Dyer wants more cup success

14th February


Nathan Dyer hopes his team-mates can draw on the experience of last season's cup exploits as they bid to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

The Swans travel to Goodison Park on Sunday to take on Everton in the fifth round following previous wins over Manchester United and Birmingham.

The club toasted cup success last season after winning the Capital One Cup with a 5-0 win over Bradford at Wembley.

And Dyer, who scored twice that day, is focussing on another potential cup run this year.

"We know what rewards can come through doing well in a cup competition," said the winger. "We saw that last year with the League Cup.

"But we want to go as far as possible, we're all in it together and we'll be pushing hard in every game we play.

"Since I've been here we haven't had a great run in the FA Cup so it would be great to go all the way to the final and it's a cup I'd love to win."

The Swans face a tough task against five-time winners Everton, managed by former Swans boss Roberto Martinez.

The Spaniard enjoyed great success in SA1 as both a player and manager, guiding the club into the Championship back in 2008.

Martinez has taken Everton to within touching distance of the Premier League's top four after taking over at Goodison Park last summer, and Dyer had nothing but praise for the man that brought him to the Liberty Stadium.

"When he brought me in, the style of play was something that I admired," he said. "That was a foundation for Swansea and I always knew he would be a great manager.

"He has had great success and he understands players and how to put a team together.

"But we'll need to focus on Sunday because it is going to be hard game and Everton are doing well at the moment.

"However, we're on the front foot and we want that to continue."

Sunday's game also sees Martinez come up against Garry Monk, the man who has taken over the managerial reigns at the Liberty Stadium.

Monk played alongside Martinez during the Spaniard's time as a player at the Vetch Field, before captaining the side that lifted the League One title in 2008.

And Dyer praised the impact of Monk after last Saturday's derby victory over Cardiff was backed up by a hard-fought draw against Stoke on Wednesday night.

"He's done really well," he said. "He knows the players and everyone has a great work ethic in the squad and long may it continue.

"Teams can't live with the pace we have in the team and that's what he has brought back in.

"His knowledge of the game is incredible. I knew him from when I was coming through at Southampton, and there was no doubt he was going on to have a coaching role in the game.

"The work he has been doing is great and as long as we continue to work hard for him then anything is possible."