Canaries wings clipped as Swans secure third win on the bounce 

A first senior goal for Chelsea loanee Bashir Humphries ten minutes from time proving the difference after Jamal Lowe’s early opener had been cancelled out by a Gabriel Sara header. 

Having come into the match with seven points from the last nine, things had started to look on the positive side for Swans head-coach Michael Duff. 

The Northern-Irishman, however, despite things improving on the scoreboard had to deal with a spate of injuries in recent weeks and would come into the game without several key personnel once again.  

Already without the long-term trio of Josh Ginnelly, Nathan Wood and Joe Allen, the former Barnsley head-coach revealed after the 3-0 win over Millwall that wing back Kristian Pederson would be out until after the October international break. 

There was good news, however, as forward Jerry Yates and Arsenal loanee Charlie Patino both shook off knocks to take this place in an unchanged starting X1 against the Canaries. 

Looking to build on their purple patch, after two successive 3-0 victories, the Swans would come into the game with confidence. On-loan forward Lowe, being one of the impressive performers, bagging two in as many games to take the pressure off Duff and help aid the increased positivity around the camp. 

For David Wagner’s play-off chasing Norwich side, after a promising start, the Canaries form had dipped with Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Birmingham City the bright spot of a poor run that has seen three defeats in the last four league games.  

Scoring, however, has not been an issue with Wagner’s side netting an impressive 19 goals in their nine matches. Defensively, on the road, the route of the problem has stemmed from an eye-watering 12 goals conceded in just four games. The figure only beaten by a struggling Rotherham side lying one off the foot of the table. 

Looking to eradicate their away blues, Wagner made three changes to his side sticking with the same back four for the tenth successive game to protect Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn. 

American international striker Josh Sargent remained out with a ligament injury, whilst Adam Idah was only fit to make the bench. Forward Jonathan Rowe who had contributed to almost a third of the Canaries season tally of 19 would continue to lead the line with South Korean forward Ui-jo Hwang coming in to support. Home-grown winger Tony Springett and midfielder Adam Forshaw the other changes. 

It would be the Swans who would start the brightest of the two sides striking immediately as the Norwich defense would be caught napping. Lowe, the beneficiary to slot home from close range for his third goal in as many games following a neat build-up from Grimes and Paterson.

The Swans skipper finding the Jamaican international with a neat well-timed final ball between the two Norwich centre halves. 

With the home support in full voice on a mild Indian summer’s night, Duff’s side almost doubled their lead minutes later. Ben Cabango’s header across goal after a Swansea corner only half cleared into the path of Paterson to strike a fierce volley inches over the crossbar. 

Swansea’s high press would cause the visitors problems. Wagner, a frustrated figure on the sidelines, would be watchful as his side would struggle to have time on the ball, with the home side winning the ball consistently in the final third. 

The Canaries, however, would silence the home crowd with a rare foray into the opposition half. Rowe’s left-wing cross finding Brazilian midfielder Sara to head home past a stranded Carl Rushworth in the Swansea goal to level the scoreline. 

The Swans would be thanking their on-loan Brighton goalkeeper moments later as the pendulum of the game swung to Wagner’s side. Full back Jack Stacey supporting the attack on the right in space smashing a powerful effort seemingly heading for the top corner of the Swansea goal. 

Rushworth, with other ideas, however, at full-stretch using his agility to tip the effort over the bar to the dismay of the former Bournemouth defender. 

It would be the Swans who would have the next moment in the half. Grimes pin-point corner straying off the head of a Norwich defender to the back post with Yates finding the loose ball. Surrounded by defenders, the Swansea number nine would show invention to backheel a deflected effort across the Norwich goal but narrowly wide of the far post. 

The second-half would start with both sides looking to assert their authority over the contest with the all-important second goal a likely factor in the way the result would be decided.  

Unsurprisingly, this would lead to a cagey stalemate with both sides unable to gain a rhythm. 

Norwich would produce the first chance ten minutes after the re-start. The pacey Rowe finding space on the left before cutting inside Key to send a low effort narrowly wide of the Swans far post. A warning side of the quality of the 20-year-old youth products ability and prowess in front of goal. 

A spate of substitutions from both sides would liven up the proceedings with the game becoming more stretched. Chances would come at either end with the Swans briefly thinking they had regained the lead.  

Substitute Cooper hammering a shot on the half-volley from the penalty spot, after a corner had been recycled drawing a save from Gunn. Yates following up slotting into an empty net but was immediately flagged for offside. 

The Canaries though would be wondering how they hadn’t taken the lead minutes later with substitute forward Adam Idah heading over from Polish midfieder Prem Platcheta’s right-wing cross from close range when it looked easier to score. 

The Swans would have the ball in the net once more or so they thought. Referee Tom Nield, however, would not be convinced that Yates’ back post header had crossed the line with Norwich starting to ride their luck at the back. 

With the impetus behind them, the home side rallied and would not be denied on their next foray forward making the breakthrough. A series of shots from first Lowe would be saved by Gunn, before the ball would fall for Chelsea loanee Humphreys to lash an effort high into the goal for his first goal for the club. 

Duff’s side would come close to putting the icing on the cake, nearly getting a third with Lowe’s deflected effort looping over the crossbar. It would though be a resolute few minutes as the Swans held on to secure the victory to make it three wins in as many games. 

Swansea City X1 

Carl Rushworth, Josh Key, Ben Cabango (Josh Tymon 63), Harry Darling, Bashir Humphreys, Matt Grimes (captain), Charlie Patino (Jay Fulton 72), Jamal Lowe, Liam Cullen (Ollie Cooper 72), Jamie Paterson, Jerry Yates (Mykola Kuharevich 89).  

Norwich City X1 

Angus Gunn, Jack Stacey, Shane Duffy, Ben Gibson, Dimitris Giannoulis, Gabriel Sara, Kenny Mclean (captain), Ui-jo Hwang (Adam Idah 57), Jonathan Rowe (Christian Fassnacht 77), Tony Springett (Onel Hernandez 57), Adam Forshaw (Przemyslaw Placheta 57). 

[Lead image: Swansea City FC]