New Swansea City boss Bob Bradley will be desperate to prove his worth by getting off to a good start but which teams stand in his way?
The appointment of Bob Bradley as the new Swansea City boss was met with some opposition, but the former USA manager will be keen to show the Premier League what he can do from the off.
Bradley already has the mountainous task of getting supporters onside so he will need to get off to a flyer, but what three teams stand between him and early success?
Arsenal (Away)
Bradley probably could not have handpicked a tougher opponent to open his Swansea account, facing an in-form Arsenal side at the Emirates Stadium. It is a clash which many Swans fans will have written off already but there could be hope.
Swansea have put on solid displays in their last three games and another here may give them a chance. Teams often tend to get a little bit of luck when a new man takes over and the Swans will need that here.
With the form Arsenal are in, it is optimistic thinking to expect Swansea to get anything from this one but if Bradley can work his magic early on here, he will have won half the supporters over already.
Watford (Home)
This is the game Swansea should be looking at to really kick-start their season and get back on track.
Watford have done well in the early stages of the season and currently sit mid-table, but at home Swansea should be winning this type of game.
Walter Mazzari has a good setup at Watford and they could do well this year, but if Swansea cannot take three points here, they should consider making serious plans for a relegation fight.
This is a must win for Swansea and Bob Bradley must find a way to deliver it.
If the Swans do not take anything home from Arsenal then they are likely to be in the relegation zone by this point, and failure to win here could put them in real trouble with Manchester United, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur all to play in the five games which follow.
Stoke City (Away)
It is the fixture every supporter dreads, Stoke away, and on a cold Monday evening to boot.
Stoke have struggled to get going this season but do not be surprised if Mark Hughes has them alive and kicking by this point.
The Potters will be more than confident of taking three points against Swansea at home but Bradley has to find a way to stand up to the task.
There are not many away points available to bottom-half Premier League clubs but Swansea should be looking at taking at least one here.
The Swans took a point home last time they played at the Bet365 Stadium and that will do the job again here.
What do Swansea need?
Bradley has a tough task to turn things around for Swansea but that is Premier League football and he has to find a way if he wants to succeed.
The Swans are coming off the back of a tough run of fixtures so the next three games are not so bad.
Barring the Arsenal clash, there are two very winnable games and Bradley must look to take at least four points from his first three games to get Swansea’s season up and running at last.
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