Laudrup focusing on positives

15th December

Michael Laudrup is focusing on the positives after his side drew 1-1 with Norwich City in the Barclays Premier League.

The Swans were denied their first Premier League win at Carrow Road when Gary Hooper cancelled out Nathan Dyer's early goal with a fantastic half-volley that gave Michel Vorm simply no chance.

Dyer, who was stretchered off at the end of the first-half with a suspected fractured ankle, put the Swans in front with a delightful dink over the head of John Ruddy inside 12 minutes.

But Hooper levelled the scores on the brink of half-time when Johan Elmander chested down for the English striker to smash a looping volley over Vorm.

The Swans were looking comfortable after going in front, but Laudrup believes the pivotal moment of the match came when Dyer was stretchered off.



"I think today's game changed in two ways," said the Great Dane. "First of all, injuries are a part of sport and a part of football, but when things likes this happen - even though we don't know how bad it is - we are all human, and I think his teammates had ten minutes when they suffered a bit.

"People get injured every game, but when you see people get carried out like that, you know it's much more serious.

"Then when the opponents score an equaliser just before half-time, it's difficult to come back to the dressing room. I think we again suffered a bit after half-time, especially from set-pieces.

"After that, the game was played a lot in midfield with both teams trying to get through.

"There wasn't many chances, until the last ten minutes when suddenly they had a big chance and so did we.

"We will have to wait for the x-ray then an MRI scan to know if Nathan's injury is bad or really bad.

"Everyone has asked how bad he is, but nobody really knows for sure until we get the tests."

The one point means Laudrup's side remain in 10th position, and despite drawing after initially going in front, as well as losing an important player to injury, the Swans boss is keen to look at the positives.

He added: "It's a little difficult with the injury in mind, but if we look at the positives, we have 20 points today, with three games to go until the midway point of the season.

"It's the end of a run of seven games in three weeks, and we are still in Europe too.

"We have three difficult games (left until the halfway point of the season). But this season, there has been a lot of surprises, so we still have a potential of nine points to get. Let's see where we will be in three games time."