Steve Cooper has told his Swansea City side there can be no excuses against Middlesbrough today (Sat) despite the absence of the banned Tom Carroll and injured Wayne Routledge.
Midfielder Carroll will sit out the game at the Liberty Stadium following the first red card of his career.
Carroll was sent off for a second bookable offence during Wednesday night’s 1-1 Championship draw with Blackburn Rovers and must serve a one-match suspension.
Winger Routledge, who had hoped to be fit for the Teessiders’ visit, is likely to be missing once again with the calf injury which has sidelined him for the last four games.
Swans manager Cooper has not tasted victory in six matches, although the midweek draew at least gave the team a foothold for recovery after back-to-bacl defeats that included the 5-1 thrashing at West Brom last Sunday.
Coper said: “The main thing is that we are back at it. The schedule hasn’t fallen in our favour as they played Tuesday night and have an extra day to recover.
“But I don’t care, I don’t want any excuses. I just want us to focus on ourselves and be ready for what is coming.
Middlesbrough haven’t won away all season.. step forward Swansea city
— sixpack! (@jameswonnacott2) December 14, 2019
“We know every game is tough, and a different challenge, so we need to get our own house in order and ensure we are ready.
“We can say we maybe haven’t had much luck. But you have to make your own luck, you cannot concede goals like we have in the last two games.
“We want to be creating and scoring more, and maybe have a couple of decisions or bounces of the ball go our way. But you only get that if you make your own luck.”
Cooper otherwise has no fresh injury problems, although long-term absentees Joe Rodon and Jordon Garrick are still sidelined.
Middlesbrough boss Jonathan Woodgate has been handed a boost by the news that striker Britt Assombalonga’s ankle injury is not as bad as was first feared.
The Boro frontman missed the midweek trip to Nottingham Forest after leaving the Riverside Stadium on crutches following last weekend’s win over Charlton, but is rated at 50-50 to face the Swans.
Rudy Gestede could be involved for just the second time since August after returning to action for the Under-23s in midweek, while midfielders Marcus Browne and Lewis Wing are also available once again.
However, Woodgate is still without long-term casualties Anfernee Dijksteel and George Friend, while the game will come too soon for Darren Randolph and Ryan Shotton.