It’s been a better last nine days or so with four points from six for the Swans and a far happier Michael Duff at the helm. However, is it as deflating watching this Swans side as some fans complain when watching Duff’s new look Swansea ?

From ‘uninspiring transfers to a team with a complete lack of direction’ - these are just some of the comments made on this current Swansea side. And many of those comments are coming from the fans who travel home and away to watch their side play. Saturday will see a reduced away attendance at Millwall, due to strike action on the railways, we covered that here on Tuesday. However, it’s a stern test for the Swans, these are the places you have to go in this league to earn plaudits, and you really do have to show up to get anything from a game like this on Saturday.

Click here for a recap on the fans travel issues this Saturday —>
⚽️ Train strikes scupper Swans fans

However, it’s looking very much like 1,700 will travel to Plymouth on Saturday October 7th before the international break, after more away tickets were released. There are some remaining but they are selling fast this week.

That story is here —> ⚽️ Jack Army snap up Plymouth tickets

Michael Duff is now fully focussed on the Swans trip to the New Den this Saturday. His Swans side has looked slightly better, especially winning 3-0 against a poor Sheffield Wednesday side last time out. Injuries are also a focus for him with Nathan Wood and Josh Ginnelly look doubtful this week. They join Joe Allen, Liam Walsh, Azeem Abdulai, Kyle Naughton and Nathanael Ogbeta as the injury concerns grow for Duff.

The injury focus we reported here —> ⚽️ Swans injury list grows

With doubts remaining in some quarters on the pretty unconvincing way the Swans have started the season, and even then when playing ‘well’ it’s a very tiring watch, so nothing is certain. Duff realises this when looking back at last weekend. “There were definitely positives in terms of some of the football we played, the energy and the intensity we showed. We know we needed to give the supporters something, we have a lot still to do for them, but we are trying and working and we will keep doing so. But we know we have not arrived because we have won one game, this is a tough league, and there is still a lot of hard work and a lot of improvement to come from us “

Talk is cheap in the Championship, what fans want for their commitment and vast amounts of money spent on following the Swans are hard facts in the form of results. A scrappy win, no matter how always beats a ‘nearly three points’ every time. Well, at least when the league table reflects those three points generated. Saturday is about that type of game. Don’t feel intimidated by the league position of Millwall, and definitely not by their reputation in the stands, it counts for nothing. Suck the life out of them by playing football. The Swans have a fairly decent track record at the New Den, despite last season’s loss ( below ) by the odd goal the Swans were unlucky not to get away with a point. An Andy Fisher error giving the Lions the points.

Joel Piroe has gone from that side that featured in the game last March, as has Olivier Ntcham, Morgan Whittaker, Ryan Manning, Luke Cundle and Liam Walsh, all either injured or no longer with us. It was a turning point as well, then boss Russell Martin had met that afternoon with investor Steve Kaplan ( who seems to turn up all over the place in conversations these days ) and the die was cast for a tilt at the play offs.

You can watch the highlights here, they are quite impressive —> ⚽️

We will of course keep you updated as the managers of both sides meet the media later today and tomorrow.

Photographs licensed from Reuters

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