MX23RW : Friday, January 21 17:50:25| >> :120:6929:6929:

Russell Martin hails 'unsung' Swansea midfielder Flynn Downes

Russell Martin hails 'unsung' Swansea midfielder Flynn Downes
© Reuters
Joel Piroe's first-half strike was enough to secure a 1-0 victory over Huddersfield to end a run of four games without a win.

Swansea head coach Russell Martin hailed Flynn Downes after the midfielder was at the heart of their first home victory of the season.

Joel Piroe's first-half strike was enough to secure a 1-0 victory over Huddersfield to end a run of four games without a win.

It was a fourth clean sheet in five games at home for Martin's men, who crucially found a breakthrough after failing to score in their previous two home matches.

Piroe's sixth goal of the season broke their goalscoring duck, but Martin singled out Downes for praise.

"Flynn was incredible, it's really difficult to single people out but he does the dirty work really well which sometimes goes unsung," he said.

"He enables people to do their roles brilliantly, he plays with no ego at all and knows exactly what his role in the team is and Kyle Naughton and the boys at the back appreciate him a lot – I know I would've if I'd had someone like Flynn playing in front of me.

"It's his willingness to learn, his attitude and attention to detail. He's playing a very different role to the one he played at his previous club as most of the guys are, but his willingness to learn, desire to win, his athleticism and improving technical ability is brilliant to see.

"For everyone the win is important. I have been so happy with performances, where they are going in terms of what we see with our eyes and what the performance data suggests – barring a 24-minute period at Luton really.

"The first half today was another step up, another improvement from where we have been. Now the challenge is to maintain that."

Despite the defeat, Huddersfield remain in seventh place, just three points off the play-off places.

"I feel we competed better in the second half than we did in the first," said Terriers manager Carlos Corberan.

"They had more clear chances, but they came from our mistakes. We didn't find a solution to the way they pressed and we lost organisation in defence for the goal they scored. Until that moment we were doing really well.

"We needed to manage our attack better the second half, we competed better and won more second balls.

"We played more in the offensive half and pressed well too. The mentality in the first half was not good enough.

"In some spaces of the pitch they were better individually than us which didn't allow us to counter attack. It's important to compete for 90 minutes.

"We have the intention to dominate the game with the ball but we need to find the balance of playing long and playing short."

ID:465428:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect3993:

Click here for more stories about Russell Martin

Click here for more stories about Huddersfield Town

How you voted: Swansea vs Huddersfield

Swansea City
37.3%
Draw
25.4%
Huddersfield Town
37.3%
59
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic scores against Birmingham City on September 15, 2021
Read Next:
Saturday's Championship predictions including Bristol City vs. Fulham
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Fulham26166470234754
2Bournemouth26147543232049
3Blackburn RoversBlackburn27147644301449
4Queens Park RangersQPR2513573830844
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom26119631201142
6Middlesbrough2612683125642
7Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2711883330341
8Stoke CityStoke2511593025538
9Coventry CityCoventry2410773328537
10Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2610793328537
11Luton TownLuton249873629735
12Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd249693132-133
13Millwall258982728-133
14Preston North EndPreston258982932-333
15Blackpool2696112732-533
16Bristol City2686123245-1330
17Swansea CitySwansea237792732-528
18Birmingham CityBirmingham2677122639-1328
19Hull City2675142231-926
20Cardiff CityCardiff2565142644-1823
21Reading2684143047-1722
22Peterborough UnitedPeterborough2454152148-2719
23Derby CountyDerby2681172524114
24Barnsley2428141636-2014

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Match previews - Daily
Transfer Talk Daily
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!