Norwich City vs Swansea City match report: Canaries pick up vital win but Swans slump goes on

Norwich City 1 Swansea City 0

Norwich City midfielder Jonny Howson celebrates his strike (Getty Images)

Norwich ended their six-game winless run with a 1-0 victory that extended Swansea’s misery.

In a match with few significant chances, midfielder Jonny Howson headed the only goal midway through the second half to secure the three points that crucially keeps them clear of the Premier League’s bottom three.

Swansea, with just a solitary win since August, and perhaps in a demonstration of manager Garry Monk running out of ideas, were unchanged from last week’s 3-0 defeat by Arsenal.

Both teams were unquestionably out of form and equally lacking in confidence, and throughout the opening 45 minutes it consistently showed.

Though almost immediately after half-time Robbie Brady forced a fine save from Lukasz Fabianski with a close-range header from Howson’s cross.

For the goal 20 minutes from time, Brady won a corner when his shot, from the edge of the area, was saved by Fabianski, and from the resulting corner he crossed to substitute Dieumerci Mbokani, who left the goalkeeper out of position by heading into Howson’s path from where the midfielder nodded in with ease from the closest of range.

Swansea City's Ashley Williams (Getty Images)

After the game, Swans manager Monk expressed his “concern”, with his side slipping down the table, having now lost six of their last nine League games.

“Of course I’m concerned,” Monk said. “We’re here to win games and get points. In my time as manager we’ve done that very well. These difficult periods are part of it and part of management. I understand what needs to be done, but of course it’s a concern.

“It’s not the lowest [I’ve felt]. It’s not a good moment for myself, but I’m a fighter. I’ve been at the core of this club for a long time.”