A MESSAGE FROM
RUSSELL MARTIN G
ood afternoon and welc ome back to the Swansea.com Stadium for our Championship game against Birmingham City.
want to be and in the first half we were really controlled and really dominant, and we created a lot more than we did at Blackpool, which was really pleasing.
The weather was bad, it’s a long journey wherever we play because of where we are geographically, but the numbers you all travel in is unbelievable.
It’s great to be back on home soil after two long away trips in quick succession.
Then for 15 or 20 minutes we totally lost control of the game. We started the second half so poorly, and I was very frustrated about it. In a way it tainted how I felt about the win and about the points.
I said to Gilly (Matt Gill) on the touchline towards the end how amazing the fans had been once again and we have been blown away with your support since we arrived here.
Last Saturday’s result against Blackpool was really d i s a p p o i nt i n g a n d we g ave away a poor goal which shouldn’t happen. But if you take that aside, I thought the way we responded was really good. They are a very good side at defending a lead, and unfortunately we gave them something to defend. I wasn’t dissatisfied with the performance, however. To go away from home and have so much control and possession was excellent – we just didn’t effect the game enough in the final third which is something we spoke about as a group. We wanted to bounce back in midweek against Peterborough and once again show the team we
The game should never have got to the point it did but, as always, we reviewed the game as a group of staff and with the players and pinpointed areas where we need to be a lot better collectively. But the fact we still went on and won is testament to the players and the work they put in. They also showed the courage and mentality to wrestle back control of the game, to be brave and get back to being the team we want to be. That not only shows belief, but it shows conviction. I’m delighted for the supporters too, because they were incredible again on Wednesday night.
To take 2,000 to Blackpool and have another great backing four days later is nothing short of brilliant and I’m so glad we could send you all home happy. Today we welcome Birmingham to SA1 and L ee Bowyer has done a fine job under difficult circumstances and we know we will have to be at our best once again today. Your support means so much to us as a group of staff and players, and hopefully we can put in another performance to be proud of this afternoon. Enjoy the game, Russ
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