English League championship play-off semi-final

SOCCER: NEIL TAYLOR will only discover this morning if he is able to play in Swansea’s decisive play-off semi-final second leg…

SOCCER:NEIL TAYLOR will only discover this morning if he is able to play in Swansea's decisive play-off semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest as he awaits the outcome of an appeal into his first-leg dismissal. The left-back will be anxiously hoping his three-match suspension is overturned at a Football Association of Wales hearing which is due to take place just hours before the Liberty Stadium clash tonight. The semi-final is finely balanced after neither side managed to draw first blood in last Thursday's goalless first leg, with Swansea arguably slight favourites having displayed plenty of steely resolve to survive 89 minutes with only 10 men at the City Ground.

Taylor’s early dismissal was the stalemate’s key incident, with the 22-year-old Wales international seeing red for a high challenge to win the ball which saw his studs connect with Lewis McGugan’s thigh. Swansea go into the clash having collected more points at home than anyone else in the Championship over the regular 46-match season and having lost just three times, the last of which came against Cardiff in February.

Should City progress to the Wembley final on May 30th there is a strong possibility they could get the chance to avenge that 1-0 defeat, with their bitter local rivals taking on Reading tomorrow night in the second leg of their goalless semi-final.