By Graham Thomas
Russell Martin insists there is still much more to come from Swansea City after the head coach lavished more praise on match-winning pair Joel Piroe and Jamie Paterson.
Both players scored for the second successive game as the Swans beat high-flying West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday night to make it back-to-back victories in the Championship for the first time this season.
The 2-1 victory – achieved after Martin’s side had fallen a goal down inside the opening minute – has lifted the club up to 15th place, four points off the play-off spots.
They have lost just once in their last eight league matches.
“We are nowhere near where we want to be so we are not getting carried away from two results,” said head coach Martin.
“We don’t do that. Whether we win or lose, the process remains the same. We have to back this up again on Saturday and there are things we definitely need to improve on.
“But I am really proud of the direction in which the teams is heading and these two results, hopefully, gives the players justification for all their hard work and validation in what we are doing.”
Martin was justifiably pleased with his team for a victory that displayed their character against a far superior team to the limping Cardiff City side that had succumbed 3-0 at the same venue in a one-sided Welsh derby three days earlier.
West Brom had only lost once before in the Championship this season, were physically strong and aggressive and looked dangerous throughout.
But even though Karlan Grant punished a Swansea error after 52 seconds, Paterson set up Piroe for an equaliser on the hour mark before the young Dutchman returned the favour for Peterson to strike a superb late winner.
Between them, the pair have now scored 12 goals this season out the squad’s total of 14.
Piroe is leading the way with seven and the manner in which he calmly stroked home his equaliser – much as he had done against Cardiff – brought rave compliments from Russell for the 22-year-old.
“We joke with Joel Piroe that he needs to calm down in front of goal, but he just doesn’t feel any pressure.
“He possesses the qualities of all the top players and it’s incredible really for a player of his young age.
Joel Piroe and Jamie Paterson are becoming unstoppable #SwanseaCity 🦢
….and I admit I wasn’t a fan of Paterson but he has certainly won me over in the last few games.
— EGANS🧠 (@egansmind) October 20, 2021
“When he’s involved, he’s involved in key moments and it’s the same with Jamie Paterson. He understands his role in the team and the players look to him.
“They spend a lot of time on the training ground together and hopefully that will continue.
“We have started slowly but the performances have got better and in the last two games we have added quality and composure in the final third. I’m really, really proud of them and we have had two big results and performances.
“We had such a strong mentality, they stuck to the plan and played with a real intensity in the second half especially against a team who are really well organised, aggressive and hard to play against, which is why they are so high up in the league.
“I loved the courage the guys played with tonight. I think they’re getting stronger and stronger physically, their connection with each other with what we are trying to bring on the pitch in terms of the identity of the team. We love this group of players and what they’re giving us.”
West Brom’s Valerien Ismael said: “We are disappointed to lose the game.
Jamie Paterson goal with titanic music #SwanseaCity pic.twitter.com/EzdkNAKLeJ
— Mike.🏴 (@mikeherbie) October 21, 2021
“We started well and had a good forward press which forced Swansea to play a lot of long balls. Our problem throughout the game was our transition and we lost the ball too quickly.
“This was the reason Swansea got back into the game. We had a big chance to take the lead after Swansea scored with Matty and the goalkeeper made a big save.
“We don’t need to overreact because we play our next game on Saturday at home. We need a reaction and the right mentality. The Championship is a long season and every team will struggle at some point because every team is of such high quality.”
The defeat was only the visitors’ second of the season in the league but was sufficient for Fulham, who beat Cardiff City 2-0, to leapfrog them and move into second place.
Defender Darnell Furlong made the error that enabled Paterson to score the winner after Matt Clarke had given Piroe too much time and space to slot the goal that brought the sides level.