Swansea City vs Stoke City Predictions

• Swansea have drawn three of their last five Championship home games.
• Stoke have drawn three of their last six Championship away games.
• No Championship side drew more away games than Stoke last season (10).

Close encounter expected in South Wales

Some games smell like a draw from the off and, although it’s never certain before a ball is kicked, Tuesday’s meeting between Swansea and Stoke has the faint whiff of a tight contest.

Swansea have drawn three of their last five at home and failed to register more than one shot on target in a 0-0 home draw with Sheffield United at the weekend, despite enjoying over 60% of the possession.

Stoke also played out a goalless draw away to Birmingham City in which they created very little, so expectations for a goal-fest should be parked at the door of the Swansea.com Stadium.

The Potters are a one-paced side that rely on the Championship nous of their midfielders and targetmen. Set pieces will be their best way of scoring against a possession-based side like Swansea, even if there is space to exploit in behind, because Stoke don’t have any speed up front to do it.

Michael O’Neill’s men have become the division’s draw specialists on their travels with a league-high ten last term and a total of 15 now recorded across their last 31 away trips.

Swansea turned enough draws into wins to make it all the way to the play-off final last season, but are under new management this season and the underlying stats from their opening few games suggest they are struggling up front.

Centre forward Jamal Lowe is a streaky goalscorer, but hasn’t notched in his last seven league appearances so may not be the man to count on to break the deadlock here.

The draw is the favoured bet here with more reassurance to be found in the stat that there has been more than one goal between the sides in only two of the last 17 Swansea City home games.

A close encounter looks highly likely then and with both sides a little short on potency in attack we see no reason not to take up the odds on offer for another 0-0 for each side this week.