Swansea v Gillingham preview: Graham Potter targeting FA Cup success

Graham Potter insists Swansea will fully focused on the FA Cup as they prepare to face League One Gillingham in the fourth round on Saturday.

Potter's side, who beat Aston Villa in the third round, are targeting a place in the fifth round for the second successive season.

Victory over Sheffield United last Saturday saw the Swans move to within six points of the Championship play-off places but Potter will not prioritise the league over the FA Cup.

"I don't think I can sit here as a Swansea City head coach or manager and say the FA Cup is not important," said Potter. "Of course, it is important to us. It is important to the players, the club and our supporters.

"We want to be competitive in every game and we want to develop that mentality going into the second half of the season that we want to win every game we play."

Meanwhile, Gillingham manager Steve Lovell, who made two league appearances for Swansea in 1987, is hoping to guide his side to another FA Cup upset against Welsh opposition after beating Premier League Cardiff in the third round.

"I'm very excited because I know what we can produce when we're at our best," he said. "This year, we have turned up for the big games, so I'm hoping we can replicate what we've done before against Cardiff and Portsmouth and make sure we do ourselves proud.

"Whatever the result, it's important that we put in a good performance and give everything."

Team news

Swansea have just two fit senior centre-backs for Saturday's clash.

Joe Rodon will miss up to eight weeks after foot surgery, leaving Mike van der Hoorn and Cameron Carter-Vickers the Swans' two fit frontline defenders. Wales U21 defender Cian Harries is set to step up in Rodon's absence.

Wayne Routledge will miss out on Saturday with a calf concern, while Kyle Naughton has a knee issue and Joel Asoro and Nathan Dyer have been battling a sickness bug.

Defender Max Ehmer should start for Gillingham after an ankle injury to Alex Lacey.

Ehmer has had to bide his time sitting on the bench for the last two weeks, after recovering from a dislocated shoulder. But now Lacey is likely to be out of action for several weeks, paving the way for a return to the starting line-up for Ehmer.

Regan Charles-Cook and Tom Eaves could be restored to the starting XI after substitute roles in Gillingham's 3-0 home League One reverse at the hands of Walsall.

Opta stats

Swansea and Gillingham haven't faced in any competition since April 2008, when the Swans won 2-1 in a League One encounter at the Priestfield Stadium.
Gillingham have been eliminated on all three occasions they've faced Swansea in the FA Cup, losing in the third round in 1946-47, 1959-60 and 1971-72.
Swansea City haven't reached the fifth round of the FA Cup in consecutive seasons since 1964-65.
Gillingham could become just the second team in FA Cup history to eliminate both Cardiff and Swansea in a single campaign, after Southend United in 1975-76.
Nathan Dyer has scored four goals in his last four FA Cup starts for Swansea, netting in their 3-0 win at Aston Villa in the third round.