Swansea City

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Bournemouth will not be able to play a weakened team in the FA Cup such is their quality – according to Swansea head coach Luke Williams.

Williams' Championship squad travel to play their fourth-round tie against a Cherries side who sit 12th in the Premier League table and have won seven of their last eight games in all competitions.

“They’re incredible. Brilliant,” said Williams.

“If you want to progress, at some point you’re going to have to meet very tough opposition.

“If they’re playing against top six opposition they need to probably be at full strength but I think outside of that they can’t really put a weak team out, they have enough good players, they know what they’re doing.

“Maybe one or two extremely key players maybe rested so that can make a difference.

“[Dominic] Solanke is incredible, what a player. He looks tired so maybe he should be rested!

“I was here before [as Swansea assistant manager] when we went to Bournemouth in the league and we had a heavy defeat, we started actually really well but they made some good changes. Many of their players are the same.

“Guys like [Antoine] Semenyo I worked with when he was a very young player at Bristol City, you knew he was going to the top level even when he was very young. They have a very good group of players.

“If we can play anywhere near the level we played at in the second half [against Southampton] then we should be really optimistic, but we have to play that type of football for longer periods.”

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Swansea City defender Nathan Tjoe-A-On has joined Dutch top flight side SC Herenveen on loan until the end of the season.

Tjoe-A-On, 22, has yet to play for the Swans since joining on a three year deal from another Eredivise team, Excelsior, in August 2023.

He signed for the Championship club for a fee believed to be in the region of £300,000.

In a statement, Swansea City says the left-back is looking “to get valuable game time under his belt and continue his development”.

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Swansea City fans may be relieved to hear that tonight’s fourth round FA Cup tie at Bournemouth will see VAR in operation – five years after it’s absence arguably cost them a semi-final spot.

The Swans game away to Premier League opposition will have video assistant reviews in operation, as is standard for games in the top-flight.

Its controversial absence for Graham Potter’s side of 2019, who took on Manchester City in the quarter-finals at the Liberty Stadium, is still a sore point for many Swans supporters.

Swansea shocked Pep Guardiola’s men by taking a 2-0 lead but City – at the time chasing a quadruple – came back to win 3-2, with their equaliser a contentious penalty and the late winner from Sergio Aguero seemingly offside. It was the only quarter-final tie not to have VAR in use that night.

"I'm sorry it was offside," Guardiola said afterwards of the winner. "I don't understand why VAR is not used in this competition at this stage. Hopefully, next season this won't happen."

On the same subject, tonight’s referee is Darren England who was at the centre of the VAR mix-up in Liverpool’s Premier League game with Tottenham earlier this season – and was also in the middle during last weekend’s game between Brentford and Nottingham Forest where VAR was unable to intervene when Bees striker Ivan Toney moved the ball to score from a free-kick.

This week, BBC pundit Chris Sutton is taking on Justin and Arni from indie band The Vaccines to predict the fourth round of the FA Cup.

First up is Bournemouth v Swansea City on Thursday 25 January (19:45 GMT).

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

I didn't realise Bournemouth were missing a few players when I backed them to get a draw against Liverpool at the weekend, and Andoni Iraola's options might be limited here too.

But I hope Iraola goes for it in the FA Cup - Swansea are having a pretty average season so this is a great opportunity for the Cherries to reach the last 16, something they have only managed five times since they were founded in 1899.

The furthest they have got is the quarter-finals, in 1957 and 2021, and they have never won a major trophy, so if you're a Bournemouth fan then you want to see them have a go at it now - especially since they look like they are good enough to stay in the Premier League.

As long as Iraola goes with a strong side, I'd expect them to get over the line.

Arni's prediction: 2-0

I'd love to go with an upset in a tie like this but Swansea are away and I don't see a shock happening.

Justin's prediction: 2-0

I agree - Bournemouth should be too good for them.

Read the full predictions.

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Head coach Luke Williams says Swansea City’s FA Cup tie at Premier League side Bournemouth could provide a "release" for his players away from their Championship schedule.

