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

Swansea City and Norwich City square off in South Wales on Saturday afternoon looking to kick-start their Championship promotion bids.

Both sides currently sit in the bottom half of the standings having each only won one of their opening four fixtures.

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Match preview

With Luke Williams having been in charge since January, Swansea are now in a position where they want to become than just an established club in the second tier.

However, there has been little to suggest that they are ready to make that jump, with their solitary league win coming at home to a struggling Preston North End side.

Conceding a late leveller to rivals Cardiff City has halted them in their tracks, going on to lose 1-0 to Wycombe Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion respectively.

Some context is required with each of their three defeats this season coming by that scoreline, yet it highlights the issues that they have in the final third.

Swansea are currently on a run of 260 minutes without finding the back of the net, although they will fancy their chances of ending that streak against their next opponents.

Under the leadership of Johannes Hoff Thorup, Norwich had failed to keep a clean sheet until they ran out 1-0 victors at Coventry City before the international break.

That represented the Canaries' first Championship victory of the season, going a considerable way to easing the scrutiny on the club's new head coach.

On a more positive note, aside from the 4-0 reverse to Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup, respectable draws have been achieved against Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield United at Carrow Road.

Thorup will now hope that the extra time on the training pitch will benefit his players going forward, and this will be viewed as a game that they should be winning based on the trajectories of the two sides.

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Team News

Williams must decide whether to hand another start to forward Zan Vipotnik, who is still yet to settle into life in the Championship.

Although Liam Cullen is an alternative, he remains a considerable injury doubt with an ankle issue.

Florian Bianchini is pushing for his first start since arriving from Bastia during the back end of the summer transfer window.

Meanwhile, Oscar Schwartau and Anis Ben Slimane are both in contention for an opportunity in the final third after their half-time introductions at Coventry.

Kaide Gordon could be selected in the squad for the first time having joined on loan from Liverpool, but Josh Sargent will have an ankle injury assessed.

Swansea City possible starting lineup: Vigouroux; Key, Cabango, Darling, Tymon; Franco, Grimes; Ronald, Cooper, Eom; Vipotnik

Norwich City possible starting lineup: Gunn; Stacey, Duffy, Doyle; Chrisene; Nunez, McLean; Schwartau, Slimane, Sainz; Crnac

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We say: Swansea City 1-1 Norwich City

Having surprised Coventry last time out, Norwich are arguably the favourites for this contest. However, with Swansea unbeaten at their home ground, we are backing them to earn a share of the spoils in a low-scoring match.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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