Just for a moment West Brom have a sniff of an opening as Andy Carroll looks to flick on and the ball reaches Callum Robinson.

He has support, but Ben Cabango makes a good intervention.

Andy Robinson
Former Swansea winger on BBC Radio Wales

I don't think either team has started brilliantly, to be honest. Swansea have had better possession, but they both look like teams on the edge with little confidence.

We haven't had a shot anywhere near either goal yet.

The Welsh national anthem booms around the Hawthorns.

After a couple of miserable away days, Swansea's fans are no doubt enjoying not behind on the road.

In truth, there has been no sign of a goal at either end yet.

Swansea are passing and probing without asking too many questions.

There have been no scares for the home defence as yet.

Andy Robinson
Former Swansea winger on BBC Radio Wales

That was a great position for Paterson to be taking a free-kick but it's disappointing execution. Go for it, have a bit more confidence in your ability.

Jamie Paterson drills the free-kick he won towards the near post, but it is cleared without too much trouble.

Andy Robinson
Former Swansea winger on BBC Radio Wales

We said before kick-off that Swansea needed to play with intent from the start, and they've done that in these opening minutes.

Jamie Paterson does well down the Swansea left and is pulled back by Dara O'Shea on the edge of the box.

O'Shea is lucky not to be booked.

West Brom are asking the early questions here, with Callum Robinson getting into the box only for Kyle Naughton to block his cross-shot.

Robinson responds by rallying the home crowd.

Interesting tactical move made by Swansea boss Russell Martin here, with right-wingback Cyrus Christie starting on the left and the left-sided Hannes Wolf down the right.

We are off and running at the Hawthorns.

'We stand with Ukraine' is the message on the big screen before kick-off, with players and fans joining to applaud the message.

Mark Poyser
BBC Wales football reporter

The goals have dried up away from home for Swansea.

We know Russell Martin's style of play, that's not going to change, but opposing teams know how to play against them now, they've figured out what to expect.

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Steve Bruce has suggested a home victory tonight would "get the bandwagon started" as he looks to lead West Brom back into the promotion race.

Currently 13th, Albion would climb to 11th - and to within five points of the play-off places - should they find a way to halt their six-game winless streak.

With 12 league games to play after tonight, Bruce's players do not have time on their hands.

Swansea, who begin the night eight points and four places worse off than their hosts, look destined for a lower mid-table finish as things stand - but are under pressure to deliver a performance tonight after recent struggles on the road.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Swansea are looking to do the double over West Brom for the first time since 2011-12, when Brendan Rodgers masterminded home and away triumphs for the Welsh club in their maiden Premier League campaign.

They have a chance to repeat the feat tonight thanks to a rousing comeback win last October, when Karlan Grant put Albion in front in the first minute only for Joel Piroe and Jamie Paterson goals to turn the game around.

But West Brom do not often lose on home soil, and are unbeaten in their last six games on this ground against Swansea.

The Swans' two most recent visits have ended in thumping home victories, most recently when Slaven Bilic's Baggies won 5-1 in October 2019.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Andy Carroll should start tonight's game in confident mood, for the former England striker has scored more goals against Swansea than he has against any other team.

Carroll's strike for Reading at the Swansea.com Stadium in November was his seventh against the Swans, after previous efforts for West Ham and Newcastle.

How Steve Bruce could do with Carroll finding the target once more this evening, as West Brom seek inspiration having netted just one goal in their last six games.

Only five Championship teams - among them Swansea - have scored fewer goals than West Brom this season, although it should be said that Albion's tally of 30 conceded gives them the third best defensive record in the division.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

It has been a season of inconsistency for Swansea, who are a team in transition under Russell Martin.

The Swans reached the play-offs in the last two Championship campaigns under Steve Cooper, but any hope of the top six this time around looks long gone.

Martin, who is working on a tight budget as he attempts to restore Swansea's possession-based style, has had to endure some painful moments this term, including recent away maulings at Stoke and Sheffield United.

But skipper Matt Grimes is convinced the former Scotland defender can lead Swansea back to the top flight in time, because "he has got what it takes".

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West Brom were hoping for an immediate upturn in results when they named Steve Bruce as their manager on 4 February.

But there has been no new-manager bounce for the Baggies, who have taken just one point from Bruce's first four games in charge.

The club have won just one of their last 11 league matches, a dreadful run which has seen them slide to 13th in the table having looked like automatic promotion contenders at the turn of the year.

No wonder, then, that Bruce has described tonight's fixture as "hugely important", while insisting that Albion "just need one win" to rejuvenate their bid for a return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Russell Martin makes three changes to the Swansea side which went down 4-0 at Sheffield United nine days ago, with the influential Kyle Naughton back in defence after four weeks out with a thigh problem.

Hannes Wolf also returns after injury to start on the left flank, while Michael Obafemi is recalled up front.

On-loan Manchester City centre-back Finley Burns, Joel Latibeaudiere and Olivier Ntcham all drop to the bench.

Swansea: Fisher, Cabango, Naughton, Manning, Christie, Downes, Grimes (c), Wolf, Paterson, Piroe, Obafemi.

Subs: Hamer, Burns, Latibeaudiere, Fulton, Smith, Ntcham, Joseph.

Image source, BBC Sport

Steve Bruce makes just one change to the West Brom side which started last Tuesday's 2-1 defeat at Middlesbrough.

Callum Robinson is recalled after featuring as a substitute in Albion's last two games, with 10-goal leading scorer Karlan Grant dropping to the bench tonight.

Sam Johnstone is fit to start in goal, but Matt Phillips and Daryl Dike remain out and Jake Livermore is suspended.

West Brom: Johnstone, O'Shea, Ajayi, Bartley (c), Townsend, Mowatt, Molumby, Diangana, Reach, Robinson, Carroll.

Subs: Button, Furlong, Kipre, Clarke, Gardner-Hickman, Castro, Grant.

Image source, BBC Sport