By Paul Jones
Michael Duff has warned Swansea City’s loan star Charlie Patino he could pay for his red card by losing his place in the team.
The Swans midfielder – on a season-long deal from Arsenal – was dismissed for two yellow card offences after half an hour of his team’s 0-0 draw at home to Sunderland.
The 10-men dug in and managed to take a draw, but while Duff was full of praise for Patino’s recent contributions, he believes the 20-year-old will have a fight on his hands to regain his place after his automatic one-match ban.
Duff said: “We’ll talk to him and show him a few clips but it’s character now. It’s an opportunity for someone else to come in and if they step up he might lose his place.
“He knows where he wants to be but he’s prepared to work every day to get there. This will be another part of his learning.
“It’s why he’s here, different experiences. Arsenal want him to have these experiences with different teams so it doesn’t happen when he’s playing for them. It’s why we have players out on loan.”
Patino was red-carded in the 30th minute when his foul on the Black Cats’ Pierre Ekwah earned him a second yellow card.
Charlie Patino got a second yellow for this, fucking laughable. 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/bVZjUzA5KP
— Jordan (@JordanWebber96) November 4, 2023
But while the dismissal of the Gunners’ loanee meant Sunderland went on to dominate possession and territory, Tony Mowbray’s side could find no breakthrough.
They will return to the north east bitterly disappointed not to have taken three points, but Duff’s Swans will see it as a point gained after a gritty and organised reaction to Patino’s premature departure.
Jamal Lowe failed to convert a penalty awarded in time added on at the end of the first half by referee Robert Madley.
The official ruled Sunderland captain Luke O’Nien had pulled Swans defender Harry Darling to the floor, and pointed to the spot.
But goalkeeper Anthony Patterson’s low save to his right earned Sunderland a reprieve they could not have envisaged they would need.
Despite the miss and Patino’s red card, Duff was pleased with the way his players responded to Patino’s loss, although they have dropped to 13th in the Championship table, six points adrift of the play-off places.
“Inside he’ll feel like he’s let the team down but he hasn’t let the team down,” Duff added.
“He’s made a couple of mistakes but it happens.
Feels like a win, boys dug deep n we take the point💪🏼 @SwansOfficial pic.twitter.com/TRRNqqu3FE
— Harrison Charles Ashby (@harrisonashbyy) November 4, 2023
“We talk about togetherness and the way the players have got him out of the muck so the headline isn’t ‘Charlie Patino cost the team points’ or ‘Jamal cost the team points by missing the penalty’. The team stuck together.”
“I thought we were magnificent. I think anything that could have gone against us went against us.
“But we played 75 minutes with 10 men against one of the best teams in the league. Until the red card we weren’t good enough with the ball, but I want to talk about the spirit, people putting their bodies on the line and giving everything for the shirt.
“And we had the best chance of the game! But that went against us. We have talked about togetherness a lot, in the last few weeks, and that proves it. They are together.
“We have had a difficult start, so much change in the football club, but the one constant has been the togetherness.
I love Michael Duff 😂👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/mpjs1d06oJ
— Ace Humphreys 🏴 (@Ace109610) October 28, 2023
“Supporters want to see that commitment. Any supporter will forgive mistakes if they see players give absolutely everything for the shirt.”
Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray said: “We have to score, it’s no good looking at possession stats.
“We have inexperienced strikers and invariably goals are coming from others. It was just a frustrating day, we looked like we didn’t know how to score.
“You have to manage the game at the top end of the field. Credit to them, they worked hard and defended well, they blocked it and got their bodies in the way.
“But I’m disappointed we couldn’t put the ball in the net.”