Swansea City boss was delighted with the performance of Andy Fisher in the swans goal against Middlesbrough yesterday. Not least for the pressured game Martin insists the goalkeeper plays but his reaction to being brave and continuing to adapt to his demands at championship level.

Although Andy Fisher’s performance and praise post match on Swansea Independent was met with derision by many who read the post match article it seems there are many who agreed.

Check out the match report from yesterday here.
⚽️ Swans v Boro Match Report

The swans keeper who has come in for a lot of criticism since signing from MK Dons is being asked to do things at a level he has never played before, and although he experienced a similar methodology at MK its chalk and cheese by comparison. He is playing against players of a far higher quality and ability for one. That aside when he has not performed well we have always pointed it out, he has made several mistakes which have led to game changing moments. Not least his performance in the second half last Monday against Reading. Not helped then by his ball watching defence he seemed to lack the courage to dominate his area.

Yesterday and people have to take the rough with the smooth here, he was man of the match for the swans. Making crucial saves when it mattered and bravely too he was the defining factor in the swans earning a point. Recently Fisher said “I think, as a squad, we’re still learning the style. But I’ve been through this process before and when it clicks, it clicks. It’s a nice way to play and it can destroy teams. “Sometimes as a keeper, you can get by-passed and then you get called upon and you’re not ready because you haven’t been in the game. In this system, you’re always involved”

Russell Martin was quick to praise his keeper post match yesterday as well. "Fish when he was called upon, especially the Connolly chance late on, made a really important save," he added. "It's massive for us and that's what he's there to do. Playing in goal for us is not easy. He has a brilliant mentality and never looks flustered. At times it's not always going to be the right decision and at times he gets the ball dumped on him when he shouldn't do. That's not on him. "But he's a goalkeeper first and foremost. He's made some great saves today. He's another young man who is learning and developing in his first experience at this level, so I'm pleased for him to make such big saves."

It’s good to hear these things being noted and Ian Mitchelmore at Wales Online also acknowledged his contribution to yesterdays game. Giving him a star rating of 8 and the man of the match for Swansea he said, Didn't have a save to make in the first-half and was once again bold in possession. Helpless with McGree's strike and made some really vital saves in the second-half to ensure Swansea didn't lose it.

Of course it’s all about opinions, and many of our readers if they fancy giving it a go are more than welcome to contribute their own views and feelings on this platform. We welcome it, and have encouraged it from day one. It’s been a welcome previous unbeaten eight matches, at times leaping from all over the place to the best football the swans have played in years, Martin now wants consistency. "Momentum helps us in terms of the feeling the players and supporters have for next season," said the head coach. "It helps us in terms of learning what we need. I think we're just becoming clearer and clearer with every game in what we need to improve. We'll keep learning and growing. We have so many young men displaying unbelievable courage, especially in possession, and we just need to keep challenging them and each other. I'm really excited about next season already, but I want us to finish really strongly."

With three games to go this season, two at home and the Nottingham Forest game next Saturday there’s plenty of opportunity for Swansea City to increase their points tally. Swansea City v Bournemouth kicks off at 7.45pm on Tuesday night in the Sky Bet Championship at the swansea.com stadium.

Photographs licensed from Reuters

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