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Swansea City have just nine games left of the Championship season and with Steve Cooper’s side just six points behind Watford in second-place, automatic promotion is still a real possibility for the Swans.

The South Wales club enjoyed an excellent start to the Championship season which was built on an impressive defensive record as well as a dangerous partnership of Andre Ayew and Jamal Lowe up front.

The Swans looked on track for automatic promotion and a potential title challenge when they produced arguably their best performance of the season in the 2-0 win over table-topping Norwich City in early February, whilst the loan signing of Conor Hourihane in midfield added some real quality in the Swansea midfield.

However, instead of pushing on from this position, Swansea have fallen away in recent weeks, whilst a superb winning run from Norwich has all but sealed their promotion back to the top-flight, as they currently sit eight points clear at the top of the table.

Heavy defeats against Huddersfield Town and Bournemouth have emphasised that teams have seemingly figured out the key to unlocking Swansea’s previously imperious defence, whilst the goals have also dried up, with Lowe in particularly bad form at the moment.

Back-to-back defeats ahead of the international break, including a home defeat against South Wales rivals Cardiff City, have cast serious doubt on Swansea’s promotion hopes but they will be hoping that the international break means they can reset ahead of the remainder of the season.

Ahead of the run in, we’ve predicted the outcome of every Championship game that will be played to generate a predicted final league table:

Cooper’s side have a favourable run-in that sees them take on several relegation candidates including Birmingham City, Sheffield Wednesday, Wycombe Wanderers and Derby County, so we feel that they will come back into form.

However, they travel to Watford on the final day and with the Hornets in impressive form of late, we predict that the Swans will, unfortunately, suffer a final day heartbreak at Vicarage Road, with Watford finishing second behind Norwich, whilst Swansea end up finishing fourth, meaning they have to settle for a play-off position.

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Swansea will certainly have to improve their recent form if they want to take it to the final day but considering their fixtures, Cooper’s side could still be in with a chance of automatic promotion this season, but we predict a play-off semi-final clash with the Cherries is what’s in store for the Swans.

And, in other news… Swansea handed huge boost with £3.6m-rated “leader”, Cooper will be relieved

Tottenham Hotspur signing Matt Doherty for £15 million in the summer transfer window looked to be a bargain at the time but after a questionable first few months with the North London club, some Lilywhites fans may have been quick to write the defender off.

The Republic of Ireland international found himself behind Serge Aurier in the pecking order under Jose Mourinho, with the Ivory Coast international clearly benefitting from the added competition at right-back.

Whilst the number of fixtures Spurs have had to play this season has meant that Doherty hasn’t been short of game time, Aurier has often been preferred in the Premier League, whereas the Irish defender has featured more regularly in cup competitions, having made 11 starts in the Premier League, averaging a solid, if unspectacular, 6.72 rating.

Aurier, meanwhile, has made 14 starts in the top-flight, averaging an impressive 7.03 rating, and perhaps would have made more if it wasn’t for the minor injuries that have kept him out on several occasions this season.

However, just as Doherty’s arrival has encouraged an upturn in form from Aurier, the Ivorian’s recent injury problems have seemingly been a factor in the 29-year-old’s improved performances at right-back.

After a disappointing performance in the 3-1 defeat to Liverpool in January, Doherty has bounced back and recorded impressive displays in recent weeks, with five out of six of his last performances in the Premier League seeing him rated above a 7/10 from WhoScored.

Although his assist for Harry Kane’s wonder goal against Crystal Palace on Sunday night was reminiscent of Tom Carroll’s assist for Gareth Bale in a 3-2 win against West Ham in 2013, it shows that Doherty is starting to get forward a lot more and replicate some of the form he regularly produced at Wolves.

As per SofaScore, against Roy Hodgson’s side, the right-back would register a 95% pass accuracy and impressively contribute three key passes, which shows that he is starting to become much more of an attacking threat in Mourinho’s side.

Considering he is now 29, it was something of a gamble for Levy to sign him on a four-year deal, but considering his recent performances, it looks like Spurs may actually have a real quality right-back on their hands, so that gamble looks to have paid off and it’s giving Mourinho a nice headache when choosing who to select between him and Aurier.

And, in other news… Forget Bale and Kane: Gem who had 99 touches had the best game of his Spurs career vs Palace

Many fans of Crystal Palace have been reacting to the club’s post on Twitter which shared footage of former Eagles winger Yannick Bolasie in action for the south Londoners.

In the footage, Bolasie can be seen battling to get around Liverpool centre-back, Dejan Lovren, when the Palace winger suddenly swipes his hand along the ground before knocking the ball past the defender.

