Russell Martin: We want to finish the season as strongly as we can

With confidence high in the camp, the Swans will be looking to continue the momentum gained from back-to-back impressive wins over Bristol City and Cardiff City with three points from the visit of play-off chasing Coventry City to the Swansea. Com Stadium on Friday afternoon (3pm).

After a poor run of form which slipped Martin’s side down into the bottom half of the table, the Swans are now looking to finish the season with a flourish after gaining a morale-boosting victory over their South Wales rivals last weekend.

Sabri Lamouchi’s Bluebirds side had looked to have shared the spoils at the Cardiff City Stadium, having come back from two goals down in the closing stages with the scores locked at two apiece.

Ben Cabango’s stoppage-time winner sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory not only completing an unprecedented ‘double double’, winning both home and away derby matches for the second season in a row, but relieved any thoughts of a relegation dogfight.

With his side full of confidence from their first back-to-back victories since October, Martin though feels his team can now push on and finish the season strongly.

“There’s been a really nice energy in the camp this week. The players were in good spirits. It was an amazing day and the way it happened the way it ended up and was a brilliant way to finish the game. The players really deserved it”, said Martin.

“I want to see the team continue to grow and the young players continue to play and win as many games as we possibly can before the end of the season. I think we have put ourselves in a good position to finish strongly.

“The fans have been brilliant in the last three or four games. Millwall home, Middlesbrough away and at Bristol and Cardiff they have been really important in getting us back to where we want to be. I think there will be a brilliant energy in the stadium tomorrow after the last few games.

“My son was in the crowd; it was the best day of his life. To see him at the end celebrating meant so much. It was difficult to describe, the elation and euphoria was great. Not many things in life can do that for you.

“You just black out, and I can’t remember one thing from it. The aftermath when you’re watching all the players and staff in the technical area running back across the pitch, you think what happened there? It was an amazing moment, absolutely breathless. 

“We watched the game back and after Cardiff scored the lads showed incredible courage and mentality to take the game to them. The performance was good considering what was on it and how much Cardiff wanted to win. 

“People just say it’s just three points, but it’s more than that, it’s what it means in the context of everything it’s four in a row and the tough period we have had this season. The way the boys have come through it this season, the amount of courage they have shown this season has been incredible.”

Placed eighth in the Championship standings, Coventry will provide stiff opposition for Martin’s side, coming into the game in a good vein of form despite heavily losing 4-0 to Stoke City at the Coventry Building Society Arena in their last league outing.

Unbeaten in nine prior to defeat to the Potters, Mark Robins’ side have been ruthless in their finishing on the road, scoring nine in their last three away fixtures. Martin though thinks his side can carry on their strong form.

“Coventry will bring good support down they are fighting for the play-offs. We always have a good game against them. We can’t go there and think that Saturday was enough, we always need to want more really. I hope we can bring energy from the last two games and use that to get the performances and results to finish the season strongly,” continued Martin.

“They’re a club that has been with their coaching staff for a long time. They have a really clear identity and recruitment because of the clarity in what they do and the time they have had together. 

“It was a tough start to the season in so many ways for them. They’ve stuck with the people that they really believe in. I love and respect their group of staff. Mark [Robins], Adi [Viveash], Dennis [Lawrence] and the other guys. 

“We want to beat them, but what they have done there really is an outstanding job and they are still right in the hunt for a play-off place. 

“After a disappointing result at the weekend, they’ll be desperate to put that right and keep themselves in the mix. It should be an interesting game; I think they have been brilliant in all the games that we’ve played them. It’s one we look forward to and are excited about.

“Everyone is fine and fit and healthy, I think. We still have Steven [Benda] and Archie [Matthews] who are obviously long-term and are working hard pushing each other, apart from that everyone is fit, healthy and happy.

The Cardiff victory also saw a first derby goal for striker Liam Cullen, with the home-grown academy graduate once again providing a perfect foil for strike partner Joel Piroe, whilst using his own predatory instincts to take his own league tally to seven goals for the season. Something his manager was delighted with. 

“He’s done incredibly well, I’m so proud of Culls [Liam Cullen]. He’s been outstanding since we’ve been here. He trains so well and has a great mentality; he adds value to his teammates on and off the pitch,” explained Martin.

“He’s always in the right place, what a brilliant habit to have for a striker. I think he’s really helped Joel Piroe whose best form has come when he’s playing with Culls recently.

“He’s selfless and runs himself into the ground for the team and gives himself up for other people to get on the ball and presses like an absolute beast. What a brilliant moment for him to have on Saturday. I’m really pleased for him and I hope that he can continue to finish the season strongly and get double figures for goals. That will be some achievement after the disappointment of not playing as much as he would have liked.

“I think the fans have really taken to him because he’s one of their own. He’s a massive Swansea fan and I think that’s a brilliant connection to have for him. 

“He has been waiting a long time for this opportunity and sometimes you get opportunities when you don’t expect them and you have to be ready to take them. He is always ready because of the way he trains and the mentality he has and the confidence he has in the things that he can do.

“For him to start getting goals and assists in this division, which is not easy, playing a different role than what he is used to because of the shape of the team, he has done incredibly well, and I hope he can continue to do that.”

(Lead image: Swansea City Football Club)