And skipper gives his thoughts on league position of both teams
CHRIS Brunt admits Albion are on a mission to end their recent hoodoo against Swansea – insisting: “We owe them one.”The Baggies have lost their last three games against the Swans, including last term's 2-1 home reverse after taking the lead.
The Welsh outfit have also bossed the last two encounters between the two sides at the Liberty Stadium - winning 3-0 and 3-1.
But, with Steve Clarke’s men boasting the best home record outside the top six in the Barclays Premier League, Brunt is eager to set the record straight.
“I think Swansea are a good side," said the Albion skipper, who is hopeful of recovering from an ankle injury in time to face City.
"We haven’t done very well against them in recent seasons either.
“It’s going to be a tough game but one we’d obviously like to build on after the good result we had against Sunderland at The Hawthorns.
“Our last couple of home performances have been decent.
“We did pretty well in the Spurs game as well, bar the sending-off.
“It would be nice to build because for large parts of the Sunderland game we were pretty comfortable.
“We played some good stuff and it’s important we continue that.
“We owe Swansea one as well from the last three results against them.
“They’re a good side and we saw down there this season they blew us away inside about 20 minutes.
“It’s going to be a difficult game.”
He added: “The way they play they don’t change very much at all and they’ve added some decent signings this season.
“Michu stands out and their team is pretty much the same as last year.
“They are just a good football side and it’s up to us to figure out how to beat them.
“I’m sure the gaffer will be doing his bits and pieces to find out what the best way is to try and win the game because we’re at home and it’s up to us to try and win it.”
Michael Laudrup’s Capital One Cup winners will arrive in the Black Country only above the ninth-placed Baggies on goal difference.
And Brunt believes both clubs deserve credit to still be challenging for a top-six finish, with only ten games remaining.
“If you had said both teams would be fighting for a top-six place at the start of the season you wouldn’t have expected it,” he said.
“But you deserve to be where you are in the league.
“They’ve played well and we’ve played well.
“January was poor for us, while Swansea haven’t really had a dip like we have.
“It’s important we keep our form going at the moment.
“After losing at Stamford Bridge, it is important to get back on track again.
“We’ve seen how difficult it is once you start losing games to turn that around – and we don’t want to find ourselves in that situation again.”