In his time at Palace, the 31-year-old scored 13 goals and provided 30 assists over his 144 appearances, with the winger becoming a fan favourite at Selhurst Park for “bamboozling defenders with his trickery,” such as his skinning of Lovren.

After Crystal Palace shared the clip of Bolasie on Twitter, plenty of fans flocked to have their say on the winger, with many reminiscing about how entertaining the DR Congo international was to watch for the Eagles, while others simply shared their awe at the disrespect he appeared to show the then-Liverpool defender in what one dubbed “joyful” footage.

So, what exactly did these Crystal Palace fans have to say in reaction to the footage of Yannick Bolasie?

“Back when he had pace. Also, is Dejan Lovren still a thing?”

@JA9GOAT

“Miss him but don’t want him back, we had him at his peak which was joyful to watch.”

@AgnstModFball

“Miss Yannick running down the wing.”

@Inked_Eagle

“Omg.”

@sam_paIace

“Miss you so much Yannick.”

@Alexjackd

“I mean the disrespect is just incredible.”

@cpfcboiling

“Had him on toast.”

@GeorgeBakerr97

“One of the most entertaining players we’ve ever had.”

@AJWrightnBrite

In other news: One Palace star has been linked with a move elsewhere in the Premier League, find out more here!

As Celtic look to kick-start a new chapter in their history, Neil Lennon will be looking around for ways of building a more exciting future at Parkhead.

Ismaila Soro looks to be the kind of midfield prospect who the Hoops can rely on in the engine room, but getting a deal done for Sheffield Wednesday starlet Liam Shaw could give them the perfect partner for the 22-year-old.

Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph has claimed that the Bhoys have expressed interest in signing Shaw, and that the 19-year-old would be available on a pre-contract now, although Wednesday are in talks with him over a new deal.

Dubbed a “very, very promising young player” by his old manager at Sheffield Wednesday, Tony Pulis, Shaw has begun to establish himself in the Championship side’s starting eleven over the past couple of months.

He’s featured in nine of out of the Owls’ last ten games in the league, including starting and completing the full 90 minutes in the previous matches against Middlesbrough and Derby.

Shaw’s ability to play as both a centre-back and in central midfield would give Lennon added flexibility, with his former Owls boss, Garry Monk saying of his versatility: “He has got the capability of playing everywhere. I am not 100 per cent sure what is going to be his final position. But what I do know with him is he definitely has the capabilities of playing in midfield and centre-back.”

Partnering him in the engine room alongside Soro would give Celtic a real strong presence that would compliment the Ivory Coast ace.

Standing at an imposing 6 foot 2, Shaw has won 3.3 duels per game in the Championship this season, with the 5 foot 8 Soro winning 4.5 per match. That little and large partnership would be almost akin to an N’Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic style seen at Chelsea, with both capable of sticking their foot in and screening the back four well.

Nick Hammond could clinch a perfect partner for Soro in Shaw.

Meanwhile, Celtic can clinch a bargain deal for this one League One sensation…

Nathan Redmond has been deployed as a striker by Ralph Hasenhuttl at Southampton in recent weeks, but the Austrian may have to consider this a failed experiment after the 26-year-old once again failed to impress in the Saints’ 3-0 defeat against Leeds United on Tuesday evening.

The former Norwich City man was paired with Che Adams up front, with Danny Ings starting the game on the bench, but neither were able to replicate the work rate and effectiveness of the 28-year-old in attack in largely anonymous displays.

As per SofaScore, Redmond would complete just 10/19 passes during the game, resulting in a very disappointing 59% pass accuracy, which was the worst of any Southampton player who started the game.

So far this season, he has averaged 22.5 passes per game in the Premier League, which emphasises that he was nowhere near his best at Elland Road.

The Englishman was arguably outshone by young Nathan Tella on his first Premier League start, with the winger completing more dribbles, and registering a higher pass accuracy than his teammate, according to SofaScore.

Hasenhuttl is perhaps hoping that £60,000-a-week Redmond can run at defenders in his new role as a striker but he was rarely involved during his time on the pitch, having just 29 touches of the ball, whereas his strike partner Adams would have 49 – albeit across the full 90 minutes.

Redmond has averaged 1.2 shots per game and 0.6 key passes per game in the top-flight so far this season but managed just one shot and zero key passes against Leeds, which again shows that he was below average.

With Ings and Minamino perhaps likely to return against Everton next time out, you fear that this latest poor performance could see Redmond axed from the starting XI. Given he was arguably outshone by the impressive Tella, who looked much more willing to run at the Leeds defence during his time on the pitch, Hasenhuttl has plenty to consider.

