Swansea's play-off chances? Slim to say the least
Swansea City will take on Millwall this weekend knowing victory may give them a very slim play-off chance heading into the final day of the season – but only if Coventry City lose to Luton Town in their early kick-off on Saturday.Alan Sheehan's side are in sparkling form, having won five successive games to move to within six points of the top six.Swansea must keep that winning run going against Millwall and Oxford United seven days later to have any hope of finishing in the play-offs – but even then they would be relying on a number of results going their way plus a major goal difference swing.The unlikely play-off talk will be over if sixth-placed Coventry get anything from their trip to Kenilworth Road (12:30 BST).Should a Coventry side featuring ex-Swans skipper Matt Grimes (below, alongside Frank Lampard) lose, Sheehan's men – who are currently 11th - would move to within three points of sixth with a win over the Lions, who are eighth.But Swansea would also need seventh-placed Middlesbrough to be beaten at home by out-of-form Norwich City.
Should all those results happen, Swansea could sneak into sixth place on the final day if they beat Oxford and Middlesbrough win at Coventry – but only if, in the process, the Swans somehow turnaround Boro's advantage in the goal difference column.As it stands, Swansea are on minus four while Michael Carrick's team have a goal difference of plus 10.On top of all that, the Swans would need ninth-placed Blackburn Rovers to lose at least one of their games – Rovers host Watford before going to Sheffield United – and West Bromwich Albion, who are 10th, to drop points in one of their fixtures – at Cardiff City and at home to Luton – to be absolutely sure of finishing above those two sides.All in all, therefore, there will surely be nobody tipping Swansea to reach the play-offs.But it says something about the run the Swans have been on that they are even in the conversation, having been glancing nervously towards the other end of the table not so long ago.
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Scotsman
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