Prediction: Swansea vs Wolves

Verdict: Draw

Best Odds: 23/10

Bookmaker: Bet365

After playing out a 0-0 draw at Molineux last week, runaway Championship leaders Wolves will make the journey to the Liberty Stadium to face off with a Swansea side who still find themselves sat at the foot of the Premier League table. For the winner on Wednesday night, the victors will face a League Two Notts County in the fourth round.

Swansea

For the Swans, former Sheffield Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal is the man entrusted to guide Swansea to Premier League safety. After picking up just five points out of an available 39, Paul Clements tenure at the Liberty Stadium came to an end in December. Although Swansea have recently shown some brief signs of life, Carvalhal’s new team still remain bottom of the Premier League and are already chasing down a four-point deficit. Coming off the back of picking up a crucial point against Newcastle on Saturday, Swansea’s new boss will be hoping that a successful FA Cup run will improve that atmosphere at the Liberty Stadium. After seeing Gylfi Sigurdsson and Fernando Llorente move on last summer, Swansea’s major problem this year has been a lack of creativity in the final third. Managing to score just 14 goals in their 23 Premier League matches, no side in England’s top flight has scored fewer goals than the Swans.

Team News

Swansea will make changes to face Wolves with new manager Carlos Carvalhal making it clear that Premier League safety takes priority for his squad.

Defender Mike van der Hoorn and striker Tammy Abraham (hip) are out.

Wolves

While their hosts on Wednesday night may firmly be in a battle to maintain their Premier League status. Wolves are a team who will already have one eye on securing their spot among England’s elite come May. With Portuguese boss Nuno Espírito Santo spearheading the Midlands sides’ promotion push, Wolves have found themselves as the Championships runaway league-leaders. Currently sat 10 points clear of second place Derby, Santo’s side have not lost a single match since October. Boasting both the best defensive and attacking records in the Championship, Wolves have already scored 50 goals in their 27 league matches. Although the Midlands side might be coming off the back of a 0-0 draw against Barnsley, Wolves are yet to concede a goal in their last three appearances.

Team News

The Championship side will be glad to know that defender Danny Batth is available after surviving a suspension. However, Ruben Vinagre remains banned after being sent off in the first tie between the sides at Molineux which ended 0-0.

Boss Nuno Espirito Santo could rest Romain Saiss, Leo Bonatini and Diogo Jota.

Key Factors to Consider

• Swansea have won just one of their last 12 meetings with Wolves in all competitions (drew five, lost six), with the last three meetings all ending in draws.
• Wolves have been eliminated in four of their last five FA Cup replays, including each of the last three. In fact, they have not progressed away from home in an FA Cup replay since beating Oldham in the 2007 competition.
• However, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side are unbeaten in their last 14 matches (W10, D4).
• Swansea have lost three of their last four FA Cup replays in which they have been the higher ranked side (lost one), losing last time out when in League One to Non-League Havant & Waterlooville in 2008 (4-2).
• The Swans have only won one of their last eight home matches.

Conclusion

Although Swansea and Wolves may be enduring very different seasons in their respective leagues, we expect that Wednesday nights replay will play out similar to their first meeting last week. Despite Wolves still sitting firmly at the top of the Championship table, Santo’s side have drawn three out of their last five appearances and have uncharacteristically failed to register a single goal in their last two matches. Given Swansea’s recent improvement at the back, like their guests on Wednesday, the Swans have drawn their last two consecutive matches. Backing this match to go to extra time at 23/10 seems like a logical bet at the Liberty Stadium.

Verdict: Draw

Best Odds: 23/10

Bookmaker: Bet365