Swansea Piles Pressure on Norwich’s Manning
Swansea increased the pressure on struggling Norwich manager Liam Manning with a 2-1 victory at home, thanks to a brace from Zan Vipotnik. The Slovenian striker had gone six games without a goal for club and country but found his scoring touch with two impressive finishes, raising his season tally to eight and relieving some pressure off manager Alan Sheehan, who secured his first win in four matches.
Norwich’s Jovon Makama equalized just before half-time, but the Canaries are currently on a downward spiral, having lost five consecutive matches, leading to further doubts about Manning’s ability to reverse their fortunes. Throughout the game, frustrated fans chanted phrases like “We want Manning out” and “Sacked in the morning,” despite having made a 600-mile round trip from Norfolk.
Norwich entered the match sitting in the relegation zone, five points behind Swansea and without a victory in their last seven outings, consisting of two draws and five losses. Swansea capitalized on their first opportunity when Marko Stamenic powered through the midfield, assisting Vipotnik for a high strike past Norwich’s goalkeeper, Vladan Kovacevic.
Swansea’s Ethan Galbraith also attempted to extend the lead with a long-range effort, while teammate Ronald narrowly missed doubling the advantage. Norwich had struggled offensively, scoring just once in their last four fixtures, but began to pose more of a threat as the half progressed, with Kenny McLean coming close and Mirko Topic forcing a save from Swansea’s Lawrence Vigouroux.
Norwich found equal footing three minutes before halftime when Josh Sargent slipped through to the loose ball and set up Makama to knock in his third goal of the season. Norwich made a substitution at halftime, bringing on Jeffrey Schlupp, who quickly drew a save from Vigouroux, but Swansea’s attack showed signs of life. A smooth move culminated in Josh Tymon’s cross, which Kovacevic managed to gather under pressure.
After 69 minutes, Vipotnik, finding space 25 yards out, unleashed a powerful strike that beat Kovacevic, reclaiming the lead for Swansea. Although substitute Mathias Kvistgaarden missed a header, Norwich continued to endure a frustrating day on the field, remaining just above the bottom of the table.
The Managers’ Perspectives
Alan Sheehan (Swansea): “He [Vipotnik] was exceptional; those were high-level goals. You could see he enjoyed his football. There are areas for improvement, but he delivered two moments of true quality that we have lacked in other matches. This win gives us a boost as we look ahead to our next match.”
Liam Manning (Norwich): “I don’t fear this situation. I’ve received strong support from the club’s leadership. We are in a tough position, and I want to fight to change that. I understand the fans’ frustration. I’ve never avoided facing criticism; I feel it deeply when results aren’t going our way. The only path forward is to show passion, responsibility, and not hide from the challenge.”
