Chris Hughton was quick to defend Grant Holt for his role in a late flashpoint involving Swansea's centre-back Chico Flores.

The Spaniard reacted angrily to Holt's foot up challenge which caught him on the right shin. BBC pundit Alan Shearer later claimed the Norwich captain should have been red carded after escaping punishment. Holt was subsequently cautioned for what referee Michael Oliver deemed a flailing arm in another duel with Flores.

Hughton admitted he would need to view the first incident again, but insisted he wanted to see an aggressive edge from his striker.

'I haven't seen it since and certainly the feeling of most of the people around me at the time it wasn't a bad one,' he said. 'That includes the officials. If I see it again and possibly I have my thoughts on it again, but in live play most didn't feel it was a bad challenge. I suppose for Grant it's just that thin line because what he wants to do, he wants to come on and make an impact and what Grant is, is a very determined player. If I look at the bookings he has picked up, it's certainly not anything malicious.

'It's just an over-exuberance in somebody who wants to come on and make an impact. I don't think it's frustration. I think it's part and parcel of the game. I think Grant accepts that as a striker, sometimes you can start and sometimes you can make an impact as a sub. He's club captain and somebody who is a very good player. I have no doubts that he will play a part over the next six matches.'

Swansea counterpart Michael Laudrup insisted Chico is well capable of looking after himself.

'Well, first of all I don't know how bad it was. Some people have said to me it was a bad one but if it was a bad thing then you would have had to be carried out and couldn't carry on playing,' he said. 'You have to remember he has just returned after seven weeks of injury with his ligaments. When somebody goes in with a foul like that you have to understand. I don't know if it was yellow or red or pink, I don't know, but the most important thing for me is it wasn't anything serious with Chico. He is a giver and a taker, he can receive and he can give it out as long as it is a fair duel. I just think he was afraid that incident could have cost him another injury.'