Your Swansea City headlines on Friday, March 17.
Goalkeeper concern addressed
Russell Martin put his full faith behind Andy Fisher ahead of Swansea City's Championship clash with Bristol City on Sunday.
The goalkeeper has kept just one clean sheet in 17 starts in all competitions for the club this season and has made high-profile errors in the defeats against Luton Town and Millwall of late.
It led to some sections of the Jack Army calling for new signing Andreas Sondergaard to start in between the sticks against Bristol City this weekend - with Steven Benda still sidelined due to a knee injury.
However, Martin says the Swans and Fisher's team-mates will give the 25-year-old their full backing when it comes to dragging him through his difficult spell.
"I think Fish is in a place of acceptance that he's in a tough period, as a lot of us have been," said the head coach. "The only thing he can do is to try and use that to help him get through on Sunday as the rest of the players will, and we will. He'll be fine."
And when asked about Sondergaard - whose short-term deal in south Wales expires in the summer - Martin commented: "We've been on a really poor run, so to then chuck a young guy in that's never played a first team game, I'm not convinced is the answer.
"We'll help the guy through who we really believe in and brought here and is having a tough period at the moment, but really showed towards the end of last season that he can really produce at this level. Football is never linear, it's up and down.
"We'll help him through it. If at some point we feel we need to make a change then Andreas and Webby [Lewis Webb] will have to be ready for that, but I don't think it's a quick fix solution. We already had the least experienced goalkeeping department in the Championship with Steven and Fish, now without Steven it's definitely the least experienced in terms of games.
"It's a position for us that has so much responsibility, not just with the hands but with the ball at their feet, and that's something Fish has done really well in the last few of games, so if he can get the balance of both he'll be fine."
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Darling opens up on struggles
Harry Darling admits his debut season at Swansea City hasn't gone to plan after he has been unable to become a regular starter under Russell Martin.
The defender has long been admired by Martin, who was, for a spell, Darling's boss at MK Dons, and shelled out a seven-figure sum to bring the towering centre-back to south Wales last summer.
However, having started the first five league matches of the campaign, Darling has gone on to start just 14 more times in the Championship this term while he has also been an unused substitute on 12 occasions.
His latest outing at Millwall saw him operate at right-back in the absence of Joel Latibeaudiere who was suspended, and having endured a tough first season with the Swans, Darling admits the step up from League One to the Championship has been a huge one.
"Personally, it hasn’t gone to plan for me but it’s a step up for me, I’ve never played at this level before," said the 23-year-old. "I'm learning every day and hopefully I can have a good end to the season.
"I've noticed the difference (in leagues) but I knew that was going to be part of the challenge. I feel like I’m still getting used to the league and my performances will keep getting better."
And on Martin, Darling said: "He's been brilliant, all of the staff have been brilliant with me, with extra training and the analysis as well. That's the only way I can get better as a player, to look back at my performances and train well."
U21s secure victory
Swansea City's Under-21s secured their third win in four matches as they defeated Reading 3-1.
Ruben Davies and Tivonge Rushesha both struck inside the opening 14 minutes to put the hosts in command at Landore on Friday afternoon.
However, Reading pulled a goal back midway through the second-half as former Swan Adrian Akande netted from the penalty spot. But substitute Corey Hurford struck his side's third goal of the afternoon 16 minutes from time as Swansea's young guns clinched all three points.
It saw them bounce back from last week's disappointing loss to Queens Park Rangers to make it three wins from four having beaten both Watford and Colchester United on the road of late.
Jon Grey and Anthony Wright's men return to action against Ipswich Town on March 31.
Swansea City U21s v Reading: Sondergaard, Jones, Leverett, Abdulai, Ludvigsen, Rushesha, Joe Thomas (Watts 58), Smith, Davies, Cotterill (C), Lloyd (Hurford 58).
Subs not used: Griffiths, Faakye, Morgan.
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