Roberts "Controversy"

Roberts actions lifted the Swans fans and helped spur the Swans onto success when a goal from Warren Feeney – ironically on loan from Cardiff – gave them victory over Roberts’ Swindon Town.

Roberts had taken some stick from the East Stand during the course of the second half but that arguably lifted his performance and he scored a decent individual goal to bring Swindon level.

I don’t see though how his celebration can be controversial, it lifted the game’s atmosphere and the fun has been sucked from football if it can’t be given back in a banter fashion. Speaking to the Western Mail about it, Roberts said “It’s a Swansea-Cardiff thing

“But, if anything, it brought a good atmosphere to the game.

“It’s about showing your roots and that’s what I did last night. I’m proud to be a Cardiff boy, that’s all.

“The fans had been on at me right from the start. It was a chance to get my own back and that’s what I did.

“They had been giving me stick all night. I don’t have any regrets about doing the ayatollah.

“Being a Cardiff boy, it was great to score at Swansea

“I made it clear how I felt before the game. I’m a Cardiff boy and everyone knows the rivalry between Cardiff and Swansea.

“It was a disappointing result but I had my two minutes of joy getting a goal against Swansea and getting to celebrate it with the ayatollah.

“It wasn’t pre-planned, it was just a spur of the moment thing

“I don’t want to cause any grief and I don’t want to cause problems. It was just a celebration.

“It was actually a game I’d been looking forward to. I haven’t been to the Liberty before and to be fair to them they’ve got a decent set-up there.

“I was expecting the stick to be honest but it doesn’t bother me. It just makes me want to play harder to prove people wrong.

“I really don’t mind people getting on my back. I’ve taken stick everywhere I’ve gone.

“It was the same at Millwall last week because of the Cardiff link but it’s something I take in my stride.”

As ever a bit of what appears to be harmless banter on both sides has been taken on by the media and blown into something that really isn’t there.

And if it takes things like that on the pitch to lift the atmosphere at the Liberty then let’s hope for more ‘controversy’ next game against Hartlepool…..