Duff pleased with hard-earned point for Swans after draw against Coventry 

The draw, which was the Swans second of the EFL Championship campaign leaves the club in 18^th position and winless in the table after three rounds of matches but carries on an unbeaten nine-match record in SA1.

Despite a strong defensive showing the Northern-Irishman’s side went behind for a third game in a row courtesy of Matty Godden’s close-range finish seven minutes before the break, before responding immediately with Jerry Yates looping header in the next phase of play.

Whilst both sides competed hard in an engrossing battle, key moments of quality in the final third from either side were far and far between to take all three points.

Duff, happy with his side’s improvements in the last week after the previous weekend’s 3-2 loss to West Bromwich Albion felt despite lacking quality offensively at times, improvements at the back helped earn a solid point against strong opponents.

“I thought it was a hard-earned point against a team who got beaten in the play-off’s last year,” said Duff. 

“Going 1-0 down again is disappointing but the reaction was excellent. Ultimately, the one thing that let us down today was the quality in the final third.

“We had five or six overhit crosses in the first half and the one that we hit we scored from. I thought our reaction was good.

“We played sporadically good football today rather than from 1-90 minutes. They give themselves an opportunity to earn a hard-fought point. For all their territory and play I don’t think Carl’s [Rushworth] made a save.

 “I don’t think their keeper has really made a save either there were moments of quality but not loads of chances. Ultimately, it was a good point. 

“The main focus of the week has been mentality. We had a meeting Monday morning about being harder to beat and people doing their jobs in set-plays. 

“We had two or three opportunities in the second half to roll it across the face of goal and we can’t quite land it. I don’t worry about the quality. You can have off days with quality, and you don’t get beat, I think that is the main thing.

“We defended four or five corners in a row and also defended a corner in the 98^th minute, the last kick of the game and people are sticking to the task. They’re the positives, you’re not always going to be at your free-flowing best.   

“It has been a good week. It probably has been the best week we have had on the training ground. There are definitely things we worked on that came out and loads of things that we can improve on.

“At the moment, there are a lot of things going on. We’re trying to change the mentality of the group and introduce a new style of play and try and change the way we defend in certain moments. 

“It is never going to happen overnight. I want to win as much as anyone else, but I also understand there is a process. You have to earn every point in this league and today was a hard-earned point.” 

(Lead Image: Swansea City FC)