Swansea City Faces Southampton in FA Cup Third Round Clash

Swansea City will take on Southampton in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup at St Mary's Stadium this afternoon, marking their second encounter in four seasons. The match, scheduled for 4:30 PM on January 12, 2024, promises to be a thrilling contest as both teams aim to advance to the next round.

In their last FA Cup meeting in January 2022, Swansea lost 3-2 after extra time at the Swansea.com Stadium. This time, the Swans are hoping for a different outcome and to secure a victory against the Premier League side. Southampton, on the other hand, is seeking a morale-boosting win after a challenging return to the top flight.

Swansea boss Luke Williams faces the dilemma of whether to rotate his squad after a grueling festive period. The team will be without defender Ben Cabango due to a groin injury, while Ollie Cooper, Kristian Pedersen, Sam Parker, and Josh Ginnelly are also sidelined. Williams expressed confidence in his squad, stating, “We are looking good, there are no new injury problems, we have a fit squad and we are looking forward to it.”

Southampton manager Ivan Juric emphasized the importance of the FA Cup, saying, “For us, the FA Cup is really important. We need the joy of playing good games. I just want to win the game.” Juric is expected to field a strong lineup despite upcoming Premier League fixtures against Manchester United and Tottenham.

Experienced Premier League referee Tony Harrington will officiate the match. Swansea’s last visit to St Mary’s in December 2023 ended in a heavy 5-0 defeat, with goals from Joe Aribo, Sam Edozie, Ryan Fraser, and Che Adams. Historically, Swansea has struggled at St Mary’s, winning only one of their last 15 visits over the past 64 years.

As both teams prepare for this crucial FA Cup tie, fans are eager to see if Swansea can upset the odds or if Southampton will continue their dominance in this fixture.