_City
	2015-10-04	D	2-2	H v Tottenham
	2015-09-19	D	0-0	H v Everton
	2015-08-30	W	2-1	H v Man_Utd
LEICESTER LAST SIX AWAY FORM
	DATE	RESULT		OPPOSITION
	2015-11-21	W	0-3	A v Newcastle
	2015-10-31	W	2-3	A v WBA
	2015-10-17	D	2-2	A v Southampton
	2015-10-03	W	1-2	A v Norwich
	2015-09-19	D	2-2	A v Stoke_City
	2015-08-29	D	1-1	A v Bournemouth

HEAD TO HEAD SWANSEA v LEICESTER
DATE	HOME	SCORE	AWAY
2014-10-25	Swansea	2-0	Leicester

The Pick :

Swansea City 1-4 Leicester City