By Graham Thomas
Russell Martin claimed Norwich City’s players apologised for leaving with all three points after their 1-0 victory.
It was a strange revelation, given that the Canaries scored the only goal of the game and for the most part dealt quite comfortably with what the Swans could throw at them.
Martin’s side had 65 per cent possession and attempted 17 shots, but as Spain have found to their cost in the World Cup, statistics – particularly those around possession and passing – do no not always equate to an ability to win matches or even score.
The Swans have now gone six games without winning, but Martin believes in his system and his players and the measure will be where they finish at the end of the campaign, rather than one-off games that go against them.
Even so, there was a lack of punch against Norwich and the feeling persists that if Joel Piroe does not score then it’s likely to be no-one else, either.
The three players who supported Piroe’s attacking thrust against Norwich – Ryan Manning, Luke Cundle and Jamie Paterson – have managed only four goals between them so far this season.
“A few of their players came off the pitch and apologised which probably tells you the story of the game,” said Martin after Swansea lost at home for the first time since September.
“I don’t think they felt they deserved to win and I don’t think we deserved to lose. But you can’t get away with conceding a goal like that to a team that possesses a lot of really top players.”
“There were a few scary moments in the first half, they came to counter attack and pounce on any mistakes which they had the athleticism to do.
“We gave them a few moments like that and there was a lack of composure and a lack of real belief in what they’re doing.
“As the game went on that was less and less and I don’t think they got close to our goal in the second-half.”
The defeat leaves the Swans back in 10th place in the Championship, two points adrift of the play-offs, having played a game more than Watford who meet Hull City on Sunday.
Martin’s men now face two away matches – at Coventry and Reading – before finishing their year at home to Watford on December 30.
The only goal of the game came when Swansea gave away possession from the kick-off and should have been 1-0 down inside six seconds after mistakes from Ben Cabango and Joel Latibeaudiere let in Teemu Pukki.
The Norwich striker’s shot was blocked for a corner, but he did not have to wait long for the opener as Swansea failed to deal with Gabriel Sara’s inswinging kick and after a flick-on by Kenny McLean, Pukki scored at the far post.
Swansea’s best opportunities to level came in the first half, butl Piroe’s shot was blocked by Grant Hanley before Jamie Paterson’s effort at the far post was saved by Angus Gunn.
EFL Skybet championship, Swansea city 0 Norwich city 1 in Swansea this afternoon, pics by Andrew Orchard pic.twitter.com/Ig05G1witM
— Andrew Orchard (@sportsphotoAOSP) December 10, 2022
“The amount of detail that went into set-pieces, and it panned out exactly as they were shown, so that’s the frustrating bit,” added Martin.
“This season has been interspersed with moments like that.
“I thought we were better than them today, I thought we were really dominant.”
Norwich manager Dean Smith praised the discipline of his players and the deadly instincts of striker Pukki after the win lifted them to fourth in the Championship.
After a six-game winless streak, Norwich have now won three out of their last five and lost just once.
It was a fifth away victory of the season for Smith’s side and he said: “I was really pleased with what we did today without the ball.
“It’s something I have been speaking about for a long time.
“When you come here – and play a possession-based team – the message is you need to be more organised and disciplined and we were.
“We got the goal from the corner and in the second half we decided to hang on rather than be more progressive. I thought we were really hard to play against today.
The youngest averaged aged squads in the Championship so far this season:
Sunderland – 23.4
Blackburn Rovers – 23.6
⚪️ Swansea City – 23.8
Hull City – 24.3
‘ ! #CCP | #Rovers #HCAFC #SAFC #Swans pic.twitter.com/vifbNIHlO0
— The Championship Chat Podcast (@Champchatpod24) December 8, 2022
“I said to the players afterwards that 1-0 is my favourite result. I’ll take 5-0, but 1-0 is my favourite.”
Martin started with Wales defender Cabango and sent on three further returnees from the tournament in Qatar – Wales’ additional squad player Ollie Cooper, Cameroon’s Olivier Ntcham and Wales’ Joe Allen.
It almost paid off midway through the second half when Cooper and Ntcham were involved in a move that ended with Piroe’s downward header bringing a fine save from Norwich keeper Angus Gunn.
Moments later Kyle Naughton flashed a low cross into the Norwich goalmouth, but Piroe was inches away from the crucial touch.
Martin admitted: “I feel sick to be honest.
“We’ve paid for a mad two minutes at the start of the game and a lack of conviction, composure in the box. We created so many chances today.”
