It’s Carlos the cackle!
<M<IP B@:B# <M<IP >F8C# BOSS HAS THROWN SWANS A LAUGHLINE
CARLOS CARVALHAL knows how to make Swansea boring on the pitch while bringing back the smiles off it.
And that makes him one of the managers of the season in Alfie Mawson’s eyes.
Carvalhal has worked miracles since arriving at the Liberty Stadium at Christmas, lifting the Swans out of the Premier League drop zone and guiding them to the FA Cup quarter-finals.
But the Portuguese is quite prepared to ditch their passing principles and shut up shop if it means keeping them in the top flight.
Swansea held out for almost 80 minutes after Jordan Ayew’s early red card to claim a precious point at relegation rivals Huddersfield, with a display that was a million miles away from their days under Brendan Rodgers and Michael Laudrup.
Carvalhal’s side had just 19 per cent possession – the second-lowest total in a Premier League game since records began in 2003 – and failed to manage a shot on goal or even win a corner. But he is a right laugh off the pitch according to centre-back Mawson, whose side have lost just two out of 16 games since the new boss arrived. Mawson said: “He’s done something right, hasn’t he? Whatever he’s done, it’s working. We’re feeding off him. HUDDERSFIELD (4-2-3-1): Lossl 6; HADERGJONAJ 8, Jorgensen 6, Schindler 6, Malone 5; Mooy 7 (Williams 69, 6), Hogg 7; Ince 5, Pritchard 7 (Quaner 65, 6), Van La Parra 6 (Depoitre 78); Mounie 7. Subs: Coleman, Smith, Lowe, Sabiri. UP NEXT: Crystal Palace (h), Premier League, Saturday. SWANSEA (5-3-2): Fabianski 8; Naughton 7, Van der Hoorn 7, Fernandez 7, MAWSON 8, Olsson 7; Ki 6 (Carroll 89), King 6, Clucas 5; J Ayew 4, A Ayew 5 (Abraham 73). Subs: Nordtfelt, Roberts, Bartley, Dyer, Narsingh. UP NEXT: Tottenham (h), FA Cup, Saturday. Referee: Michael Oliver 7. YOUR TURN: Which striker scored twice and was sent off for Swansea last the time they lost at Huddersfield, 3-2 in League One in December 2006? He’s funny, he’s a laugh, but when he gets down to business, he means business.
“We’ve got so much respect for him, he’s got so much respect for us.
“He’s been a breath of fresh air. He’s full of character, full of energy, everything we’ve been thriving off. It’s a pleasure to play underneath him.”
Midfielder Sam Clucas admitted confidence was shattered when the Swans were bottom at Christmas, five points from safety.
He said: “We weren’t getting the results and we were lacking a bit of confidence. We seemed to be sinking lower and lower.
“We might have gone on this run with Paul Clement, you never know. But the new manager’s come in and been brilliant. He’s full of optimism.”
Huddersfield were left wondering how they failed to win after Jordan Ayew saw red for a high challenge on captain Jonathan Hogg in the 11th minute.
David Wagner’s side had 30 efforts on goal, but only four on target.
Swans keeper Lukasz Fabianski brilliantly tipped Steve Mounie’s volley on to the bar and Tom Ince headed against the post in the last minute.
Boss David Wagner believes his Terriers – also four points above the drop zone – can complete their fairytale survival bid.
He said: “After that performance, and given where we are in the table after 30 games, I have zero worries.
“I have never been more confident about our chances of staying up than I am now.”