And, in other news… Saints should swoop for 20 y/o wonderkid; he’s better than Djenepo

When Joao Moutinho arrived at Molineux with his strapping stylish beard, eyebrows were raised.

Not for the beard itself, but for the player who was sporting it. This transfer was a major coup for a club of Wolves’ stature.

Moutinho had been regularly linked with Tottenham Hotspur but it was the Midlands he travelled to in search of Premier League football.

He has been a star ever since his move in 2018 and has cemented himself as one of the most consistent in his position in the league.

The Portugal international has registered 14 league assists in just over two seasons and keeps things ticking over with unerring confidence.

However, he is now 34 years of age and despite his positional awareness and composure, is getting no younger.

Thus, could a replacement be in line soon? It’s possible when you consider that Wolves have lined up Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijnaldum as an option in the transfer market.

Signed for £25m from Newcastle, he has been a dynamic pillar in the middle of the park and would add a great deal to a midfield usually dominated by Moutinho.

In fact, he could usurp the Portuguese. That’s because of his passing and impetus in the final third.

Moutinho is the archetypal deep-lying playmaker. Very rarely does he move from his position and when he does, it’s to break up play and spread a wonderful cross-field ball. Wijnaldum possesses similar traits but he also loves to burst forward.

In the words of Jurgen Klopp, the Dutchman has “all the things you need.” Truer words have rarely been spoken by the Liverpool boss, someone who has been rather vocal all season.

Wijnaldum has amassed a pass success rate of 92% this season – higher than Moutinho – and he’s also a bigger goal threat. Since Moutinho signed in 2018, he has scored just twice in the Premier League compared to the eight netted by Wolves’ current target.

Considering Ruben Neves has a largely similar job to the former Monaco man, they could do with a more dynamic successor once Moutinho moves on.

Wijnaldum is adept defensively but has far less to do in that third of the pitch for a Liverpool side who enjoy more possession.

Despite that, Jeff Shi must go all out to secure this transfer.

AND in other news, Forget Diego Costa: Wolves must swoop for 51-cap demon who’s “outstanding physically”…

Steve Bruce has confirmed Dwight Gayle missed Newcastle United’s loss to Arsenal on Monday night through illness but is unsure when the striker will return, according to Chronicle Live.

Gayle has not featured since the Toon were eliminated from the FA Cup earlier this month and is yet to start a single fixture in any competition, amid yet another injury ravished campaign for the 31-year-old.

The forward missed the opening three months of the season following knee surgery after sustaining a medial collateral ligament injury during the Magpies’ pre-season training camp, returning to make his campaign debut in December with the match-winning effort at home to West Bromwich Albion.

Bruce was frequently without Gayle during his maiden term at the helm last year, too, with the forward sustaining a calf injury in pre-season and a hamstring strain in January restricting the £7m-rated attacker to just 22 games.

Bruce is hoping to see Gayle return to action sooner rather than later and will assess the £40,000-per-week forward, who is a free agent in the summer, ahead of Saturday night’s clash with Aston Villa.

“Dwight’s been struggling with illness,” the Toon boss said. “Thankfully, we don’t think it’s Covid-related.”

Aston Villa have not played a competitive fixture since losing 4-1 at home to Liverpool in the FA Cup on January 8 after an outbreak of coronavirus cases, that saw 14 players and staff test positive in one of the worst situations seen in the Premier League yet.

The Villans’ top-flight fixtures with Tottenham Hotspur and Everton had to be postponed as a result of the outbreak, but both Villa and Newcastle being eliminated from the FA Cup left each side with a free weekend to play their postponed December fixture.

Newcastle were originally scheduled to travel to Birmingham on December 4 but suffered a “significant” outbreak of Covid-19 cases, from which Allan Saint-Maximin is yet to make his return.

Gayle failing to overcome his illness ahead of Newcastle’s rescheduled visit to Villa Park on Saturday night will likely see Bruce once again look to Andy Carroll to partner Callum Wilson in attack as he strives to get the Magpies firing again.

Carroll started only his third Premier League fixture of the season at Arsenal on Monday, where Newcastle failed to score in a top-flight game for the seventh time this term as the Gunners held them back to just four shots with one on target.

Bruce will need Carroll to step up to the challenge far more at Villa Park than he achieved at the Emirates, with the £3m-rated target man now boasting just a single goal in over 1,000 days across all competitions after netting in the Toon’s 2-1 loss at Leicester earlier this month.

