Phil Sumbler
Michael Duff has seen a dramatic turn around in fortunes in the past two weeks. From a first win against Sheffield Wednesday two weeks back he will send his side out in Devon this afternoon looking for a fourth successive win and a continued climb up the table.
Incredibly it was just three weeks ago that his tenure at Swansea was starting to look as if it was coming to an end. After four successive wins against Cardiff the Swans surrendered meekly at the Cardiff City Stadium and Duff’s time in Swansea could easily have been one of the shortest tenures in our history.
Rumours surfaced that he had just two games to turn things around but nobody can argue that he has failed on that front as the Swans have been just one injury time goal at QPR away from a maximum point haul in the four games since.
Tuesday’s late winner against Norwich showed a fighting spirit within the squad and three more points this afternoon should see the Swans head into the latest international break in the top half of the league. That was something that seemed inconceivable after the Cardiff game but highlights just how quick things can change in football especially at this level.
It is no wonder then why Duff is so praising of his squad at the moment and added to the words of several of his squad when he talked up the togetherness in the squad – another clear denial of the rumours that surfaced after the Cardiff game that Duff had lost the dressing room.
“Our players have applied themselves, and their attitude had been top-drawer throughout but, as you would expect, we do have a bit of a bounce in our step with the run we have been on,” he said.
“But the togetherness they have shown has been excellent. Football is a tough sport, we don’t think we have arrived or anything like that because there will always be bumps in the road.
“A lot of things went against us, but the squad have stuck together, worked hard, implemented new things and new ideas.
“We’ve been pretty consistent in our messaging that hard works pays you back, you have to earn what you get and the guys have taken that on.”
The Swans will have a two week break after today’s game before the division’s form side in Leicester City arrive in SA1 on 21st October.