Swansea play a number of promotion contenders in the coming weeks, including a home game against leaders Leicester City the following Tuesday after their fourth-round match.

But Williams has dismissed suggestions of making "wholesale" changes to his Swansea team.

“I think it would be a brilliant way to encourage the team,” said Williams.

“It would be a brilliant way for fans to have something really exciting to look forward to, so it’s really important.

“Some players are in a position where they need to be looked after, not like ‘okay we can use this as wholesale change’, but in the same way as if we played a league game and we have another league game coming up quite close.

“Depending on the position you are in in the league, any cup competition can become a problem or depending on your position it can be a release.

“I had only one cup game in my last job [Notts County] before it came to the [National League] play-offs, which is like a cup, so it depends the moment you’re in.

“For us it would be brilliant. I would really like to see more outcomes in every game at the moment because I’m still learning about the group, so it will be good.

“It might sound really strange, I worked with a number of the players before, but then ideas change and the style will change slightly, and players need to try to adapt their game.

"Now is a really good opportunity, in every single game at this point, to learn what we can and can’t do - particularly the players I didn’t work with before.”

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Swansea City head coach Luke Williams says he expects a “late flurry” of transfer activity before the window closes on 1 February.

Swansea are yet to sign a player this month despite Williams and chairman Andy Coleman expressing a desire to strengthen their squad.

Williams says the Championship club continue to work hard in their bid to bring in new recruits.

“It’s probably fair to say the whole market is moving slowly, but I have seen some impressive stuff from Andy Coleman,” he said.

“He has not got his feet up, put it that way.

“But it is difficult. There’s a lot going on. It’s probably a good thing if you don’t know too much information because it probably means people are not telling the wrong sources.

“That’s actually really encouraging because I am hearing a lot more things.”

Swansea are thought to be keen to bring in players with pace and energy, with Standard Liege’s former Spurs youngster Romaine Mundle one of the few players linked with a move to Wales.

Williams said it is not simply a case of potential deals being too costly.

“It’s players that have options trying to wait, which really is sensible,” he added.

“If a player is moving and he has options, they try to weigh up everything and we have to do our best to be the most attractive proposition at the end of it all.

“It looks like it’s going to be a late flurry, so let’s see what happens.”

• The only previous FA Cup tie between Bournemouth and Swansea was in November 2000. The Cherries won that game 2-0 with goals from Wade Elliott and James Hayter.

• Swansea are without a win in their past 12 games against Bournemouth in all competitions and have already lost 3-2 against them in the League Cup this season. No side has ever eliminated the Swans from both cup competitions in the same season before.

• Bournemouth have lost their past two home FA Cup matches against teams from lower divisions than them.

• Swansea City have lost their past six FA Cup ties against Premier League opposition, conceding three goals in five of those six defeats. Their last victory was in January 2014 away at Manchester United.

• Jerry Yates has been involved in eight goals in his last nine FA Cup appearances (five goals, three assists).

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Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola has warned his players to take seriously FA Cup opponents Swansea City, who he has praised as a “possession-based” team.

Iraola’s Premier League squad host the Championship side in Thursday's fourth round tie after an impressive run of seven wins from their last 10 games in all competitions.

Swansea, meanwhile, are still looking for their first away win under new head coach Luke Williams.

“We have to take it seriously because I don’t think it's going to be easy,” Iraola told BBC Radio Solent.

“We have experiences in past games against them in the Carabao cup [Bournemouth won 3-2 away to Swansea]. It’s going to be a challenge for us.

“It’s not easy because they haven’t played so many games with their new manager, they’ve used different systems, they will change a little bit they way they play.

“They are very good players especially on the ball and we have to be ready to be intense, otherwise its going to be difficult to take the ball from them.

“They are a very good possession-based team”.

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Former Swansea City striker Michael Obafemi has left Burnley, joining Millwall on loan until the end of the season.

The 23-year-old has struggled to make an impact at Turf Moor since joining permanently last summer from Swansea, having previously been on loan.

He has made only two appearances as a substitute in the Premier League this season and last scored in February.