The 32-year-old’s goal came from one of three shots in what was his second-most productive Premier League appearance of the season so far, with Carroll failing to get an effort away in five games and only attempting a single shot on four occasions, per WhoScored.

With Wilson also only boasting one goal in his last seven top-flight outings, Bruce can ill-afford to see Carroll prove toothless at a time the relegation zone continues to creep ever closer.

AND in other news, Newcastle United are being targeted to solve another PL side’s transfer crisis…

Phil Hay has reported that Leeds United will be without both Robin Koch and Diego Llorente on Friday when they host West Ham at Elland Road. The former is confirmed to need surgery on his knee and will be out for up to three months, whilst his expected replacement is also injured with a muscle problem.

Whilst this is a huge blow for the Whites, their manager may have just dunked them into even hotter water.

In his latest press conference, Marcelo Bielsa was asked about his centre-back options, to which he responded with his full planned line-up.

A disaster waiting to happen for Leeds

The Argentinian is known for revealing his team plans ahead of upcoming fixtures, but it’s a habit he simply must snap out of. Bielsa was famous for doing this during his time in the Championship, but Leeds were so dominant that they were confident enough to counteract any plans the opposition had for them.

However, as they have already realised, the Premier League is more demanding a lot more unpredictable and is a completely different ball game, making moves like this even more risky. The Whites recently suffered back-to-back 4-1 defeats to Leicester and Crystal Palace, which only further highlights how ruthless England’s top flight can be.

Leeds are currently 14th in the table and have won just one of their last five games. It’s important that they restore their winning form and give themselves the best chance of surviving a drop back down to the Championship. However, this will not be an easy target to meet if Bielsa continues to give his rivals insight into his match day plans.

With Michail Antonio out of action, David Moyes will need to change up his tactics. But the added boost of knowing Bielsa’s plans could hand West Ham the win on Friday.

In other news, Alfie McCalmont could be coming for Mateusz Klich…

Some Everton fans have been blasting the fact that Tom Davies was named in the starting eleven for their game versus Arsenal in the Premier League – he gave away a penalty with a reckless first half challenge.

The central midfield player replaced the injured Allan for the Merseyside club at Goodison Park, and so started alongside Abdoulaye Doucoure in the heart of midfield, with Gylfi Sigurdsson playing slightly further up.

Alex Iwobi, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison were of course deployed further forward, with Mason Holgate, Michael Keane, Yerry Mina and Ben Godfrey making up the back four for Carlo Ancelotti’s team.

Jordan Pickford starts in between the sticks for the Toffees, replacing Robin Olsen from the 2-0 win away at Leicester City.

Davies had yet to score or assist in his eight previous games in all competitions in the 2020/21 term so far before this match (Transfermarkt), and so it is understandable that there is some frustration that the England U21 international has been chosen to start.

Everton fan reaction to Davies starting

These EFC supporters blasted the idea of Davies starting on Twitter, with one Blue even claiming that the 22 year-old is a ‘liability’:

In other news, find out why Everton fans have been slamming one EPL manager here!

After starting off the new Premier League campaign on fire with three goals in his opening three games, it’s fair to say it’s been a disappointing few days for Alexandre Lacazette.

First, the Frenchman produced an anonymous display against Rapid Vienna in the Europa League after taking the armband, finishing the game with a measly 6.4 match rating as per Sofascore.

And then, on Sunday night against Leicester City in the Premier League, 29-year-old produced yet another shocking display to leave Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta with a major conundrum on his hands.

With just eight goals scored in six league games, the Gunners are hardly firing on all cylinders, and when you’ve got a Golden Boot calibre striker in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang being played from the left, it inevitably raises the spotlight on the man through the middle.

And against the Foxes, Lacazette showed why Arteta must surely drop him from the next top-flight fixture against Manchester United at the weekend.

As per Sofascore, in the 17 total duels that he contested, he won just five, whilst he also committed five fouls, many of them for making rash decisions when trying to win the ball back for his team.

If Arteta wanted him to hold the ball up for the rest of his teammates, then he failed to do so. He made just 12 successful passes in total, whilst he had just 32 touches overall.

And when he did get a chance to fire away on goal, he invariably disappointed. Whilst he was perhaps rather unlucky to see his header ruled out by VAR in the opening few minutes of the contest, Lacazette did miss the one big chance Arsenal created, failing to get his head on a delightful Kieran Tierney cross.

It proved to be costly as Leicester hit the Gunners on the break and snatched all three points. With Eddie Nketiah breathing down his neck, and Aubameyang able to play through the middle, Arteta has got to make a big decision on his misfiring Frenchman.