Resolute Swans can be competitive against ‘fantastic’ Ipswich

 The Swans come into the game having performed admirably to claim a point from the 0-0 draw with Sunderland at the Swansea.com Stadium last weekend despite having to play with ten men for over an hour.  

After seeing Charlie Patino dismissed for a second bookable offence many of the resolute qualities the Northern Irishman has instilled in his team in recent weeks came to the forefront to earn a battling draw. 

Away from South Wales, Duff’s side have enjoyed an upturn in form on their travels in recent weeks taking ten points from a possible 12, whilst picking up a pair of clean sheets and conceding just two goals in the process. 

More of those defensive attributes will be needed this weekend as the Swans prepare for the long journey to East Anglia to face a Tractor Boys side lying in second place in the table with the best home record in the league. 

Holding also the league’s most potent attack on their own patch, Kieran McKenna’s side have amassed 22 goals in just seven games at Portman Road, whilst have only been beaten once in 32 league games since promotion from League One in May. 

Full of compliments of a side playing with a clear identity and purpose Duff feels McKenna is doing a fantastic job but feels his side have shown recently that they can be competitive to get results against one of the league’s strongest sides. 

“When we first come in, we said we wanted to be harder to beat and be a little bit more resolute. I think we look fit and structured now,” said Duff. 

“Four clean sheets in the last eight games shows we have started to look as if we can be competitive. 

“We’ve played well in the last couple against two good teams in Sunderland and Blackburn.   

“We’ve changed our style and haven’t been doing it that long and are starting to look like a team that we want to be, playing on the front foot, whilst using a high press. It’s trying to marry it up all the time. 

“Every manager wants an identity, but it takes time. It is finding a way that works for both the club with the budget you have got and works for the club you’re representing.  

“I would love to be sat here in two years time with people going yeah that looks like a Michael Duff Swansea team. 

“Keiran is a good manager; he has come in with a clear identity and the feeling around the place is good because they have been around the doldrums for so long. 

“They have good players that have been together a long time. They also have a good togetherness with the players and who knows where it is going to take them. 

“They are breaking records in terms of promoted teams and have given themselves a good opportunity to go up again. 

“Having 25,000 roaring them on will help them forget about tiredness [From Rotherham]. They mix it up well, and play out from the back a lot. Whichever goalkeeper plays, likes to play it out with his feet, but with George Hirst up top, they can go in behind.  

“He’s a really good foil for them because he gives them that balance of not just being able to play out from the back. If you just do that teams will press you and you can’t get in behind.  

“I think that is the better way to play rather than being direct all the time or just playing out. They have a really good balance and an organised way of playing; it will be a tough game.” 

The Swans boss confirmed he is likely to be working with a shoestring squad for the last game before the international break with a similar squad to that seen at Sunderland last weekend. 

“There’s not a lot of positive news, we are short on numbers with Charlie being out, and also there is a couple carrying knocks so we will have to see where they’re at, continued Duff. 

“It’s all hands to the pump at the minute, but every player that has been called upon has put their hands up and delivered. There’ll be no one coming back into the fold from last week. 

“Josh [Key] has been one of our better players before he came out of the team. Hopefully, he will be back after the international break. He has a bit of illness now, so we have not seen him this week. 

“I think though Harrison [Ashby] has done well since he’s come in, there is definitely competition there in places at that end of the pitch. 

“There’s definitely one place available to fill. Walshy’s [Liam Walsh] has not had lots of football, Ollie Cooper has been doing well in the last few weeks when he has been coming on.  

“There will be an opportunity for someone. We will wait and see on a couple of others whether they will be fit or not. That is why you have a squad because at some point you are going to need them all. 

“They all want to play; they are all footballers that do it for a Saturday. If and when they get the opportunity, they have to make sure they are ready to hit the ground running like Charlie [Patino] has done when he has been in the team.” 

[Lead image: Swansea City FC]