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

Promotion contenders Swansea City make the trip to the bet365 Stadium looking to improve on a run of just one win in three Championship fixtures.

Meanwhile, Stoke City head into the game on Wednesday evening on the back of consecutive defeats, form which has left the Potters as outsiders for a playoff spot.

Match preview

© Reuters

When Swansea impressed to defeat leaders Norwich City in the middle of February, Steve Cooper would have expected the result to act as a springboard for greater success later in the season.

However, toppling the division's pacesetters has only hindered the Welsh outfit, who have produced four below-par performances since that victory at the Liberty Stadium.

Swansea have still managed to collect six points from those fixtures, but the 3-1 reverse at home to Bristol City on Saturday highlighted that this side have started to lose their way.

Should they prevail in their two matches in hand, Swansea will move into second position, a reward for their consistency in defence since the start of September.

Nevertheless, seven goals have been conceded in just three games, almost a third of the strikes that they have shipped throughout the campaign.

© Reuters

As far as Stoke are concerned, Michael O'Neill would have been left relatively impressed with the level of performance produced against Brentford at the weekend.

With the Potters holding an early lead, it took one of the goals of the month from Vitaly Janelt to turn the game on its head, subsequently helping the Bees record a 2-1 win.

Having lost two matches in succession, Stoke are now seven points off the playoffs, putting the Staffordshire outfit under pressure to get a win on the board on Wednesday.

Stoke have claimed seven points from their three most recent home fixtures, keeping clean sheets in each of the games against Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and Luton Town.

Stoke City Championship form:

DLWWLL

Swansea City Championship form:

WWWLWL

Swansea City form (all competitions):

WLWLWL

Team News

© Reuters

Jacob Brown is expected to keep his place in the Stoke attack after ending a near four-month wait for a goal versus Brentford.

While Stoke should stick with three players in defence, Jack Clarke may be drafted back into the starting lineup.

Cooper is likely to hand a recall to midfielder Jay Fulton, potentially as an alternative to Yan Dhanda.

Kyle Naughton and Korey Smith are also pushing for appearances in the starting lineup, but Ryan Bennett is expected to miss out through injury.

Stoke City possible starting lineup:

Gunn; Batth, Souttar, Chester; Smith, Allen, Mikel, Norrington-Davies; Clarke, Brown, Powell

Swansea City possible starting lineup:

Woodman; Naughton, Cabango, Guehi; Roberts, Fulton, Grimes, Bidwell; Hourihane; Ayew, Lowe

We say: Stoke City 1-1 Swansea City

While both of these clubs will view this contest as one which they must not lose, a draw does not benefit either club. Taking everything into consideration, we can only see a low-scoring stalemate in the Potteries with the home side potentially finding a late equaliser.