Obafemi had a mixed spell at Swansea, showing his undoubted quality at times but also struggling to hold down a regular starting spot.

Swansea host Millwall on the final day of the season.

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Swansea City will have to break an unfortunate FA Cup trend if they are to make it through to the fifth round.

The Swans face Premier League Bournemouth on Thursday, aiming to reach the last 16.

It's not new territory for the Welsh club; they reached the fifth round while a Championship club only three years ago under Steve Cooper, while also enjoying back-to-back quarter-final appearances in 2018 and 2019, the former run coming in their first year back in the second-tier.

But there is a caveat in that Swansea's record against top-flight sides in recent years leaves a lot to be desired.

They have met Premier League opposition 11 times in the previous 15 seasons in the competition - and only twice avoided defeat.

In fact, their last six FA Cup fixtures against Premier League sides have all seen Swansea knocked out.

You have to go back 10 years to a stunning 2-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford for the most recent Swansea win against a top-flight side in the FA Cup. Wilfried Bony's late winner should go down as one of the iconic Welsh moments in the competition, although Swansea's own status as a Premier League side at the time takes some of the varnish off the shock value.

So for an example of Swansea knocking out a side a division above - which is Luke Williams' side's mission at the Vitality on Tursday - the clock has to go back to 2009.

That's the year when Roberto Martinez's side, fresh in the Championship that season, knocked out holders Portsmouth at Fratton Park through goals from Jason Scotland and Nathan Dyer.

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The victory over then top-flight Pompey - who had beaten Cardiff in the previous year's final - was all the sweeter for former Southampton talent Dyer.

Swansea lost to Premier League Fulham in the next round, albeit after taking them to a replay at Craven Cottage with the hosts having to come from behind as 'Swanselona' showed their class.

And after that, it was slim pickings. There was a fourth-round defeat by Bolton in 2012 during their first season in the top flight, while the following year Arsenal knocked out Michael Laudrup's Swans in a third-round replay at the Emirates.

Everton ended Swansea's run in 2014, while Hull were responsible for their third-round exit in 2017.

Carlos Carvalhal's side reached the last eight a year later before Tottenham won comfortably in south Wales.

Then there was the breathtaking quarter-final with Manchester City in 2019 that saw Graham Potter's side lead 2-0 only to lose 3-2 with a controversial goal included.

Manchester City also ended Swansea's run under Cooper in 2021 at the fifth-round stage while Russell Martin's team of 2022 were beaten at home by Southampton.

It has been a quiet transfer window for Swansea City so far this January.

New head coach Luke Williams is keen to bolster his options, but there have been few signs of any additions forthcoming to date.

In fact, the market in general has been slow - which tends to suggest there will be a flurry of activity from clubs in the final days before the 1 February deadline.

One ex-Swan could be on the move, however, with former striker Michael Obafemi linked with a drop down a division, with today's gossip column suggesting a move to Millwall is on the cards.

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The 23-year-old was a £1m-plus signing from Southampton in August 2021, proving to be a hit of sorts after a slow start under Russell Martin.

His spell at Swansea included two goals in the 4-0 'double' derby victory over Cardiff in April 2022, followed up with a goal in the home 2-0 win the following season.

But he was criticised by Martin who said "he hasn't done well enough" after the club rejected a bid from Burnley in the summer of 2022 - before Burnley returned with a £3m offer in the January.

He joined the Clarets on loan initially before the move became permanent after the Turf Moor side's promotion to the Premier League.

Yet he has only managed two goals in 16 appearances for Vincent Kompany's side, with reports now saying he could join Millwall on loan for the remainder of the campaign.

The Republic of Ireland international has managed just 19 minutes in the top flight this term.

Millwall are 18th in the Championship, a point and two places behind Swansea.

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Captain Matt Grimes hopes Swansea City don’t sign players just for the sake of making additions in January.

Grimes believes the squad already has quality but would welcome new players who would improve the squad.

“We need additions if it makes the group stronger and better,” said Grimes

“I don't think we need additions for the sake of additions, just to get bodies through the door.

