Michael Duff | Defensive record at set-pieces underlines attitude of squad

Head coach Michael Duff believes Swansea City’s improvement in defending set-pieces this season underlines the effort and attitude of his squad.

The Swans kept a second clean sheet in succession against Sunderland last weekend, despite having to play over an hour of the contest with 10 men following Charlie Patino’s red card.

Securing the shut-out included having to see out a number of free-kicks and corners during eight minutes of stoppage time, but the Swans came through the challenge to claim a point.

The statistics show Duff’s side are joint-second for the fewest goals conceded from set-pieces so far this season, having only let in two, as he and his coaching staff seek to turn an area where the Swans have traditionally struggled into a strength.

And the Swans boss commended the hard work put in by the coaching staff on the training ground, and the way the squad has taken onboard the information and put it into practice.

“The lads get a lot of detail on the training ground, and they have been taking that on board and implementing it out on the field,” said Duff.

“We are second in the league for the lowest number of set-piece goals conceded so far this season, and that shows there has been a real progression in the team.

“We have been layering it up, building it bit by bit, the players are showing they can defend, that they're willing to work hard for each other and that they are together.

“You listen to them when they speak about the group and the words that come up again and again are spirit and togetherness.”