Swansea City vs Watford

Swansea City welcome struggling Watford to the Liberty Stadium on Sunday afternoon looking to defend a proud unbeaten record that stretches back to April.

Yeovil`s two late goal`s on that day merely delayed an inevitable promotion party, and Roberto Martinez`s side have not looked back since. Former Premiership sides Wolves and Southampton have both been well beaten at the Liberty, and the manager less Hornet`s provide another opportunity to take a former top flight scalp.

Malky Mackay has been put in temporary charge following Aidy Boothroyd`s departure from Vicarage Road, and the Scot faces two trips to South Wales in three day`s to begin his managerial career.

Boothroyd paid the price for a disappointing start to the season which sees the Londoner`s on the brink of the relegation places having missed out in the play - offs in the last campaign. A 4-3 defeat at home to Blackpool last Saturday proved to be the last game in charge for the highly regarded manager, and he parted company with the club by mutual consent.

Watford have only picked up four points on the road in the Championship so far, losing five of their seven matches on their travels. Their only win came at Southampton, 3-0, in a game where the host`s missed two penalties.

The Swan`s will be without Dorus de Vries and long term absentee Marcos Painter for the Sunday afternoon encounter, although Tom Butler could be in contention following a hamstring injury that forced him to miss the disappointing goalless draw at Doncaster last weekend.

The two side`s have not met since 1983 and a win could see Martinez`s men on the fringes of the play - offs. The Swansea players will be wanting to get back to winning ways after last week`s rather toothless performance, whilst the men in yellow will be looking to prove their worth to any potential new manager.

These factor`s alone should see the Liberty crowd in for another exciting 90 minutes of Championship football.

Pre - match comments:

Roberto Martinez:

'They are coming here having just lost one of the most influential managers in their history and that is going to have a huge influence on their game,'

'But our challenge is to take the initiative as the home side and impose ourselves on them.'

Malky Mackay:

"I expect, what the reports have said all season, that it is a ground with a lot of noise. The fans make a lot of noise and they are passionate people.

"Roberto has a team that have been playing together for 18 months and they have brought in a few players from other countries and they will be difficult to beat."