Southampton defender Ryan Manning has pointed at Swansea’s ability to bounce back under Russell Martin as proof Saints will only get better, and for the players and fans not to lose confidence.
Saints had lost four games in a row in the Championship, including heavy defeats to Leicester and Sunderland, before ending that losing run on Saturday lunchtime, beating Leeds United 3-1.
Many had criticised manager Russell Martin, with his side dominating possession but not making anything of it.
Ryan Manning: ‘We came through some tough times’
Martin was manager of Swansea last season, and after picking up one point in five games, they ended last season going nine games unbeaten, picking up 23 points from a possible 27.
“We came through some tough times as a group there. The evidence is there that you need to stick with it,” Manning recalled about Swansea when speaking to the Daily Echo.
“The time will come when everything just clicks and you will go on a run and you’ll never look back. Even with the run we were on here, everyone was still enjoying it.
“We never became disillusioned with it. We understand why we have conceded goals and where we have conceded goals.
“They were mistakes made by us as players, not from any lack of detail from the coaching staff. It’s a case of we grafted this week.
“The management are brilliant. The detail we get every day, throughout the meetings, you are never going to get disillusioned with it. We probably did all the things that the manager asked of us this week and we won 3-1.
“It’s about working hard and taking on the detail. There is a lot of detail to learn. It is a demanding style. Everyone needs to stick together and be willing to graft every week and results like today will come.
“The philosophy here is the gaffer’s philosophy. I don’t think there is any player in the world that would hate playing football. Not many people get the opportunity to play it throughout their career, so when you get a gaffer like Russell Martin, you have to make the most of it.”