Planet Swans ArchivesSwansea City manager Roberto Martinez has praised his players after picking up all three points from Carrow Road which the Spaniard believes that his side more than richly deserved.
After coming under sustained periods of pressure from Norwich in the first 30 minutes of the game the home side threatened to cut loose and when Italian Arturo Lupoli scored on 28 minutes it looked like a long afternoon ahead for Swansea City. Just a week ago the Swans had to come from behind to beat Watford at the Liberty Stadium and again the Swans battled hard and just before half time Jason Scotland grabbed his fifth goal of the season to give the visitors an all important foothold in the game.
What was to follow would give as Norwich boss Glenn Roeder described as a mountain to climb, two quick goals within 3 minutes of each other from midfielder’s Darren Pratley and Ferrie Bodde stunned Carrow Road into silence and put Swansea 3-1 up only to face a late onslaught as Norwich pressed for an equaliser after Angel Rangel turned the ball into his own goal.
Coming out of a “Premiership” environment with a win was a huge step forward as Martinez told the BBC, “It was a big thing for us to come to a place like Norwich and get a result like this.
“This is the first time we have come to a Premier League environment and been ourselves, played the way we can and picked up the three points we deserved. It’s a big step forward for us, a big moment.”
This afternoon’s result puts Swansea firmly in the running for one of the four play off spots but Martinez has been playing down any expectiation of back to back promotions . “In football everyone must have a dream and ours is to play in the Premier League. But it could take us five years or even 10 years to achieve. Expectation levels are always very high in south Wales, but at the moment all we are trying to do is to consolidate at this level. Obviously I am very happy with the number of points we have won so far but our aim this season is to stay in this division.
“There are six or seven players here who have the ability to play in the Premier League, but at the moment we have still got to prove that we can compete week in, week out at this level.
Swansea will now turn their attentions to the visit of second placed Birmingham City next week but will face the former premiership side with the utmost confidence.
