2,300 ecstatic Swansea City fans, the travelling Jack Army and their voices boomed across Ashton Gate last night. In a tremendous show of support for Russell Martin and the swans from start to finish they were relentless in their support for their beloved club.

It was always going to be a Swansea City sell out, despite world TV rights and Sky Sports showing the game. Swansea City have a huge support across Wales and the rest of the UK. Gathered when times were somewhat more rosey perhaps, when Swansea City were the dominant success in Welsh football those fans just haven’t left the fold. They showed that love for their club last night too, it was an emotional display of passion from the Jack Army.

Russell Martin was cautious but promised a lot more for the swans faithful as the season progresses. "We turned it over too much, we didn't take enough care of it. We were anxious. There was a lot of tension. "I understand that. We've got a lot of tired players, we're on the TV and people are desperate to get that win. "Listen, we're going to improve in that. I think that'll shed a lot of the tension and anxiety we had tonight. "On the other hand of it, I thought we battled so well, they stayed together and we had the better opportunities on the counter attack. "In the second half especially, I don't think they threatened our goal too many times because the guys defended diligently. They worked really hard, they had a real mentality of protecting what we had but I would have liked us to enjoy the ball a little bit more. "But I understand it. I said to the guys 'we are going to get better'. "Tonight will be brilliant for them and the supporters. But we are going to get better, and hopefully, the next time we're in front it won't be quite as tense as that was."

Commenting on Joel Piroe, Martin was full of praise for his striker. “I thought Joel was outstanding. I thought he took his goal brilliantly and he looked a real threat all night,” said Martin. “That wasn’t just because of what he did in possession, but he made a lot of runs for the team to give other people space and enabled other people to get the ball. “He was a real threat and he worked so hard out of possession, he was absolutely finished at the end when we took him off. He put in a brilliant shift, he earned his opportunity to start tonight and he has taken it with both hands.“It is exciting for us to see what he can go on and achieve this season.”

With a chance to rest a few players on Tuesday for the League Cup game against Plymouth Argyle, the swans will look to youth in certain departments to win the game. However Martin doesn’t have a plethora of players to choose from with seven first team choices already unavailable. Having said all that swans fans can relax this weekend, enjoy the football safe in the knowledge that three points have been bagged and the Jack Army were a huge part of that win.

Photographs licensed from Reuters

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