Swansea City v Hull City preview: Mike Phelan seeks another upset
Saturday 20 August 2016 10:50, UK
Hull will look to build on their shock opening-day win over Leicester when they travel to Swansea on Saturday.
The Tigers put a turbulent summer behind them to beat the Premier League champions 2-1 last weekend and start with a victory on their return to the top-flight.
They will still be without several first-team players for their trip to Wales and are yet to make any signings in the transfer window.
However, caretaker manager Mike Phelan said: "We are trying to work together to try to improve things at this club. It's not easy.
"It's always difficult when as late as we are. We are actively trying to bring players in but time is getting short. I said last week that this could be a big week for us but not a lot has happened. It doesn't mean to say we haven't done anything in terms of phone calls and searching for players."
Swansea started their campaign with a 1-0 win at another newly-promoted side, Burnley, but they too have injury troubles.
New signing Borja Baston is unavailable and Gylfi Sigurdsson may be forced to play despite not being 100 per cent fit.
Team news
Sigurdsson came off the bench in the win at Burnley and is set to be involved again along with South Korean Ki Sung-yueng after his international and military service over the summer.
But Wales defender Neil Taylor is again omitted to build up his fitness after the Euros, while Baston misses out on making his debut after picking up a leg muscle injury in training.
Phelan will decide whether to select Harry Maguire to help ease his defensive crisis. Maguire returned to training in midweek but Phelan has indicated he could keep him in cotton wool for the trip after Jake Livermore filled in confidently in central defence against Leicester.
Allan McGregor (back), Alex Bruce (achilles), Moses Odubajo (knee) and Michael Dawson (knee) all remain on the long-term injury list.
Opta stats
The Swans won their last two Premier League encounters against Hull in the 2014/15 season, with Ki Sung-Yeung scoring in both games (1-0 away, 3-1 at home).
Swansea have never lost to Hull at the Liberty Stadium (W2 D2) in all competitions.
Hull City have won just one of their last 15 league trips to Swansea, a 3-2 win at Vetch Field in April 2004 when the clubs were in the fourth tier. Danny Allsopp and a brace from Ben Burgess won the game for the Tigers who were promoted the same season.
Swansea are unbeaten in their last eight Premier League games played in the month of August (W6 D2 L0).
Gylfi Sigurdsson will be looking to score against his 21st different opponent in the Premier League - he failed to net in his only previous Premier League appearance versus Hull City in the competition.
The Tigers made no substitutes against Leicester, becoming the first team to win a Premier League match without making a substitution since Manchester United against Liverpool in February 2012.
Since Francesco Guidolin took charge of his first Premier League game at Swansea in January 2016, the Swans (28) have won more points than Arsenal (27), West Ham (26) and Manchester City (25).
Paul Merson's prediction
Both teams had great results on the opening weekend, but I think Swansea just have a little bit more on the bench and that strength in depth made the difference against Burnley.
There wasn't much in the game but then Jefferson Montero came on and ripped it up.
I don't think Hull have got a player that can make that kind of impact from the bench.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-0 (Sky Bet odds 4/1)
