Swansea City boss fires out a warning ahead of Sheffield Wednesday trip to strugglers
Sheffield Wednesday make the trip to South Wales on Saturday to face a struggling Swansea side
Sheffield Wednesday will make the long journey to South Wales on Saturday as they square up against fellow strugglers Swansea City – a side who are also seeking their first win of the season.
The Swans sit one point ahead of Wednesday with three draws and four losses, giving fairly big prominence to the match even at this very early stage in the campaign.
With both sides desperate for their first win of the season, it should be a tight affair with pressure on both sides.
Swansea are coming off a 1-1 draw midweek with Queen’s Park Rangers with Wednesday picking up the same result against another winless team, Middlesborough, on Tuesday night, despite going a goal ahead at Hillsborough.
Boss Michael Duff has a fair amount of experience in taking on Wednesday – he led Barnsley to two victories in League One last season before falling victim to that dramatic last gasp win for the Owls at Wembley, thanks to Josh Windass’ headed winner.
There’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding the Swans as things stand with Duff under pressure from fans to produce success and attractive football similar to past Swansea sides in the Championship and the Premier League.
And the former Northern Ireland international defender is not expecting to get it easy this weekend either.
“There are no easy games in this league. People might think its only Sheffield Wednesday, we’ll beat them, it won’t happen like that, we have to go and get the win and put the complete performance together,” he said.
“I’m not hiding away from the fact that we need to win some games. But trust takes time, I understand the supporters frustration, but hopefully we can prove them wrong, but hopefully they’ll stick with the players most importantly.”
While grumblings get louder amongst the fanbase at the Swansea.Com Stadium, Duff is keeping a cool head.
“There is pressure every game, we are not naïve. We need a win, and I and the players want to win,” he said.
“Managing this club is a massive responsibility and I want to leave it in a better place. We are nowhere near that point, but you cannot finish the job without putting things in place first.”
“Wouldn’t surprise me if…” – Barnsley fan pundit gives Devante Cole transfer verdict amid MIddlesbrough, Swansea City, Stoke City interest
The Barnsley striker has been linked with a move away from Oakwell this January
HIGHLIGHTS
- Devante Cole’s impressive form and goal-scoring record have attracted interest from multiple Championship clubs.
- Barnsley’s fan pundit hopes Cole will stay, but acknowledges that a January transfer deal is likely due to his contract situation.
- A move to Swansea, Middlesbrough, or Stoke could be lucrative for both Barnsley and Cole.
Devante Cole is attracting interest from a number of clubs in the Championship ahead of the January transfer window.
According to Teamtalk, the Barnsley striker is wanted by the likes of Middlesbrough, Swansea City and Stoke City.
Cole has been a standout figure for the Tykes over the course of the last 12 months, contributing 23 goals from 53 appearances in the league.
The 28-year-old has made an impressive start to the new campaign, scoring eight in eight games.
But his future could lay elsewhere amid interest from the second tier, with a January move now on the cards.
Should Barnsley cash in on Devante Cole amid Championship interest?
FLW’s Barnsley fan pundit Andy Symcox would be disappointed to see Cole leave given how his form has improved over the last 12 months or so.
However, he believes a deal being agreed in January is the more likely outcome all things considered.
“The number of Championship sides that are showing interest in Devante Cole is not surprising,” Symcox told Football League World.
“He’s in the last year of his contract, we tried to negotiate a new one with him, I understand.
“He’s played the best football of his career, in my opinion, over the last year under Michael Duff, and this year under Neill Collins.
“When he first came, he had a fair bit of stick but so did the rest of the team as we weakly were relegated from the Championship to League One.
“But he has turned himself around and shown the sort of player that we hoped and expected him to be.
“I sincerely hope he stays at Oakwell, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he left for money in January.
“It would be a shame though.”
Collins’ side are currently sixth in the League One table, as the team chases promotion back to the Championship.
Cole was a key figure under Duff last season as the team reached the play-off final.
A 1-0 loss to Sheffield Wednesday consigned the club to another year in the third division, but a positive start to the new term has shown the side’s promotion credentials.
Barnsley have 13 points from their opening eight games, sitting three points adrift of league leaders Portsmouth.
Next up for Collins’ team is a clash away to Northampton Town on Saturday.
Would Devante Cole be a good signing for a Championship club?
Cole has made an impressive start to the new season, averaging a goal a game in League One.
That kind of consistency in front of goal is always going to attract potential suitors at this level, especially from sides struggling to score in the Championship.
Given Cole is in the final year of his contract, a sale in the winter window seems inevitable if he maintains this kind of form.
A move to Swansea would make sense due to his history with Duff, but a deal with Middlesbrough or Stoke could also be quite lucrative for Barnsley and Cole.
