Michael Duff says Swansea City are progressing despite difficult run
- Published
Head coach Michael Duff left Barnsley to take over at Swansea City in June
Michael Duff says he will focus on steering Swansea City up the Championship table rather than criticism over his team's results.
Swansea are in the midst of a second difficult run this season, having won only one of their last seven games.
Duff's side are 18th in the second tier going into Saturday's home game against Huddersfield Town.
"We want to be higher in the league - there's absolutely no doubt about it," Swansea's head coach said.
"But we're not, so what are you going to do, keep talking about it or trying to improve and pick up more points? That's where we are at."
Swansea limped through the opening weeks of 2023-24, failing to win in their first seven league games under Duff.
They then won four straight league games to climb to within three points of the play-off places in early October, but have since faced criticism having taken five points from a possible 21.
Duff feels it is wrong to liken Swansea's recent struggles to their poor start to this campaign.
"At the start of the season, it was a little bit like we are not quite sure what we are," Duff said.
"A lot has been made about this [run]. It's run after run in the Championship, there are ups and downs. It is what it is.
"We have had four apologies from referees, we have played four of the top six [in the last seven games] and we have had a lot of injuries.
"They are the facts. We just need to keep working, keep improving and keeping our heads down.
"There has been a lot of frustration in the last few weeks but in terms of do we see things improving? Yeah. I think we have had a lot of the ball in recent weeks, which is where we want to get to.
"It's just about getting more productive in the top third of the pitch now."
Duff spoke to former referee Kevin Friend, of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited, prior to Swansea's midweek defeat at Leeds United about recent decisions involving the Welsh side.
"I think it's not an accident he was at the game, because he wanted to see me," Duff said.
"He understands the frustration. We had two red cards in two games for four bookings, and three of them weren't bookings. At 2-0 against Hull we have a stonewall penalty not given.
"It's pleasing that they want to open up lines of communication and they do admit… they don't just bury their heads in the sand."
Harrison Ashby has played 13 times for Swansea since joining on loan from Newcastle
Swansea will again be without the likes of Nathan Wood, Joe Allen, Azeem Abdulai and Mykola Kuharevich through injury when they face Huddersfield.
Duff says Kristian Pedersen is also sidelined having suffered a setback with an ongoing groin problem.
On-loan right-back Harrison Ashby, meanwhile, has returned to parent-club Newcastle United amid uncertainty about how long he will be out of action after he came off clutching his hamstring during last Saturday's draw with Hull City.
"He has had a scan. I don't know 100% the diagnosis but the two clubs are talking," Duff said.
"He's gone back to Newcastle for the time being. He is their player so they want to investigate a bit more. From my point of view, he is not available for the next two or three weeks.
"Until they do this investigation, we are not quite sure where it's at."
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