Swans boss Russell Martin responded in the only way he could to his growing critics at the swansea.com last night. His sides 4-0 win against Watford not only reinforced his belief he has the credentials to take the swans in to the play offs, it sent his various and growing dissenters to a quiet place at least for the evening.

OS : Head coach Russell Martin felt his Swansea City side’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Watford was a result and a performance that had been coming. The Swans swept the Hornets aside at the Swansea.com Stadium as a Joel Piroe brace and further goals from Liam Cullen and Joel Latibeaudiere saw the home side round off 2022 superbly. It was a first win in nine for the Swans as they put a frustrating run behind them. The swans leapt to twelfth in the championship as a result, and only one point outside the play offs.

POST MATCH : “I am delighted for the players because that is a performance and a result that has been coming,” said Martin.” I got asked in the week if this was the toughest week of my coaching career with the run of games without a win, but it has not been tough to work with these players, the process has not been tough. The players have really stuck with it and believed in what we are doing. It’s not been tough to watch, I watch us with real pride. The frustration has been things we have spoken about like not being clinical enough, that was not an issue tonight. We scored first, and in the moments where we needed to be, we were horrible enough in our own box. I am so proud of them, I am so pleased for them. We played a different shape tonight and it worked really well. All I want, I think all the supporters want, is people who are willing to give 100% every day, to be unselfish, to run for the team, to be a good team-mate even when you are not involved "

The questions regards Russell Martin’s toughest week were delivered after a one person but unilateral press response to his Reading experiences on Tuesday. “I am pleased for the supporters too, there was a really good atmosphere tonight and the team and the supporters fed off each other. The players are probably a bit relieved but they should be proud of themselves. They have been upset by some of the stuff that has been written and said about them this week. But this gives real justification for what they are doing, how together they are and how much we all believe in what we are doing”

For some this will see Martin confirming to himself his overall strategy at Swansea City is working. Others will state that the next series of games will see the swans disappear further in to a trough of relegation trouble. For us it signifies a manager and staff who know exactly who to exclude from their squad and why. Jamie Paterson, Michael Obafemi, Oko-Flex and Fin Stevens we’re all left out of the starting squad and it’s now clear Russell Martin only wants those players signed up to his ethos in a Swansea shirt. It may be a long shot but all four surely won’t be at Swansea come January 31st.

Or ask Jay Fulton.

Joel Latibeaudiere continues to be a quandary in Swansea selection, a player who last night grabbed a goal and rarely had his usual issues of late when starting a game. He was more confined and solid at the back, but when he got forward late on he bagged a goal to make the scoreline even more emphatic. Joel Piroe’s second goal was sublime and for many that will also reinforce his credentials as a very decent championship forward, but never in a month of proverbial Sundays is he the striker that is so much sought after at a higher level. He may get a move in the next few weeks, but also he has to be the link to the swans continuing their assault on the top six. The club are now just a point outside that goal.

Maybe it was Steven Benda’s double save in the second half when the swans were three up that galvanised the side, we have seen on other days a goal from that scenario giving way to a frustrating comeback from the swans opponents. It really doesn’t matter what people think on the back of this result, in fact it doesn’t matter at all. The next test comes on Monday with another home game against a Burnley side who have lost only two games all season.

Win that next encounter and maybe then people will start to sit up and believe. Get a draw and it’s exactly the same scenario. This isn’t a poor Swansea side and we don’t have a poor manager or coaching staff. And as Martin said tonight, stay off social media, it’s far better to deliver on the pitch than get involved in peoples opinions who let’s be honest, really don’t count at all. As a website we stand by the journey we are on with Russell Martin and have never wavered from that point of view. We see his vulnerability, but we also see his positivity, it may well be confusing for some, but they only have a few characters on Twitter as an example to prove an invalid point. Or indeed a forum to continue their daily mantra of bounce to bounce results and personal attacks ?

But listen, it’s all welcome, it’s a point in history and opinions make the past as much as the future. And yes of course we are no different to one persons social media campaign or a group of people who demand change but only based on the teams last result. Now we have continuity and faith in a clear strategy from someone who is brave enough to stand by his words. And until we hear different or better - that’s our position as a Swansea City website with Swansea City at heart.

Swansea City take on Burnley on Monday January 2nd 2023 at the swansea.com stadium with a 7.45pm kick off

Later today we will cover the transfer window and those Swansea City players who now know it’s time to move on.

Photographs licensed from Reuters

Badlands added 10:02 - Dec 31 Last night answered little. In fact it reinforced my opinions. As in earlier games, against teams who want to play football rather than defend and attack on a counter, we had done well (particularly when the opposition is not on top form). Opponents who bring a game end up with higher possession stats as they seek the ball. This gives the impression that the tactics have changed … they haven’t. Some fans suggest Martin has learned and we go more direct. Wrong, Martin hasn’t changed but the opposition's approach creates more space to play through their midfield and defence. And, our goal attempts were successful. The same number of attempts were on target last night (7) as they were against Reading yet they resulted in 3 more goals. I hope the results keep coming but I have n Little confidence in Martin.

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