Duff bemoans ‘lack of quality’ after South Wales derby defeat 

The win for the Bluebirds courtesy of second-half strikes from substitute Ollie Tanner and a late Aaron Ramsey penalty would give Erol Bulut’s side only their second win over the Swans in ten meetings, also ending a run of four successive wins for Duff’s side over their bitter rivals. 

With the Swans still winless, lying deep within the league’s relegation zone in 22^nd place in the Championship table, the under-fire Northern-Irishman felt that it was his side’s quality of play that let them down. Having mustered only a handful of shots at the Cardiff goal in second-half the former Barnsley head-coach would bemoan his side’s lack of attacking threat. 

“I thought it was the opposite of the Bristol City game in terms of it was the quality that let us down,” explained Duff. 

“There was nothing in the first half. It was a cagey game and there wasn’t a lot in it. 

“In the second-half, every time we passed the ball forward, we gave it away. We were ok when we passed it backwards and sideways, but it becomes difficult then because it’s hard to sustain attacks and build any momentum. 

“That’s ultimately why we didn’t get any threat on their goal. It didn’t stick up front in the first-half so we changed to two forwards and then after that every time we passed it forward, we gave it away. 

“Their subs then came on and showed a little bit of magic. The first goal is always going to be important in these types of games and it proved so. 

“The frustration is that they had a go, they fought, and they ran. The profile of the players we have in the building is that you would describe them as good footballers, but ultimately it was the lack of quality when we passed the ball forward that cost us the game today. 

“I faulted them last time because there was not enough intensity when we got beat, not enough running and energy. That was there today but that lack of quality let us down. 

“It is part of the job; I don’t like getting beat. I’m not stupid or naive to know that there will be a vent at me.  

“I have been here before though and this is when you see the true characters of the football club. The ones that stick together, the ones that don’t blame anyone else and the ones that don’t whisper in the corridor. 

“There has been a lot of change at this football club and that’s not me hiding behind it. We have had three debuts today and Kristian [Pederson] looked tired in the end. You could see that from the penalty. 

“We’ve had Olivier [Ntcham] refusing to play the night before the first game, the Joel Piroe situation going on, the Woody [Nathan Wood] situation. Joe Allen is in the team today and then gets injured in the warm-up, so it feels like backs are against the wall, but this is when you see the true characters. 

“Lots of staff have left and lots of players have come in. I’m just going to stick to what I believe in and my values. I won’t come off script in terms of that.  

“We’re trying to change the way we play because last year was extreme in terms of the way they wanted them to play. 

“I don’t think this is the first time we’ve been on a difficult run because we went through this last year when I wasn’t in the building, so it’s sticking to the task. 

“We need to win a game; I’m not going to sit and try and pull the wool over people’s eyes and think that we’re not under pressure. We’re under pressure because it is a winning business. 

“I’m not going to make excuses; the facts are that we need to win a game. We looked low on confidence and at 2-0 we started to try and pass the ball again because there is no pressure. So, it is having that belief. 

The Swans will now look to bounce back quickly as they travel to Loftus Road on Tuesday night to face 20^th placed Queens Park Rangers. A basement battle with fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday then awaits Duff’s side at the Swansea.com Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 

[Lead image: Swansea City FC]