DON’T LOSE SOAP: Helen Flanagan may have helped move Scott Sinclair to City, but Swansea are in good shape
By Aidan Elder | Chief sports writer
Swansea v Sunderland
Saturday 3pm – Liberty Stadium
Life is a bed of roses for Swansea at the moment. With Michael Laudrup destroying the view he has all the managerial talent of a Danish Iain Dowie, the Swans look like they can beat anyone with their brand of running rings around people.
The eight goals they’ve scored so far this season have got most of the attention, but the fact they’ve yet to concede might be the more significant fact, especially has they adjust to life without Brendan Rodgers and some of the key players responsible for last season’s performance. A combination of Manchester City’s interest and Helen Flanagan’s moaning about Wales have seen the Swans part ways with the influential Scott Sinclair, but that’s no reason to start thinking as pessimistically about the season ahead as Adrian Chiles presumably thinks about life.
Thanks to some questionable gardening, Sunderland had last weekend off and that’s not want they wanted so early in the season. They did get a run out in beating Morecambe in the artist formerly known as the Carling Cup on Tuesday, but may still have a few cobwebs to blow away against Premier League opposition. Martin O’Neill sealed deals for Steven Fletcher (£12 million) and Adam Johnson (loan) during the week and at last one of them has the potential to be a really clever move.
Still though, Swansea are the form team and with home advantage, they’re favoured to progress. The Black Cats will be dogged and Martin O’Neill-ish, but won’t be enough against the confident Swans.
The ‘I don’t like giving predictions’ prediction: 2-0 Swansea at 9/1
