By Paul Jones
Michael Duff insists it is too soon to panic after his third match without a win as Swansea City head coach slipped by.
Summer signing Jerry Yates bagged his second goal of the campaign to earn his new side a 1-1 draw with Coventry City in the Championship.
The visiting Sky Blues were wasteful in the first half but took the lead through what was one of their only two shots on target in the game as Matty Godden netted in the 39th minute.
But Yates, who arrived from Blackpool for a reported £2.5million this summer, equalised two minutes later with his second goal in as many home appearances for the Swans.
It leaves the Swansea with two points from two draws and a defeat from the opening three league matches and 18th in the early table.
“It’s never going to happen overnight,” Duff said.
https://twitter.com/Goalsreplayy/status/1692910181259124995?s=20
“The same things happened at my last two clubs. I didn’t win a game for 10 games at Cheltenham, 18 months later we won the league.
“The same thing happened at Barnsley. We were seventh or eighth or ninth in the league for the first three months, then were the most in-form team in the country from November on.
“I want to win as much as anyone else. I also understand there’s a process, a step by step. In this league, no-one comes along and says ‘there’s a win’.”
Duff was pleased with his side’s defensive efforts against Coventry but frustrated by a lack of quality going forward.
“At the minute there are a lot of things changing,” he added.
Michael Duff says Swansea City must stay patient in their search for a first Championship win of the season after their draw with Coventry City.
The former Cheltenham and Barnsley boss says his new-look Swansea team are a work in progress ⚽️#BBCFootball
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) August 20, 2023
“You are trying to change a mentality of a group, you are trying to change a style of play, you are trying to change the way we defend in certain moments.
“It’s been a good week, probably the best week we have had on the training ground. There are some things we’ve worked on that came out, but still loads of things we can improve on which is a positive.”
Swansea go to Preston North End next Saturday before a Carabao Cup second-round tie against Bournemouth on 29 August and a home game with Bristol City on 2 September.
They then return to action after the international break with a derby trip to Cardiff City.
Asked whether it would help his players to get their maiden league win on the board, Duff added: “It’s football. I’m not naïve – you don’t win for 15-20 games, I won’t be sat here.
Some photos from today's match:
Swansea City v Coventry City pic.twitter.com/N1f35ieovf— Gwyn Davies (@Gwynstato) August 19, 2023
“But the fear of the sack doesn’t drive me, it doesn’t get me out of bed in the morning.
“I get out of bed because I like working, I like trying to improve people, I like trying to improve the culture and environment of the club.
“We will get them in on Monday morning and try to improve again.”
