Norwich City skipper Christoph Zimmermann admits Swansea forced the league leaders to dig deep to extend their lead at the Championship summit.

The German defender was part of a fine rearguard effort which kept a clean sheet amid testing conditions, with constant heavy rain and blustery wind throughout City’s 1-0 victory at Carrow Road on Friday evening.

“I think it has been a great game for us,” the centre-back said at full-time. “We faced a very, very strong side.

“We had big problems with Swansea in the first half. They played very good football so it was a hard fight for us.”

Zimmermann also praised the superb strike from Argentine 21-year-old Emi Buendia which settled the encounter, adding: “We know he is very good.

“What a great goal, great first touch and he hit it perfectly, we are just very happy that he did it tonight.”

Asked what the Canaries need to do to retain top spot for the remaining 10 games of the Championship season, he continued: “I think we have done well so far over the course of the last 36 games and we shouldn’t change much. We know how tough each and every game is. “Today we played a mid-table team but we have seen how much work we needed to do so I think we just need to keep going and focusing on the next task, which will be Hull on Wednesday night.”



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Speaking to Sky Sports on the pitch straight after the final whistle, who named Buendia their man of the match during tonight’s televised encounter, midfielder Tom Trybull also admitted it was a hard fought win.

“Swansea played very good football but we showed character especially in the second half,” Trybull said. “We improved our pressing behaviour and at the end that was the key.

“I think it was a good statement, especially with our performance and with our character, for the upcoming games. The teams that play tomorrow have to follow us.”

A fourth win on the spin moved Daniel Farke’s team five points clear of second-placed Leeds, who go to play-off chasing Bristol City tomorrow, and seven clear of third-placed Sheffield United, who host Rotherham at lunchtime on Saturday.