Russell Martin was naturally a delighted man yesterday evening after watching his Swans side cruise past Reading in the first round of the EFL Cup thanks to a comprehensive 3-0 win at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
Goals from Joel Latibeaudiere, Ben Cabango and Joel Piroe rewarded the Swans dominance against a young Reading side but it was progress for Martin which he recognised after his first game at Blackburn on Saturday resulted in a defeat.
It wasn’t all perfect though for the Swans head coach who also noted that there were areas in which his side could improve but that did not take the shine over what was a very strong team performance.
“I was really pleased with so much of the stuff we saw tonight,” he told the club’s official website.
“It felt like it was progress from Saturday (at Blackburn). I said to the guys that no game of football is easy, despite the youth of their team.
“Ours wasn’t exactly very experienced or very old, either. But the players made it easy for themselves in the way they approached the game.
“You look at our squad and Joel Latibeaudiere is a young guy, Ben Cabango is a young guy, Steven Benda is a young guy and they do not have masses of experience, but they are letting us infiltrate their minds with the way we want to play.
“At times tonight it was incredible, and at times it definitely needed improvement.
“But, on the whole, we’re really pleased.”