STAT PACK: Keeping up with the Joneses

A resounding 3-0 win over Newport County in midweek put Albion safely into the third round of the Capital One Cup, and should give Steve Clarke's side a boost ahead of the return to Barclays Premier League this weekend. Saido Berahino fired his first Baggies goals on his full debut for the club, scoring a clinical hat-trick to win the tie.

Having been an unused substitute in both top flight games so far this season and, with his team-mates having failed to find the net in the league, the 20-year-old striker could have played himself into contention with his performance on Tuesday night.

Opponents at the weekend, Swansea, may have been automatically put through to the next round of the Capital One Cup, but only due to European commitments. On Thursday they made a round trip of over 3,000 miles for their second leg against Petrolul Ploiesti and fatigue may well be an issue.

Playing Thursday night and then Sunday is often problematic for teams trying to maintain form in domestic competition and that is something Michael Laudrup's men will need to get used to; their first real test in this sense coming this weekend at The Hawthorns.

The sides last met back in March, when Luke Moore put Swansea ahead at his former club, before the Baggies turned the game on its head to win 2-1, in spite of Romelu Lukaku's missed penalty.

Typically, Swansea dominated possession that day (56%), but they could only manage two shots on target to Albion's five. Billy Jones put in a defensively sound performance, as well as offering a threat going forward on his way to a WhoScored.com rating of 7.34.

He made three tackles and three interceptions, as well as completing three successful dribbles and setting up a chance. An impressive start to this campaign has seen the right-back average 7.72 so far; the Baggies’ best-rated player. Again, he will be a key player come Sunday and will hope to pin back the Swansea left winger with some more forward forays.

Of teams to have been in the Barclays Premier League for more than one season, only Wolves (0.33) have averaged fewer points per game in September than Swansea (0.57), so The Baggies have a decent chance of extending Swansea's run of four consecutive league losses.



*WhoScored.com is a unique website and one of the fastest growing in the sports industry, specialising in the in-depth analysis of detailed football data. Provided with unique stats, they compile and create comprehensive analysis on the major European divisions, including live match stats and player ratings. Follow @WhoScored and their editor-in-chief @alitweedale on Twitter.

All-time results record (League, FA Cup and League Cup)

	PLD	W	D	L	F	A	GD
HOME	15	9	3	3	37	18	19
AWAY	16	2	4	10	17	31	-14
NEUTRAL	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
TOTAL	31	11	7	13	54	49	5

Interesting facts


The Baggies have lost three of the four Barclays Premier League meetings between the two clubs – but broke their Premier League duck against the Swans with a 2-1 win in March.

Scott Sinclair fired Swansea’s first-ever Premier League goal in a 3-0 triumph over Albion in September 2011.The on-loan winger netted 36 goals in 91 appearances during his two-year stay at the Liberty Stadium.

Swansea have lost their last four Premier League fixtures – they have never lost five in a row. 

Wilfried Bony’s strike in the 4-1 defeat by Manchester United on the opening day is the only top-flight goal scored by either side this season.   

ALBION: LLLDLD

SWANSEA: DWLLLL

Mike Dean will referee Sunday's game. The Cheshire official is set to oversee his first Barclays Premier League game of the season having refereed Ipswich versus Leeds in the Championship last weekend. Dean last oversaw the Baggies in their goalless draw at Stoke in March.