Ben Wilmot insists Swansea City can build a promotion surge on the back of his goal that gave the club their derby day victory over Cardiff City.
The Swans go to Wigan on Saturday, having climbed back up to fourth in the Championship table – just two points behind leaders West Brom – following their 1-0 won over the Bluebirds at the Liberty Stadium last Sunday.
Wilmot’s goal ended a sequence of just one win in eight matches for Steve Cooper’s side and the defender – who was making his first League start since his loan move from Watford – insists the club have a springboard from which to launch a bid for promotion.
“We have got something special going on here and everyone is invested in what we are doing,” said the centre-back who replaced the injured Joe Rodon.
“I just want to keep my place in the team, keep performing as well as I can and get as many wins as we can.”
Wilmot has had to bide his time for his opportunity as Rodon and Mike van der Hoorn have been the regular central defensive partnership chosen by Cooper so far this season.
But the long term ankle injury suffered by Rodon – that has put him out of Wales’ final two Euro qualifiers as well as three months of club action – has given Wilmot an opportunity.
Having shown patience so far, Wilmot insists he is determined to seize his chance.
“It has been frustrating waiting for my chance, but if I was to have lost my head then the manager wouldn’t have given me a chance because I’d be rubbish in training.
“I kept my head down, stayed cool and worked hard in training. I have just tried to make the manager pick me.
“It is unfortunate for Joe that it was him who had to drop out, but it was good for me to get the game. Now I have the harder task of keeping hold of the shirt.
“Ben Cabango is sitting on the bench and he is as eager as I am to play. It isn’t going to be easy. I am going to have to work hard.”
Cooper has revealed that Wilmot had not been happy with his long wait for selection and had questioned his manager.
“He’s had to stay patient and he’s not been happy with it,” said Cooper. “We’ve had a good few conversations.
“For Ben, on the other side of the story, he’s a really good player and a good lad. He has had to wait for a start in the league. I know he’s played in a few League Cup games.
“All of the players know that we train in a way that whenever they’re called upon, we’ve made a lot of changes in the last three games, they’re ready to play. Ben is a good example of that.”
