SWANS: ‘Really aggressive’ Norwich better than their league position, warns Matos

Vitor Matos says Norwich City are a better side than their league position suggests, ahead of today’s lunchtime visit to the Swansea.com Stadium.

Norwich come into the game 17th in the Championship after back-to-back 4-3 defeats, to Middlesbrough and Bolton. They have also conceded more goals than anyone else in the league.

Matos still sees plenty to be wary of. “It’s a good team. I think it’s a team that doesn’t translate the position on the table,” he said.

“They are really well organised, they are really aggressive. They have a clear idea on how they want to attack as well.”

Norwich a threat on the counter

Matos expects Norwich to play out from the back. “They really try to overload the inside and use that to create a lot of situations,” he said. “They are really a threat on the counter as well.”

He also rates their pressing. “They press, they are together with us in terms of data,” he said.

“I think they are a really good team. I expect a really intense game and I think it will be a really even game in terms of competitiveness.”

Swans still top after Jarrod Bowen’s penalty miss for West Ham

The Swans go into the game still top of the Championship.

West Ham could only draw 1-1 at home to QPR on Friday night, after Jarrod Bowen missed a last-gasp penalty for the Hammers.

It is Swansea’s first game since the 2-1 comeback win at Lincoln on 19 September, before the international break.

Focus on Norwich, not momentum, after the international break

Asked about rebuilding momentum after the break, Matos said: “I think it was a long time since we played the last game. You always try to find a way to build things again.”

“But like I’ve been saying, I think more important is that we look to the next game.”

He wants his side to play their own way. “We have the best possible team to play and to beat Norwich in our way, with our style. Attacking and trying to be really protagonists on the pitch,” he said.

Swansea.com Stadium crowd a ‘big lift’ for the 12.30pm kick-off

For Matos, the upside of the lunchtime slot is being at home. “You play at home with your fans and that can give you a little bit of or a big lift in terms of desire and emotion and readiness,” he said.

“I think we are really with anger and desire to play in front of our fans. That’s a big part for us and we want to give them a proper performance.”

He admits the timing is not ideal with so many players back from international duty. “It’s not the most pleased time for us to play with all the internationals we have,” he said. “But at the moment it’s what we have and we’re going to make really good of it.”

Matos is without Stephen Eustáquio and Josh Key, both ruled out on Friday, but Ross Stewart is back after a long-term quad injury.

Kick-off at the Swansea.com Stadium is 12.30pm.