Swansea City

BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton has made his predictions for all 32 FA Cup third round games and given his verdict on who will make it into round four.

For this week's matches he is up against actor and musician Billy Bob Thornton, who is a Liverpool fan.

Sutton's prediction: 3-2 after extra time

The fan at St Mary's last weekend who said Southampton would lose 5-0 to Brentford should really replace me and do these predictions.

This tie is a lot harder to call, though. You could call it the Russell Martin derby, because he managed both teams, but I am not sure either side play like they did when he was in charge.

Saints boss Ivan Juric has got to pick a strong side after what happened against the Bees, and his aim must be to find a team that starts to find some rhythm again.

I do think Southampton will edge this, because they have to, but what a miserable existence it has been for their fans this season. Maybe the FA Cup will give them something to cheer about?

Billy's prediction: 1-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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Andy Robinson believes Swansea City can take advantage of Southampton's torrid Premier League campaign so far as they look to cause an upset against the Saints in the FA Cup.

The top flight's bottom team, managed by Ivan Juric (pictured above), will start the third round contest this afternoon (16:30 GMT) at St Mary's Stadium as firm favourites, despite winning just once in 20 league matches so far this season.

But ex-Swan Robinson says a cup victory could be key to Luke Williams' side as they look to keep pace with the Championship's top six.

"They're [Southampton] having a bit of a tough time in the Premier League, it just goes to show the gulf between the Championship and the Premier League because they had a fantastic year last year going up through the play-offs," Robinson told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

"For Swansea, it's a chance to build a bit of momentum against a team struggling at the bottom of the Premier League.

"They've been a little bit of a Jekyll and Hyde team, Swansea, over the course of this season, but if they can build a little bit of momentum, and the FA Cup can do that, it can turn things in the right direction."

Swansea are hopeful of adding to their squad this month, with Wycombe Wanderers centre-back Joe Low among their transfer targets.

But Robinson feels the Swans need to bolster their forward options this month if they are to challenge for a play-off place.

"Hopefully he [Williams] can get a few additions which I certainly think they need in January," added Robinson.

"A couple of additions in the right areas of the pitch which will make a difference in the starting 11, not just squad players who are going to be there for the sake of it.

"The club have always got to be proactive. January is a difficult time to bring players in, especially quality players as well. It's up to the recruitment team to get it right.

"I think the spine of the team needs improving and certainly up front. You've got [Liam] Cullen, [Zan] Vipotnik hasn't hit top form yet, hopefully he can come better in the back end of the season.

"They've come on leaps and bounds from where they were last year defensively, but up front, if you're putting the ball in the back of the net, you've got a chance of winning games.

"I think that's an area that, if I had the money, I'd spend a chunk of the money on, a forward that can get you those 10 goals between now and the end of the season."

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Swansea have lost each of their past four meetings with Southampton in all competitions, going down 5-0 on their most recent visit to St Mary's in December 2023.

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He has not played a league game for Swansea City in one-and-a-half seasons, but Andy Fisher may be about to get busy at new club St Johnstone.

Luke Williams has sanctioned Fisher's loan move to Scotland in the hope that the former MK Dons goalkeeper will get regular game-time in a St Johnstone shirt.

Assuming he plays, Fisher is likely to have plenty of work to do given that St Johnstone have the worst defence in the Scottish Premiership this season.

They have conceded 44 goals in 22 league games, which goes some way to explaining why Simo Valakari's team are bottom of the table and in danger of dropping out of the top flight for the first time since 2009.

Fisher spent last season as understudy to Carl Rushworth, who shone during a season-long loan from Brighton.

He has not even made the bench at Swansea since returning from a groin injury suffered in pre-season, with Jon McLaughlin – who was signed as cover after Fisher had surgery – serving as back-up to Lawrence Vigouroux so far in 2024-25.

With his contract up in 2026, Fisher's role at Swansea may be on the agenda again come the end of this season.

But the first task for the 26-year-old, who made just two cup appearances in 2023-24, is to play some football at St Johnstone.

"I am eager to play some games and to prove myself," Fisher told the Perth club's website.

"I am hoping to show everyone what I can do and it is going to be a good challenge."

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Swansea City goalkeeper Andy Fisher has joined Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone on loan for the remainder of the season.

Fisher is yet to play in 2024-25 having suffered a groin injury in pre-season which required surgery.

Lawrence Vigouroux has established himself as Swansea's first-choice goalkeeper this season, with Jon McLaughlin serving as his understudy.

McLaughlin is out of contract this month but Swansea are keen to extend his deal.

St Johnstone are currently bottom of Scotland's top flight.

Fisher, 26, is under contract at Swansea until 2026.

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Nelson Abbey has joined Portuguese top-flight side Rio Ave on loan for the remainder of the season following his early departure from Swansea City.

Defender Abbey, 21, had been due to spend the whole season with Swansea, but was recalled by Olympiakos last week having made only one appearance for the Welsh club.

Now the former Reading player will hope to get more game-time at Rio Ave, where he joins fellow English players Jonathan Panzo and Omar Richards, who are both on loan from Nottingham Forest.

Forest and Rio Ave, like Olympiakos, are owned by Evangelos Marinakis.

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Cyrus Christie will aim to retain his Swansea City place at Southampton on Sunday having ended a year-long wait for a start in last weekend's draw with West Bromwich Albion.

Christie, 32, has made seven Swansea appearances since rejoining the Welsh club for a second spell in November.

