Swans aim to be 'a real competitor'

A season to forget at Swansea City is finishing with something of a flourish, with Luke Williams’ side chasing a fourth straight victory at Norwich City next Saturday.

Swansea won just one of their first seven Championship games after Williams was named head coach in early January.

Since they have won six, drawn two and lost three of 11 league outings, form which over the course of a campaign would lead to a play-off place.

A good run at the end of one season does not offer any guarantee about what the next campaign will bring, of course.

Swansea know that all too well, having finished 2022-23 in style under Russell Martin before losing their way this term.

But having pulled clear of the second-tier relegation scrap courtesy of their recent good run, Williams’ team are trending in the right direction.

“I think the fans are seeing in the last performances that we have a good team and a good manager,” centre-back Harry Darling said in the wake of Saturday’s 4-0 triumph at Huddersfield Town.

“We are looking forward to next season - we feel we can be a real competitor next season.”

A trip to Carrow Road is, on paper, the toughest assignment Swansea have faced in a while.

Norwich have not lost in 14 league games on their own patch, a run which stretches back to 5 November.

Darling says David Wagner’s side will provide a “good test” for the improving Swans.

“They are in the play-offs but we want to spoil their party a little bit, so we’ll go there with a strong belief and try to put together another strong performance,” he said.

“We can’t let the season fizzle out. If we did that, we’d be letting ourselves down and the fans down.”