Duff delighted with team mentality after victory over Norwich 

In an entertaining contest, the Swans high press and energy would come to fruition immediately with Jamal Lowe scoring his third in as many games from close range in the opening exchanges. 

Play-off-chasing Norwich equalised midway through the first-half with Brazilian Gabriel Sara ghosting between two defenders to head home for the visitors to level the scores at the break. 

It would be though Duff’s side’s energy and industry that would earn the three points as they fought hard to gain the upper hand in the contest deservedly taking the three points with Bashir Humphreys first senior goal ten minutes from time.  

After such a poor start to life in South Wales, with no win in his first seven matches in charge of the club, it has been quite the transformation in form. Ten points have been picked up from a possible 12 by the Swans since the dismal derby day 2-0 defeat to Cardiff City just over a fortnight ago. 

For Duff, the players’ hard work on the training pitch is now starting to pay off. 

“I’m delighted with the result and the performance as well. I think we started the game well and got on the front-foot early on like we had talked about, and the goal comes from a high press. I thought we used the ball well,” explained Duff. 

“Their goal comes from ironically us getting the press wrong where we have gone in ones and twos, which you can’t do.  

“The second-half we defended the box well and then we finished the game strongly. We were good value against a really strong Norwich team. 

“The supporters came with us in the end, which was really pleasing. When they put the six minutes up [stoppage-time], they got the lads through it who were absolutely out on their feet. It was a pleasing evening. 

“I’ve said all along you’re not going to dominate the ball for 90 minutes. You have to be able at times to defend the box and draw the pressure.  

“There’s lots of balls flying across the box and people are putting their bodies on the line. It’s important you have to do it. I think that’s the most pleasing bit.  

“It is another game today where we have only conceded one goal. In ten games we have conceded zero or one goal. We have taken points from every one of those six games. 

“It is getting that mentality that we have scored in nine out of the ten, we have gone one nil up in six of them. 

“If you go back to the Bristol City game there was no intent, and we were slow and sloppy with the ball. I thought today was the complete opposite, we were still trying to get on the front-foot and press them. 

“There have been signs along the way, it is just stitching those performances together. I think we have done that in the last two or three games.” 

Duff would be full of praise for both goal scorers Lowe and Humphreys and the impact they have made in the short time they have been at the club. 

“He has been great [Lowe]. Most of the things we do good going forward, Jamal is in and around. He is a really good player,” continued Duff. 

“He is only going to get better after being really short on football. That is back-to-back 90 minutes he has done now so we will have to wrap him up in cotton wool.  

“He wanted to come here and had loads of Championship clubs chasing him. The supporters don’t need me to tell you the quality that he has got and how important he can be.  

“He has also taken on a leadership role within that. He is really close with Grimesy [Matt Grimes] being captain of the football club and has set an example to the younger ones. He has been top draw and a great character around the place as well. 

“Bashir [Humphreys] has come in and wants to learn. He can play a couple of positions. 

“Ironically, we thought he would be a left-sided centre half, but we’re not playing three at the back anymore. 

“He is adaptable, asks questions and is a really humble kid. In my opinion, he will go on and play in the top league based on his mentality which is his biggest attribute.” 

The Swans now travel to Devon on Saturday to play their final match before the international break against Plymouth Argyle at Home Park but may have to take on Steven Schmacher’s newly promoted side without defender Ben Cabango.  

The Wales international was forced off with a hamstring problem midway through the second half and will be assessed to see his availability. 

“We don’t know how bad it is, he felt it [hamstring] in the first half. The pleasing thing is it has not gone bang, so it might be a bit of cramp or fatigue. He has done the right thing in coming off,” commented Duff. 

“After Saturday there is an international break and Ben will be desperate to go away and represent his country but if he isn’t fit at the weekend, it will be unlikely that he will be going away if he is deemed injured.  

“Hopefully, it is just a bit of cramp and a sensation rather than anything untoward.” 

[Lead image: Swansea City FC]