Garry Monk has steered Swansea City to Premier League safety and in the same process done his chances of landing the permanent managers position at the Liberty no harm whatsoever.
Monk was the surprise choice to be handed the reigns back in February when Michael Laudrup was sacked but presiding over his fourth league success this afternoon was enough to ensure that the Swans stay in the Premier League extends to at least four seasons with their safety not mathematically assured one week after it looked all but certain.
A failure to win for both Norwich and Fulham together with the crunch battle tomorrow between Sunderland and Cardiff meant that the 4-1 win for the Swans was enough to mean that they cannot be caught and overtaken by three teams and can now start their official planning for next season and the trips to the elite clubs in the English league structure.
Two goals from Wilfried Bony, a Jonjo Shelvey wonder strike and one from Pablo Hernandez gave the Swans one of their most convincing wins of the season and lifted them into 12th place in the table.
"It was a fantastic result for us." said Monk
"Four goals, a good team performance and good football.
"That’s what we wanted.
"We got the early goal but Villa came back and dominated.
"They put us on the back foot and could get our rhythm.
"It took a spectacular goal from Jonjo to give us back our confidence and that feeling of being back on top again.
"But there was only one team in it in the second half, we were totally dominant in every aspect.
"We’ve been in positions at half-time where we’ve been dominant and taken the lead, but then we’ve been punished.
"But we started the second half properly and there was some great passing, great movement and great goals in the end.”
On the morning of the game, the Daily Mirror had proclaimed that Monk had already done enough to secure himself the job on a permanent basis although nothing has been confirmed from the club and it seems certain that nothing will be until the end of the season at the earliest.
Monk himself was playing down the speculation when he said "My mission was to make the club safe
"We targeted 40 points and we could do that.
"We will see what happens about my future.
"I will speak to the chairman and the board soon to clarify things for the best of everyone."