These are your Swansea City headlines on Sunday, February 6.
Post-match pictures say so much
There were jubilant scenes at Swansea recorded a 1-0 win over Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
It wasn't a typical Swansea City performance, with the hosts playing with their backs against the wall for much of the second half following Ryan Manning's sending off.
Instead it was a display of defensive solidity, supplemented by the return of Jamie Paterson to the side after a month-long absence.
Paterson made a match-winning return, supplying the cross for Michael Obafemi's header early on in the first half.
And the scenes at full time were telling, with the playmaker embraced by his manager, the coaching staff and his team-mates.
Skipper Matt Grimes says he was delighted to see his team-mate back after a difficult few weeks.
“He’s brilliant, he’s brilliant," he said.
"We’ve missed him the last couple of weeks, obviously Pato’s health and wellbeing is our main concern. We’re just happy he’s back now and happy playing football and long may it continue.
“I think the performances have been there, just conceded a few sloppy goals, but then obviously bringing this man (Paterson) back and getting the goal today, I thought the lads were brilliant. Hopefully an opportunity to kick on now.”
Martin: Pato our bravest player
Martin says Paterson in his bravest player and is the perfect example of how he wants his team to play.
Swansea have missed Paterson's creative input during his absence due to his contract extension dispute, but with that now pushed to one side, Martin is overjoyed to have him back in the mix.
“Pato makes a huge difference to our team," he said. "He’s got an assist today, but it’s not just that. He’s one of the bravest footballers we have, the way we are asking the players to play takes incredible courage.
“He has that in abundance and and I think it helps the rest of his team-mates, they see him play with that courage, that freedom, ready to express himself. It rubs off on other people. He’s become a leader in the group.
"It’s been so disappointing... it’s really hurt us and it’s really hurt him as well. Thankfully we’ve managed to maintain a brilliant relationship throughout which is why he can come straight back in.
“Same with his team-mates who have been really supportive and understanding of the situation. It’s not been ideal for anyone.
“The way the fans reacted to him coming back and the way they were today in the last half an hour was incredible, they helped the team today massively. I have to pay huge credit to them as well.”
Despite Paterson featuring against Rovers and turning in such an impressive performance, Martin's disappointment in how the situation unfolded remains.
He added that his good personal relationship with Pato remained strong throughout the dispute, facilitating his return to the team straightaway.
“The frustrating thing for me is throughout all of this is... it’s been his best season he's ever had and he’s done it in half a season," he said.
"I think he respects and acknowledges the role that everyone at this club has had in that, including the supporters in the way they made him feel welcome and especially his team-mates, the role he plays in the team suits him, and I’m sad for him and for us that we’ve had to go through that.
“I don't think he’s been advised very well, I’ve said that from the off, but he wasn't in a very good place. He’s on his way to building himself back up to the place he was in, he’s not quite there yet but the way he dug in today shows how much it means to him.
"Even still in the second half he had a few crazy moments when he tried a bit too much but that’s why we love him that's why he’s here and we hopefully he plays a big part until the end of the season."
Martin on Manning red
Martin believes Ryan Manning was unlucky to see red against Blackburn.
The left wingback was sent off for a second bookable offence after catching Darragh Lenihan with a high boot.
There were mitigating factors, though, with Manning having eyes on the ball and the approach Lenihan out of his line of sight.
Manning will now miss the game against Stoke City.
“I understand why the ref gave it but I also saw that Ryan wasn’t looking at the player at all – he was looking at the ball the whole time,” said Martin.
“I’ve only watched it back once but I think the contact is really minimal. Their player does a really good job of turning it into something and I’d be really pleased if I was his manager.
“I think if VAR was there it’s maybe a different decision but we haven’t got that. Disappointed to lose him for a game now because he’s been fantastic.”
Mowbray: We weren't prepared for that
Rovers boss Tony Mowbray admits he was surprised by Swansea's approach to the game at the Swansea.com Stadium.
Manning's sending off changed the game, and Mowbray admits his side were far too naive in the aftermath.
There was always likely to be a clash of styles - which Mowbray referenced in the the build-up to the match - and the experienced boss said his side didn't know how to break down Swansea's block.
“Missed opportunities," he said.
“The game, until the sending off, went as we thought.
“I thought we created some chances on the back of their possession.
“It was a disappointing goal, we don’t lose goals like that generally, a diagonal ball into the box and I think the goalkeeper should have taken a braver starting position.
“We should have defended it better and we have, we have had a lot of clean sheets and they are very disappointed with the goal we lost.
“I don’t think that’s the story of the game. After the sending off the team found it difficult to break through a deep block and we hadn’t prepared for a deep block, we’d prepared for Swansea who keep the ball and put men in front of the ball and try and play through your lines.
“The game changed and it felt as though we had a young team out there.
“There was a naivety of not knowing how to break through a deep block, yet we did create chances.
“Lenihan should have scored, like Buckley’s first-half chance, he had an almost open goal that he should have put the ball in the net.
“It wasn’t to be. It felt a little bit like it wasn’t going to be our night. We needed to be more clinical when the chances came, we should have had a few goals.
“It became difficult against a deep block against a team not trying to score a goal, they were trying to keep a 1-0 lead. I don’t know how many efforts or crosses we had, but credit to them, they fought really hard and showed they were playing with intensity for their manager and team.”
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