Swansea (A) Match Preview

You can't read much into league positions after just two games, but this is a meeting of the bottom two, and the Royals will be under pressure to get a result on Tuesday at Swansea.

'We know we need to get goals, it's important in any league, we will continue to work hard to improve, starting at Swansea on Tuesday'

The Swans have a crisis in midfield and will be without the services of Joe Allen, Darren Pratley, Ferrie Bodde and Thomas Butler. Jordi Lopez is also out and manager Paulo Sousa hopes to bring in a loan signing before the game, but has so far refused to name any names.

Scottish striker Dobbie began his career at Scottish giants Rangers but failed to make the grade and eventually found himself at Queen of the South. He scored 47 goals in 83 games whilst at the club and also played for them in their UEFA cup campaign in 2008/2009 season. He moved to Swansea in the summer and has to fill the boots of Jason Scotland who moved to Wigan in the summer, and he has made a decent start scoring twice in the Carling Cup against Brighton.

Brendan Rodgers is likely to bring in £2million defender Matt Mills following the defeat to Newcastle on Saturday and he could replace Kalifa Cisse. Shane Long, Simon Church and Jimmy Kebe will also be sweating on their places with Noel Hunt, Hal Robson Kanu and Marek Matejovsky hoping to start. Andre Bikey serves the final match of his suspension, but could be on his way to Burnley anyway, and Ivar Ingimarsson and Julian Kelly remain on the treatment table.

Striker Hunt is fit again following his foot injury and is desperate for a start, following a couple of lively sub appearances in the last two games. With the Royals struggling for goals in the previous couple of games, he is likely to start in this one and will be keen to improve that we have held onto the better Hunt brother.

Swansea have lost both of their opening league games and are bottom of the table, but that is only one place below the Royals who have just one point, and no goals, to show for their two games.

Swansea had a rare win over the Royals in last season's reverse fixture winning 2-0 back in January.

Simon Hooper of Wiltshire will take charge of the game at the Liberty Stadium

The pressure is on for both teams after poor starts to their seasons, and this could be a very cagey match because of it. I can't see us winning but can see us scoring and getting a point. 1-1

Saturday 22nd August 2009 Sheffield United (H)

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