Shane Duffy made it clear that Norwich City’s underwhelming performance against Sheffield Wednesday cannot be justified by their growing list of injuries. Despite missing key players, the Canaries delivered a lackluster display at Hillsborough, resulting in their second consecutive Championship loss under Danny Rohl’s side.
Although Norwich controlled over 70% of possession, they struggled to create meaningful attacking opportunities, leaving manager Johannes Hoff Thorup visibly frustrated. Defensive lapses and mistakes in goal further complicated their night, with two significant first-half errors practically gifting the win to a Sheffield Wednesday team eager for a comeback after a heavy loss the previous weekend. Despite the injury setbacks, Duffy was adamant that the depleted squad should not be an excuse for the team’s performance.
Duffy, standing in as captain, emphasized the importance of accountability: “That’s what having a squad is for, so it’s up to others to step up. We can’t keep making excuses and giving away goals. It’s not about missing players—it’s about our errors on the field,” he said. Duffy was particularly frustrated by how easily the goals were conceded, noting that one pass from the halfway line put them a goal down, followed soon after by another mistake. “These aren’t squad issues; they’re individual mistakes, and that’s what’s costing us.”
He went on to challenge the team, particularly those players who usually see less time on the field, to seize the opportunity. “This is what football is about. We know there will be injuries to key players, but this is the time for others to show up. Complaining won’t help—it’s time to make the most of the chance,” he added. Acknowledging the need to move forward, Duffy pointed out that while players like Kenny McLean, Nacho, and Angus Gunn are set to return soon, the current team needs to focus on performing well as they head into another important game on Saturday.
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