Bristol City caused Reading big problems with long throws in midweek and they just tested the Swans, who didn't really look comfortable.

However, Chris Martin could only head back across goal and the ball went out safely.

Swansea start with a period of possession, of course.

Referee Geoff Eltringham gets us under way at Ashton Gate where the atmosphere is crackling.

Friday night, under the lights.

Clear eyes, full heart, can't lose.

Bristol City are paying tribute to the fans no longer with us since the start of the pandemic.

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at Ashton Gate

It might have been said a million times already this season, but there's still a novelty - and a great buzz - about being at a game with fans.

This isn't quite a derby but it's a relatively short distance separating these two clubs, which means Swansea's travelling supporters have snapped up their full allocation of 2,300.

Bristol City's fans are making a great noise at Ashton Gate as they take to their seats and, as the floodlights come on, there's a real frisson of excitement in the air.

While many of the EFL's players have had a well-deserved summer rest following a hectic Covid-19-affected 2020-21 season, for a select few their playing time carried on well into the summer as they featured for their national teams.

But how good is your knowledge of the EFL players who played international football this summer?

Test your knowledge of the EFL's international stars

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Will you earn your EFL badge of honour - or be crest-fallen? You have three minutes to inspect these insignias, now go...

Can you name these EFL clubs from their crests?

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Think you know your EFL?

Did you pick Norwich City and Watford to bounce back up to the Premier League at the first time of asking last season?

Were Morecambe on your list to be promoted to the third tier for the first time?

Did Hull City and Cheltenham Town come into your thoughts to win the League One and League Two titles?

Either way, the slate has been wiped clean and you have the chance to look into your crystal ball once again.

Select the clubs you think will go up from the Championship, League One and League Two in the 2021-22 season, debate them with your friends and keep a record of them for when the campaign finishes next May.

Choose who you think will get promoted from the Championship, League One and League Two

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Both Robins and Swans fans enjoy booing Cardiff City players, I appreciate that, but fans of spectacular goals rejoice, Junior Hoilett will remain in the Championship.

Reading have signed the winger on a free transfer following his departure from fellow Championship club Cardiff.

The 31-year-old Canada international, who has also had spells at Blackburn and QPR, has agreed a one-year deal.

Hoilett spent five years with the Bluebirds, scoring 25 goals in 184 appearances for the Welsh club.

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Elsewhere in the Championship, one major transfer has gone through today.

Bournemouth have completed the signing of former England centre-back Gary Cahill on a one-year deal.

Cahill, 35, joins the Cherries on a free transfer after coming to the end of his contract with Crystal Palace at the end of last season.

He could make his debut for his new club at home against Blackpool in the Championship on Saturday.

"I've made a decision where I feel this is the best place for me to be at this stage of my career," Cahill said.

Bournemouth sign former England centre-back Gary Cahill on one-year deal

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Swansea boss Russell Martin is under no illusions about the Swans' start to the season.

Martin says Swansea City's players are not fit enough to play his style and insists results will come as their conditioning improves.

Swansea have taken only one point from Martin's first three Championship games after a 3-1 defeat by Stoke City.

But Martin says it will take time for Swansea's new coaching staff to make their mark.

"We were brought in two weeks ago - that is why I am not anxious about anything," said the head coach.

"The pre-season was disrupted so I don't want to be disrespectful to anyone, but they are not as fit as they should be, or they can be, for our way of doing things.

"I think the intensity has been a bit different - I think a few of them have said it to you (the media). The more we train and play, they will get fitter and stronger.

"We will get them to where they need to be physically."

Russell Martin: Swansea City players not yet fit enough to play our style

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Exeter City have agreed a season-long loan deal with Bristol City for winger Owura Edwards.

Edwards, 20, is in line to make his Grecians debut at home against Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

The former Newport County player joined the Robins in summer 2019 and featured 17 times on loan at Grimsby Town during the first half of last season.

"Owura's an attacking player who will get supporters on the edge of their seats," manager Matty Taylor said.

Edwards' older brother Opi, 22, plays for fellow League Two club Forest Green.

Image source, Rex Features

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While Swansea are in the market for a striker, will they let a defender leave to raise funds?

Middlesbrough have enquired about a move for Swansea City defender Jake Bidwell.

Bidwell, 28, is in the last year of his Swans contract and could be allowed to leave if the Championship clubs can agree a fee.

Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock is keen for options at wing-back, though is yet to make a formal offer.

"Jake's a good player, but there are so many others we're looking at that area," Warnock said.

Jake Bidwell: Middlesbrough target Swansea defender

Swansea City head coach Russell Martin says he is an admirer of Andre Gray after being linked with a move for the Watford striker.

Martin has confirmed he wants to sign a forward before the transfer window closes on 31 August.

Gray, 30, did not make the squad for Watford's Premier League opener against Aston Villa last Saturday.

"Andre is a good player who has done fantastically well at this (Championship) level," Martin said.

"I never like to talk about players when they are other teams' players. If he ever comes into this building then we can talk about him then."

Andre Gray: Swansea boss Russell Martin admits he is an admirer of Watford striker

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Swansea head coach Russell Martin and Cardiff City boss Mick McCarthy have been giving their views on their players getting the Covid-19 vaccine.

Both managers feel they cannot insist their players to get the vaccine.

McCarthy and Martin will not force the vaccine on players.

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Swansea City head coach Russell Martin makes four changes from Tuesday’s 3-1 home defeat against Stoke City.

Defender Ben Cabango and midfielder Flynn Downes are unavailable after testing positive for Covid-19, while midfielder Yan Dhanda and forward Jamal Lowe drop to the bench.

In their place come wing-back Ethan Laird and forward Joel Piroe – who make their full Championship debuts for the club – as well as attacking midfielder Jamie Paterson and forward Liam Cullen.

Swansea City: Benda, Latibeaudiere, Cooper, Manning; Laird, Fulton, Grimes, Bidwell; Paterson; Piroe, Cullen.

Subs: Hamer, Lowe, Whittaker, Joseph, Dhanda, Mcfayden, Williams.

Image source, BBC Sport

Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson makes one change from Tuesday’s 3-2 win at Reading, with Han-Noah Massengo coming in for Andy King in central midfield.

Bristol City: Bentley; Simpson, Kalas, Atkinson, Dasilva; James, Massengo; Scott, Weimann, Pring; Martin.

Subs: O'Leary, Baker, Bakinson, King, Semenyo, Palmer, Wells.

Image source, BBC Sport

Good evening,

It's Ashton Gate this evening and don't worry, I'm not going to stretch things and try and bill this game as some kind of derby.

It is, however, an intriguing contest.

The hosts, buoyed by their win at Reading in midweek, must take advantage of a struggling Swansea side if they want to avoid a piece of unwanted history.

The Robins are winless in their last 11 home Championship matches (D2 L9), their joint-longest ever home winless league run.

The hosts have not won any of Nigel Pearson’s eight home games in charge (D2 L6), which is his longest ever home winless league run as a Football League manager.

On the other side, Swansea are winless this season in the Championship as new manager Russell Martin tries to guide them through their post-play-off final hangover after the departure of some key players.

Let's have a look at those teams, shall we?

Image source, Getty Images