Phil Sumbler
Michael Duff will not so much want to put Saturday behind him when he sends his side out against QPR this evening but knows that he simply has to put it behind him with a win, quite possibly to save his Swansea City career.
The suggestions are that even a win maybe not enough to save that career but all the Swans boss can do is look to win the game which would create it as the first win in his seven league games in charge.
It was not so much the result that stung everyone on Saturday but it was the nature of the performance that looked more like those that Cardiff fans have accused their own players of in recent derbies. A lack of passion was combined with a seeming absence of any level of plan on how to play the game and that contributed to a relatively easy Cardiff win.
Tonight’s game is the first of two massive games for the Swans this week with Sheffield Wednesday visiting the Swansea.com stadium on Saturday afternoon. It may be too early in the season to talk about relegation six pointers but right now these two games are as close as they get for the Swans such is the position we find ourselves in with just two points from six games to date.
Three games on the road have produced a zero point return with seven goals going past what looks a pretty weak Swansea defence with Duff expected again to make changes in this area as he searches for the strongest starting line up – again something he is accused of not knowing about at the moment.
Duff is surely certain to make changes from the side that played Saturday but which ones are becoming harder to predict. Will Harrison Ashby get a recall to the starting lineup? Could we see a start for Josh Ginnelly or Bashir Humphries. The options are there for Duff but what he does next is anyone’s guess at the moment. 6.45pm this evening will tell us the answer to that dilemma!
Gareth Ainsworth will also be a manager under pressure and has called on the home fans to back his team and make the home advantage work for them. “I’m desperate to get the home form right, we know it’s key to being a successful side.
“Loftus Road is our home and when things are good, it rocks.
“I know we’re going to have to get results at home soon. But we’re going to turn the home form around, I’m certain of that and I’m looking forward to Tuesday.
“We’re going to be all guns blazing in order to try to beat Swansea.
“They are a decent side – just like every team in the Championship. They’ve spent some money and I’m sure Jamal Lowe (former QPR loanee) will want to show his worth on his return.
“But the boys are positive. It’s good that we have another game so soon – you always want to get a defeat out of your system as soon as possible.”
One game, two managers desperate for a win and a crunch game into the making. And it’s only mid September. The life in the EFL championship summed up.
