Jamie Paterson Says Swansea City Pain Has Driven Their Gain

SWANSEA, WALES - OCTOBER 04: Jamie Paterson of Swansea City in action during the Sky Bet Championship match between Swansea City and Norwich City at the Swansea.com Stadium on October 04, 2023 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by Athena Pictures/Getty Images)

Jamie Paterson Says Swansea City Pain Has Driven Their Gain

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By David Williams

Swansea City fans may be wondering what has happened to their club to turn things around, but midfielder Jamie Paterson thinks
he knows the answer.

The Swans visit Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, where they could earn their fourth successive victory in the Championship.

That would be a massive turnaround from their first seven matches, where they failed to register a single victory as new head coach
Michael Duff struggled to make his mark.

Paterson believes it was the pain of losing the south Wales derby hthat as been a major catalyst in taking 10 out of the last 12
points to move out of the relegation zone and up to 15th in the table.

“You can go seven games without a win in the middle of a season, but when it’s at the start with a new manager it can get blown
into something bigger,” said Paterson.

“None of us were happy with the performances at the start. There was a big change of players, the way we trained, tactics – everything!

“I feel we’ve now landed on a way of playing and it suits everyone. It’s what people want to see.

“It’s tough to win three games in a row in the Championship against any teams. I can’t pinpoint what’s made the difference, but
maybe the Cardiff defeat hurt more than we thought it did.

“It was a horrible day for all of us, but maybe it was the kick we needed. I feel we’ve turned a corner from that game.

“There are two ways you can go after something like that – not believe you are going to win another game or do what we’ve done.
We’ve stuck together, worked hard and ignored all the noise to try to turn things around.

“We haven’t cracked it yet, but we’ve won three in a row, and we should have beaten QPR in the game before that. The fact we’ve
turned things around proves the strength in the group, we’ve found a way of coming together.”

Newly promoted Plymouth are only one point and one place behind Swansea, and Paterson says his side will be taking nothing for
granted on the south coast.

“Plymouth have a lot of energy and we need to carry some confidence into the game. We now starting to think we are a good side,”
added Paterson.

Cardiff have confirmed Wales captain Aaron Ramsey will be missing for up to 10 weeks after suffering a knee injury – and it could
be more if he needs surgery.

Strikers Yakou Meite and Kion Etete are also set for a month out with hamstring injuries. Meite picked up his against Rotherham
United last weekend, while Etete hobbled off in the defeat at Middlesbrough in midweek.

But Bulut hopes to welcome back Josh Bowler and Jamilu Collins from injury for Saturday’s visit of struggling Watford.

Watford have started poorly under their new manager Valérien Ismaël, but Bulut says: “He is a really good coach.

“I know him from Besiktas, where he started well. Sometimes, in football it can happen that you lose a few games in a row, but
we don’t focus on Watford, we have to focus on ourselves.

“We have to be, on Saturday, 100% on the field to get our points back that we lost at Middlesbrough.”

Newport County are bidding to build on their midweek victory over Colchester United by making it back-to-back wins at home to Harrogate.

There is an upbeat, optimistic mood at the club following the takeover by former Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins.

Manager Graham Coughlan said: “I have met Huw and have had a chat with him.

“He seems a very nice positive man and we are just waiting until the ink is dry and it’s all made official.

“Then I am sure I will be able to sit and get involved a little bit more and try to enjoy it a little bit more. But until it’s
official I am probably best off concentrating on the grass.”

Wrexham – in ninth place in League Two – have not won in three games and visit fifth-placed Crawley Town.

Hollywood stardom has given the club a certain fame on their travels and manager Phil Parkinson says: “When Wrexham are in town
there is often a sell-out. We had it the last two years in the National League and this is no different.

“We have got to get used to it again, that it is a cup-tie type of atmosphere wherever we go. Every game is going to be like that
and we have got to be ready for it.”

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