By Paul Jones
Yan Dhanda believes a new pitch at Swansea City can lay firm foundations for a push towards promotion to the Premier League.
Swansea City’s former Liverpool midfielder helped create some of their best moments in the 2-0 weekend victory over Barnsley on a surface so poor even Monty Don would abandon it.
The Swans have done the same – digging it up with an army of ground staff and tractors under floodlights on Saturday night and readying themselves for a replacement in time for January.
It’s hard to be fluent and free-flowing on a mud pile, but Dhanda has the reassurance that behind him is the tightest defence in the Championship who have conceded just 12 goals in 20 matches.
“When I’m on the ball, I don’t feel if I lose it, anything is going to happen because I’ve got those defenders behind me,” said Dhanda after Jamal Lowe and an own goal by Barnsley’s Victor Adeboyejo had settled the contest.
“Everyone can see it’s been difficult on this pitch but we haven’t lost many on it. We’ve done the job and got three points pretty much most weeks we’ve been on it.
“When the new pitch is laid and we can play our best football, I think the fans will be excited. We are third in the table but we are not happy there.
“We think we should be higher in the top two, or even the top one. I think that’s what we are going to thrive on and we are going to get there, to be honest.”
The Swans are now unbeaten is six matches at the Liberty Stadium and in five of those they have not conceded. Only four goals have been scored by visitors all season.
Dhanda has played a big part in that – a player who has added workrate and defensive resolve to his undoubted attacking talents and has been rewarded by Cooper with more regular starting spots.
“I know what I can do and I know what I can bring. The main thing is to play well, play for the team and show what I can do when I get the opportunities.
“I feel confident, I feel good and I’m enjoying picking up the wins.”
“I think I’ve always trained well and I’ve always been ready for my opportunity. It was just a matter of being patient and I’ve been patient, got my opportunity and I feel as if I’m improving as a player every time I step onto the pitch.
“For me it’s keep fighting to stay in the team and show them what I can do. Hopefully I’ll get as many games as possible now.
“We talked a lot – myself and the manager – and had a lot of one to one conversations. The gaffer said that to me that he has them regrets but last years gone now.
“I told him I’d keep training hard and it’s up to him whether he wants to put me into the team. I had patience, he told me to trust him and I did.”
