Carling Cup: Swansea City vs Brighton

Swansea City begin their Carling Cup campaign on Tuesday night as they host Brighton and Hove Albion at the Liberty Stadium for a 7:45pm kick off.

Both sides will be looking to bounce back after disappointing starts to the season. Brighton lost 1-0 at home to Walsall while the Swans were defeated on the opening day of the season for the fourth consecutive time, this time away at Leicester City, 2-1.

Tomorrow night's match is the first of 3 home games within 7 days, as we host Middlesbrough in the League on Saturday before Reading visit the Liberty Stadium the following Tuesday.

Last year we equalled our best run in a competition we usually don't do very well in. From 2000, we were defeated in the opening round of the League Cup for7 consecutive seasons before reaching the second round in 2007/2008.

We got to the 4th round last season, but Watford beat us at home as we missed out on a 5th round tie against Premiership side Tottenham Hotspur.

Paulo Sousa will be hoping for similar success but the League will be his main priority.

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Swansea City boss Paulo Sousa will be without midfielder Joe Allen after he limped off during Saturday's defeat at Leicester. He suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury and he could be sidelined for a few weeks.

Three other midfielders are also injured, Tom Butler, Ferrie Bodde and Darren Pratley while David Cornell, Shaun MacDonald, Casey Thomas, Jazz Richards (under-21s) and Ashley Williams (Senior) won't be available as they are on Welsh international duty.

Sousa is expected to make quite a few changes for this one. Shaun MacDonald and Ashley Williams will be missing as they are with Wales so the likes of Albert Serran, Fede Bessone and Andrea Orlandi will be hoping for a first team place.

Stephen Dobbie should get a chance to prove what he can do tomorrow night and he'll be looking to earn himself a starting place on the weekend. He did more when he came on at Leicester than Pintado did all game. He looked quite sharp in pre-season, scored 2 great goals in Spain and hopefully he can show his finishing ability against Brighton on Tuesday.

Brighton could be dealt a blow for the game as striker Liam Dickinson is an injury doubt for the game. He suffered a knock during Saturday's match and he missed today's training session, but he has travelled with the squad in the hope that he gains fitness.

The former Swansea left winger returns to the Liberty Stadium on Tuesday night hoping to play against some of his former team-mates. He came on as a 78th minute substitute on Saturday during the 1-0 home defeat against Walsall. He showed a lot of potential with us early on and scored a few superb goals, one notably in the 7-1 demolition against Bristol City, but Jackett released him because of his attitude. On the eve of a match, he went out drinking.

This is only the second time the two sides have met in the League Cup. The last time was in 1971 when Brighton won a first round tie 1-0.

The Swans played the Seagulls three times during the 2007/2008 season, twice in the League and once in the Football League Trophy. Brighton didn't score once in those 3 games.

Brighton's last win away at Swansea was in 2001, they beat us 2-1 in the Football League trophy. Their last League win at our ground was in 1992, they won 1-0 in the Third Division.

Tomorrow's visitors haven't lost an away game since April, they're unbeaten in their last 4 away matches.

G D Scott

2008/09 Stats: 30 Games, 69 Yellows, 8 Reds.

This will be the first time he was refereed a Swansea City match. Assistant Referees: L Swabey and M E Weaver

Fourth Official: A M Garratt

Swansea City will be looking to bounce back from Saturday's loss and to give the fans something to cheer about. Brighton will also looking to progress through to the next round but our team, despite changes, should come through a tight game with a narrow victory. Swansea to win 2-1

Saturday August 15th

Swansea City vs Middlesbrough

Championship

3pm Kick Off

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