Football
Exclusive: Shane Duffy and Norwich stay “level-headed" ahead of EPL promotion battle
Will Duffy and Norwich make a return to the EPL? Sportsboom talked to the Norwich defender to find out his thoughts on the final stretch.
Image Credit: Bradley Collyer/PA
Experienced defender Shane Duffy has called for play-off chasers Norwich City to “silence the outside noise” in the quest to secure a memorable Premier League promotion.
Brazilian playmaker Gabriel Sara bagged a stunner in a 1-0 win against Preston on Saturday to fire the Canaries six points clear in the play-off race with just three games remaining.
And barring a major slip-up from the Carrow Road side, Duffy and his equally ambitious teammates will be battling it out in the playoffs come the end of the season.
“It’s huge,” admitted Duffy, who got promoted to the Premier League with Brighton in 2017.
“Especially at this time of year. We just need to keep doing the same. Keep going and treat every game the same and don’t get distracted by the noise.
Image Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd.
“That’s what the manager’s said to us all season. Even when we weren’t doing well he told us not to get distracted by what people were saying and when we’re doing well not to get too high with it.
“A lot of lads have been there and done it, so we’ll keep being level-headed and keep going.
It’s another three points and we go again on Saturday.
Shane Duffy
EPL chase continues with breathing room to spare
Victory for the Canaries saw David Wagner’s confident side make it seven points from their last league matches.
And with two home fixtures remaining in their last three matches – against Bristol City and Swansea City respectively – followed by Birmingham away on the last day of the season, Wagner’s side remains in the driving seat to finish in the top six.
“Obviously our away record this year has not been where we wanted it to be, so three points and a clean sheet, we’ll take it,” reflected Duffy.
“Defenders love an away clean sheet win. We know if we’re defensively and structurally good, then we know we can win games.
“I think we’ve been unlucky at times, and there have been times where we’ve been absolutely nowhere near good enough away from home. It’s [our away form has been] a mystery.
We said in December we’ve got a really good dressing room with really good characters – and were disappointed with where we were.
Shane Duffy
“But we’ve believed the whole time this season even though other people might have doubted us.”
“We’ve just got to keep going. It’s in our hands – we have to finish the job off now!”
For the latest news, exclusive interviews, and detailed guides in the world of football, make sure to stay connected to Sportsboom.com.
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.