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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Ian Mitchelmore

'I shouted no!' Russell Martin's Jay Fulton confession as Swansea City boss lauds Reading comeback win

Russell Martin admits he did not want Jay Fulton to shoot when the Scot struck a late winner for Swansea City against Reading.

Goals from Yakou Meite and Tom Ince saw the Royals lead 2-0 against the run of play at the Swansea.com Stadium, although Harry Darling and Ollie Cooper both got on the score sheet to level for the hosts. Fulton then fired home a spectacular winner in the 74th minute to earn the Swans all three points.

However, head coach Martin revealed he initially wanted Fulton to retain possession rather than firing at goal.

Read more: The Swansea City player ratings as unsung hero excellent and others impress in Reading win

"Gilly [Matt Gill] was laughing with me when we celebrated, I shouted ‘no’ as he hit it," admitted the head coach. "Jay's got that in his locker.

"I'm grateful to Jay for how he's been since the start of this season. What a brilliant professional and a brilliant man. He's turning into the player we thought he was before we came.

"It was really difficult for him last season. I'm delighted for him, and he has such a good respect from everyone at the club. He has real quality, he's been immense for us. He deserves that, I can't speak highly enough of Jay as a player or as a person."

Victory was Swansea's sixth in their last eight matches, with Martin's men level on points with Luton Town, Norwich City and Queens Park Rangers who are all in the Championship's play-off spots. Following what was a dominant display against the Berkshire outfit, Martin stated his side's triumph was arguably the best of his tenure as Swansea boss to date.

"I think it was harsh on the players that we were 2-0 down," he explained. "We actually started really well. Reading were difficult to break down and were really well organised.

"We knew they would be, having watched them. They knew exactly what they were doing, that's why they've started the season really well.

"The goals we concede are really poor. The players were really frustrated at half-time, they felt they should have had two penalties before that. We gave them chances we shouldn't have and they took advantage because they've got good players. The way they reacted to it was fantastic.

"After the disappointment we had on Saturday, it takes guts and courage. We're really proud of them and grateful to them. The crowd were fantastic in the second half. They were brilliant. It's just a brilliant night. It's one of the biggest wins we've had since we've been here, to come back, especially after Saturday."

Swansea return to action against Cardiff City on Sunday. Kick-off is at midday.

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