“I’m not in these conversations, if the higher ups are bringing players in to strengthen and makes us better, brilliant, but we are very happy with the squad as it is.

“We see it all [as players], we're not naive enough to not see it [transfer speculation], but we are too long in the tooth and take it with a pinch of salt.

“When someone is in for a medical, then we’ll get excited but until then we leave it”.

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Swansea City are still to discover the extent of Jamal Lowe's injury picked up during Saturday's clash with Southampton.

Lowe, 29, was forced off after 65 minutes of the 3-1 defeat with a muscular complaint.

Swans head coach Luke Williams said after the game he hoped the problem was not significant, adding: "I think maybe Jamal caught something before it's a big issue, but we don't know for sure."

Williams is still waiting on news of whether Lowe will require time on the sideline as a result - although would have had to make plans for Thursday's FA Cup fourth round tie with Bournemouth without him regardless.

Lowe signed a season-long loan from the Premier League Cherries in September, scoring six times in 23 appearances.

Competition rules state players are not allowed to face their parent club in the FA Cup, meaning Jerry Yates could be recalled to the starting line-up having scored against Morecambe in the last round.

Bournemouth head into the game on the back of a 4-0 home loss to Liverpool where Wales internationals Chris Mepham, David Brooks and Kieffer Moore all featured.

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Swansea boss Luke Williams has heaped praise on Southampton boss Russell Martin.

Martin left the Swans to take over at Saints following their Premier League relegation and has led them to a record-21-game unbeaten run in the Championship.

“You have a chance when you go to Southampton, but a chance is just a chance, you have to take it," Williams said.

“I think he is making the team perform in a way the fans can be proud of, in a way that is very difficult to play against.

"21 games unbeaten - that is not easy to do."

Williams admitted he preferred socialising with Martin, rather than playing against him, following the Saints' 3-1 win at the Swansea.com Stadium.

“It was nice to see everyone of course but it’s not nice to play against a team of that quality and that well organised," he added.

"It was very challenging, but it was lovely to see the people.

“It’s not nice to play against this team at the moment."

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Gareth Vincent, BBC Sport Wales

It was an unfamiliar feeling for Luke Williams, watching one of his teams having to scratch around for a touch of the ball as their opponent dominated possession.

Southampton had 67% of the ball during Saturday’s win at Swansea City – and that was despite the home side coming into the contest in the second half.

In the first period, Swansea were left chasing Southampton shadows.

Of course, Russell Martin’s sides nearly always have the lion’s share of the ball, as Swansea fans know well.

Martin got the Swansea job in 2021 because of his commitment to a possession-based game, which fitted with the club’s philosophy.

After the surprising decision to appoint Michael Duff as Martin’s successor saw Swansea move away from their trademark approach, Williams has been brought in to restore their commitment to winning games by controlling possession.

Admittedly, there are not many sides in the Championship who are as good at looking after the ball as Southampton.

But the nature of their win in Wales was a reminder of how much work Swansea have to do.

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Filip Lissah believes Swansea City Under-21s will benefit from their Nathaniel MG Cup final defeat to The New Saints.

Swansea's young guns were thumped 5-1 by the Cymru Premier leaders in the final at Jenner Park.

But former Chelsea academy player Lissah says his side's progress in the competition bodes well for the future.

"We definitely will take a lot from the game. The scoreline, maybe not fully reflects how we performed," he said.

"We still felt like we were in it for large parts of the game and then in the last 20 minutes, that's when it opened up.

"We were playing against a very good side and all of the boys will take a lot from that, being able to play against a fully professional men's team, it's not a chance you get often.

"We're definitely delighted to make it this far in the competition, it's just annoying not to get over the final hurdle in the end."

TNS raced into a three-goal lead in Barry courtesy of efforts from Ryan Brobbel, Josh Pask and Brad Young.

Ben Lloyd pulled a goal back for Swansea, before Adrian Cieslewicz struck twice late on to seal an emphatic win for Craig Harrison's outfit.