By Paul Jones
Liam Cullen believes Swansea City are now giving a true indication of what they are capable of this season.
The Swans striker is convinced the 3-1 victory at Plymouth Argyle at the weekend underlines a growing conviction the club have turned a corner after a difficult start to the season.
A second away success of the campaign continues a sharp turnaround in form for Swansea, who failed to win in their first seven Championship games under Michael Duff but have now climbed to 12th.
The Swans ran out winners at Home Park, coming from a goal down at half-time after Luke Cundle had put the hosts ahead.
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Cullen’s header set up the equaliser for Jerry Yates, before substitute Ollie Cooper sent a drive arrowing into the net seconds after his arrival as a substitute.
Josh Key rounded things off late on as Swansea backed up their three-point hauls against Sheffield Wednesday, Millwall and Norwich City.
Striker Cullen is now hopeful there is more to come.
“That feels like a perfect away day,” he said.
“The fans were absolutely incredible, they were so loud throughout the game and from the moment they equalised it felt like they took over and helped us get over the line.
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“I think we are showing we are starting to turn the corner. You are starting to see the sort of side we are and with four wins on the bounce we can go into the international break on a real high.
“To be where we are now from a few weeks ago shows the mentality and togetherness of the group.
“Jerry (Yates) said it a few weeks ago, the one thing you cannot question about this group is its character.
“Some of us have known what it is like to go through tough periods and come out the other side, and that has been a big part of how we have responded after a difficult start to the season.
“We knew it would come if we kept working for each other, and kept creating chances for each other and you can see that in the number of goals we are scoring. We have scored three goals in three of our last four games.
“We are starting to show what we are capable of, but we have to make sure it continues.”
Cullen’s assist for Yates was down to astute play as he peeled away from his marker to meet a Jamie Paterson cross.
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With the keeper and a defender in his way near the byline, he opted not to try for goal himself but instead nodded the ball over the cover for Yates to bundle in his fourth goal of the campaign.
“Pato and I just caught each other’s eyes and I knew he was going to dink it to the back post and the quality he has to put the ball where it needs to be,” said Cullen, who also cleared a header off the line in his own box earlier in the game.
“He is so good at it, and I was just hoping Yatesy was going to be for the knock back across goal, The angle was too tight for me to go for it myself, and he was there to turn it in.
“The subs made a difference too, with Ollie getting his goal. I’m having to wait a little bit for mine, but if the team is winning I really don’t mind who gets the goals.”
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Swansea head coach Duff said: “We were good, it was a good game. The thing that probably got us over the line is that we were slightly better in both boxes.
“I enjoy every win, trust me, and I felt we were good value for the three points. They put three on Blackburn down here and six on Norwich, so it is a tough place to come.
“We played on Wednesday and have had two away games this week so to get a nine-point week was really pleasing. We stayed calm at half-time, there was no panic.
“Some of the blocks were brilliant, some of the defending was really good. We talked about being good in both boxes and that is where we win the game ultimately.
“We gave ourselves the opportunity to get back in the game and scored three good goals.
“It was nice when the third goal goes in, it is like a home game then. That’s why we took some extra time with the travelling fans at the end because they have done the same journeys as us.
“We travelled six hours last week and four yesterday and moments like that are really important, we will have a few days off now and then we are in.
“Football doesn’t owe you anything, we have got a tough one next and we will be plan for that. Enjoy this one, it has been a good away day.
“It was end to end, two teams going for it trying to play the right way.”
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