Swans ups and Downes
RUSSELL MARTIN tipped midfielder Flynn Downes for the top after his classy strike halted Huddersfield’s play-off bandwagon and stopped the rot at Swansea.
The Swans were playing their first league game for five weeks and Downes’ 78th-minute equaliser capped a dominant secondhalf display from Martin’s side.
Downes, a £1million summer recruit from Ipswich, superbly sidefooted home Korey Smith’s low right-wing cross to cancel out Danel Sinani’s 15th-minute opener.
It was his first goal for Swansea, who ended a run of four successive defeats, and Martin said: “You run out of superlatives for Flynn.
“He came out of League One and has been one of our biggest assets on the pitch.
“He has all the ingredients to play at the very top eventually.
“He played three positions today and did extremely well. He’s an incredible character who suits what we’re doing incredibly well.”
Huddersfield bubbled with confidence during the first-half and, after the excellent Ben Hamer denied Lewis O’Brien,
Sinani rifled in the rebound.
Former Terriers goalkeeper Hamer and opposite number Lee Nicholls made a series of fine saves throughout.
Swansea gradually took control of the game during the second-half and were rewarded when Downes fired home.
Martin added: “I’m incredibly proud of the players for their response in the second-half – and the fans for the part they played.
“Had we scored a winning goal, I don’t think anyone could have complained.”
Huddersfield stretched their unbeaten run to eight games, but the result was a setback to their hopes of a top-six finish.
Boss Carlos Corberan admitted: “I think the maximum that we deserved was a point.
“In the second-half we didn’t attack – we were just defending – and we didn’t do well enough when we had the ball.”
Martin, meanwhile, admitted Jake Bidwell is set to leave after he was left out of yesterday’s game, with Coventry favourites to seal his signature.
He added: “I’m not going to lie about Bidders. He’s very close to agreeing a move somewhere else.”
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN: Nicholls 7; Turton 6 (Rhodes 86), Pearson 6, Lees 6, Thomas 6; Hogg 7, O’Brien 7, Toffolo 6, Sinani 7 (High 45, 6); Koroma 6 (Pipa 72, 6), Ward 7.
Subs not used: Bilokapic, Ruffels, Sarr, Russell.
SWANSEA CITY: Hamer 7; Cabango 7, Naughton 6, Manning 6, Christie 6 (Obafemi 68, 6); Downes 7, Grimes 8, Latibeaudiere 6, Smith 6; Piroe 6, Ntcham 6 (Joseph 88).
Subs not used: Fisher, Bennett, Fulton, Walsh, Abdulai.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Matt Grimes. The Swansea skipper provided a touch of class. A constant driving force.
REFEREE: David Webb 6.