But Christie's opportunities had come exclusively from the bench until Ben Cabango's groin injury saw the Republic of Ireland international picked alongside Harry Darling in central defence against the Baggies.

Christie was released by Hull City last summer having made his last start for the Tigers in a defeat at Bristol City on 22 December, 2023.

He made only six further substitute appearances last season thanks in part to a hamstring injury.

Since returning to Swansea, he has had to be patient because of the form of Cabango, Darling and full-backs Josh Key and Josh Tymon.

"Thirteen months out with injuries, operations and frustrating setbacks, but gave it everything to be back doing what I love most," Christie said on social media.

"It was an honour to be back out on the pitch from the start for Swansea City. A deserved, hard-fought point against a strong side. On to a big FA Cup fixture."

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Luke Williams has saluted Goncalo Franco following the midfielder's rapid return to action from a serious facial injury.

Franco suffered a broken jaw and damage to four teeth during Swansea's win over Luton Town on 29 December.

He missed Swansea's defeat at Portsmouth on New Year's Day – but was back in the starting side for last Saturday's draw with West Bromwich Albion.

That was despite the fact that Franco, who has established himself as a fans' favourite at Swansea following his move from Moreierense last summer, has been avoiding solid foods because of the damage caused by a collision with Luton defender Mark McGuinness.

"He has got a very soft diet at the moment, I can tell you that much, because his teeth are moving back into their previous accommodation," said Swansea head coach Williams.

"But he's a warrior. I am enjoying watching him develop and I am really proud of him.

"The fact that he went back on the pitch [against Luton] was incredible. [It was] ridiculous really, but he's a warrior and you can't put that into someone."

There will be more recovery time for Franco this week as Swansea prepare for an FA Cup third-round tie at Southampton on Sunday.

It may be that the Portuguese is rested at St Mary's Stadium, particularly with a trip to rivals Cardiff City to come next in the Championship on Saturday, 18 January.

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Brentford have taken up an option in Myles Peart-Harris' contract which means he is tied to the Premier League club until the end of the 2025-26 season.

Peart-Harris is on loan at Swansea City until the end of this campaign, when his Bees deal had been due to expire.

But Brentford have revealed they have decided to extend the 22-year-old's contract by a further 12 months.

Former Chelsea youngster Peart-Harris was signed by Swansea as an attacking midfielder, but has been regularly deployed out wide by Luke Williams.

He has played 23 Championship games, including 10 starts, and scored two goals.

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Swansea City have begun bucking a trend by scoring crucial stoppage-time goals in two of their past three games.

Too often in recent memory, the writing has been on the wall for Swansea when they have fallen behind in games.

But Luke Williams' team have shown of late that they can change that particular story.

In the 2024-25 season, it was not until 30 November, when Swansea trailed 2-0 at home to Portsmouth, but ended up drawing 2-2, that Williams' men gained a point having been behind.

They went a step further on 29 December, coming back to win for the first time in the Williams era – courtesy of Myles Peart-Harris' added-time goal - having conceded early on against Luton Town.

And there was further evidence of new-found powers of recovery as Joe Allen's 92nd-minute header earned Swansea a point against West Bromwich Albion last Saturday.

Williams feels there is now a confidence - which was not there earlier in the campaign - that his team can fight their way back into matches.

"Earlier in the season in the later stages of games, if we weren't level with the opposition or winning, it often felt like we were getting weaker or losing belief," the Swansea head coach said.

"But if we want to be a really good side, you have to be able to stick in the game for 90 minutes, especially in the Championship."

Loyalty counts for nothing - Tudur Jones

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Luke Williams would have been "silly" to completely shut down speculation linking him with West Bromwich Albion, according to Owain Tudur Jones.

The former Swansea midfielder says Williams could have dealt better with the rumours linking him with the vacant West Brom manager's job, which dominated headlines over the New Year period.

After Saturday's 1-1 draw with the Baggies, Williams himself admitted speculation surrounding his future became a distraction that he "handled poorly".

But Jones has sympathy with Swansea's head coach, saying managers have a right to keep their options open.

"He didn't shut it down, but I think as a manager you'd be silly to, if I'm being completely honest," the former Wales international told Radio Wales Breakfast.

"We've seen too many examples these days... I understand everybody wants loyalty and everybody wants this and that, but loyalty counts for nothing.

"As a manger you see it happen too many times the other way where you do stay and you show a little bit of loyalty, and two months down the road you've lost four in a row and you get sacked anyway.

"So I think they have to keep a door slightly ajar, just in case."

Bookmakers had made Williams favourite to replace Carlos Corberan at the Hawthorns and, having initially failed to quash rumours in media interviews, Williams eventually confirmed he was staying at Swansea.

"I think he could have dealt with it in a slightly better way," said Jones.

"Even if on reflection he would have spoken to West Brom, had he come out straight away and said 'I'm not interested...'."

Williams admitted he "created a lot of the noise without meaning to", but Jones believes too much was made of the links with West Brom.

"I think a couple of games ago when the links were there it was quite obvious that it wasn't a strong link," he said.

"I think it was a fan account of West Brom that had come out and said this and that, and we know these days, especially on social media, you don't need too much inside information to make a story up, so how much truth there was to it I'm not sure.

"Hopefully it's now water under the bridge, Swansea can move on, and they'll be grateful of that late point that they had against West Brom, who hopefully won't have Luke Williams as their new manager soon."