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Wales Online
Sport
Ian Mitchelmore

Russell Martin's dressing room words that inspired Joel Piroe to end goal drought and spark Swansea City's stunning Coventry City fightback

Russell Martin says Joel Piroe's goal against Coventry City will do the striker the world of good after the Swansea City forward's nervy first-half display against the Sky Blues.

The Dutchman looked off colour for long spells at the CBS Arena but kick-started what proved to be a dramatic comeback as he tucked home from close range on 68 minutes.

It was the 23-year-old's sixth goal of the campaign but his first from open play in 10 games. And head coach Martin has revealed details of his half-time talks with Piroe after admitting the frontman looked anxious early on.

READ MORE: Russell Martin left 'hurt' at Coventry City as Swansea City boss slams reaction of players before crazy comeback

"In the first-half he didn't look himself," said Martin. "He wasn't as clean as he usually is. He was anxious, I could feel it, I could see it in his body, I could feel it when he controlled the ball.

"He wants to score, he wants to show people how good he is but, again, at half-time, I said to him 'just relax, we all know how good you are, trust the detail, trust the work, trust yourself'.

"I'm really pleased for him having a goal and an assist for Cully [Liam Cullen]. I think that'll do him the world of good. He's so important to us, whether he scores or not. What he does out of possession is incredible, the distance he covers."

Swansea were well off the pace for an hour in the Midlands and looked to be dead and buried following goals from Jonathan Panzo, Jamie Allen and former Swan Viktor Gyokeres.

But they went for broke in the final half an hour and dramatically clinched a point courtesy of efforts from Piroe, Jay Fulton and Liam Cullen.

Nevertheless, they remain without a win in their previous seven matches, although Martin's side are still just two points adrift of the Championship's play-off places ahead of the trip to Reading on December 27.

Speaking after the clash with Coventry, Martin praised his substitutes for the impact they made in changing the game. And Mark Robins says Joe Allen in particular was key in transforming the fortunes of the visitors.

"We were absolutely outstanding to get the 3-0 lead and to score the goals we did," said Robins. "They didn't have too much possession which I was really pleased about because they pride themselves on having possession, they're the highest possession-based team in the league.

"The atmosphere changed when their goal went in. It seemed to be a little flat. But, having said that, we're 3-1, you take the sting out of the game and we kept trying to do things quickly as if we needed to score another one. We showed some naivety in terms of what we were doing, and, they are a good side.

"3-0 against them is outstanding, to concede three goals is a real kick in the teeth, but, then, you've got to keep possession, we didn't do that, we went backwards or gave the ball away.

"The changes that they could make with Joe Allen coming on who was actually really good and made some really good passes off the side, [Ollie] Cooper came on, [Armstrong] Oko-Flex came on, they made a difference. Harry Darling came on at the back, all of the changes they made made a difference for them.

"They kept the ball a little bit better. You've got older heads, certainly with Joe Allen, who can start pulling the strings and you know you've got to get all over him.

"Callum O'Hare had run his legs out, he just looked tired. Vik was the same but we've got no replacement there. It was a young side, but we were naïve."

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