If back to back losses were the talking point last week then back to back wins has to be the conversation this week. If a commendable win on Saturday against a form team like Blackburn was just the boost the swans needed, then tomorrow nights game in the potteries is this seasons watershed.

We have seen the swans this season destroy sides who have allegedly got the better players, squad and a manager. West Bromwich Albion the obvious choice, but Cardiff City, the so say king pins of Welsh football from decades gone by was the proof. Admirable away draws at QPR and Huddersfield in recent times gave us glimpses of what this Swansea City team are all about. Tomorrow night against mid table Stoke there needs to be a ruthlessness we really haven’t seen this season from the swans.

Stoke are the predictable and average mid table team this season. They enjoy some very decent results, and they also flatter to deceive. That’s why they occupy the Championship mid table also rans, not dissimilar to the swans. Two places separate the sides and not a lot of shouting can be done over the last five games both sides have played. The swans have won one more game, but Stoke score more goals, and these are the midweek winter games that tell the tale at the end of the season.

You only have to look at their last five results to see a very unpredictable team.

The potters frightened free scoring Fulham to go down at home 2-3 recently, but flattered to deceive against Preston who couldn’t deal with the swans just a few weeks ago. The whole ninety minutes is screaming out for a point a piece, but that’s really not what the swans should be happy with. The ups and then the downs this season have revitalised and then disappointed the Swansea faithful. When it seemed the side was trying to push on they really nose dived, especially against Bournemouth. That was probably the last time it was felt the swans could make a real statement in this league.

A run of results and performances is now needed, it is a very busy month, Tuesday, Saturday and all the usual comments we have all heard before. If that’s the case then this game really does need to display the Russell Martin ethos to the whole of the league. Two 1-0 home wins against very decent teams is one thing, going away to a seriously difficult place like Stoke and getting the win is another.

But if this season is to show us a turn around in performance and commitment it really should start at one of the hardest places to go in the Championship. The swans will be without Ryan Manning, a huge loss, but that may well give Russell Martin an opportunity to shore up the defence and introduce the likes of Flynn Downes to a more attacking role to secure the points. Let’s be honest that is what we expect, no swans team should ever go in to any game expecting nothing other than a win. And maybe with the heart we saw on Saturday it’s more than achievable.

But now it’s time for the proof.

Photographs licensed from Reuters

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