What a difference a year makes.
The Jack Army have enjoyed two memorable away days in the space of five days as Swansea City catapulted themselves into the Championship play-offs with another impressive comeback victory at Watford.
Despite the first wins under Russell Martin coming at Reading in the Carabao Cup and then at Bristol City in the league in August 2021, there wasn't too much for the Swansea faithful to cheer on the road last term. The Swans won just three of their first 16 away Championship matches last term, although they have already triumphed in three of their first six this time around, losing just one.
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Indeed, their latest late exploits against the Hornets typify a major improvement under the current coaching staff. Ben Cabango's injury-time header was Swansea's second goal from a set-piece in as many games. Incredibly, it means they already have as many goals from set plays this term as they did in the entirety of the 2021/22 Championship campaign.
They also extended their stunning record of having never lost either of their first two matches under Martin following an international break - of which there have now been five during the 36-year-old's reign as boss.
It has all meant that Swansea sit in the top six for the first time under the current regime. With five wins and three draws from the opening 12 league games this term, Martin's men have 18 points with just over a quarter of the campaign gone - four more than they had at the same stage last term.
That tally would have been even higher had it not been for the injury-time frustration suffered against the likes of Millwall, Sheffield United and Stoke City. But the improvement in this side is immense when it comes to the performances, and the graft over the 14 or so months Martin has been in charge is truly starting to pay off.
And Martin has laid down the gauntlet to his players ahead of their home clash with Sunderland on Saturday afternoon as they bid to win three matches in a week for only the second time in his Swans tenure to date.
"We've lost one game in six, to Sheffield United, which is a game we felt we should have got something from," he said after the win at Watford. "We're becoming hard to beat, first and foremost.
"I think there's a real resilience about the group that we didn't quite have last year, for a number of reasons. I think the biggest challenge is getting the players to believe in themselves as much as we believe in them, individually and as a group. They're really starting to believe now.
"The fans I feel have a real connection with the team because of the foundations we built last year and what they're seeing now. Hopefully we've rewarded everyone for a bit of patience.
"It's up to the boys now to be relentless. We have to turn this week into a brilliant one and turn it into the best one we've had since we've been here and try and back it up on Saturday. That's the next test.
"If you're going to be serious about staying in and around where we are now, then you have to back up nights like this. We backed up Saturday with a brilliant night tonight and we have to go again on Saturday."
At such an early stage of the campaign, it would be naïve to get carried away with the recent resurgence - which has seen Swansea win four of their last five outings. However, following a tough start, the long-term picture is looking far rosier thanks to the belief the staff and players have shown in the Martin project over a prolonged period.
With players such as Joe Allen and Jamie Paterson still to come back into what is now a far more balanced squad with greater quality throughout, the Swans have every reason to be optimistic in their quest to rack up a big haul of points prior to the World Cup break in November.
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