Garry Monk pleased to finish season on a high

11th May

Garry Monk was full of praise for his side after the Swans secured a 12th position finish in the Premier League with a 3-1 victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.


Goals from Nathan Dyer, Marvin Emnes and Wilfried Bony ensured Monk's side ended the season on a high, while Fabio Borini notched the single goal for the visitors.


The Swans started brightly and went in front in the seventh minute when Dyer latched onto a superb threaded through ball by Wayne Routledge to finish coolly past Vito Mannone.


Then, in the 14th minute, Marvin Emnes doubled Swansea's advantage when he swivelled on the ball before smashing a shot past the Sunderland goalkeeper.


After the interval, Fabio Borini clawed one back for the hosts when he headed home from Adam Johnson's in-swinging corner.


But the result was put beyond doubt just four minutes later when Bony scored his 25th goal of the season by stroking the ball in off the left-hand post.


And after a long and eventful season for the Swans, Monk was pleased to end 2013-14 on a positive note.


"We wanted to finish the season on a positive and secure 12th position, and we did that," said the Swans first-team manager.


"All in all, with the season that we've had - with the Europa League, the Premier League and the changing of manager - to finish five points behind our best ever Premier League total shows it has been a very good season.


"The team performance today was very good. We defended really well and, when we had our chances, we were very clinical.


"It's always nice to see three different people score, and they were all very good finishes.


"Going forward, for me, with the season we have had, I think we will only get better next year."


Meanwhile, Monk was also keen to highlight the "magnificent" performance of Jay Fulton after the 20-year-old made his first start for the Swans since signing from Falkirk in January.


"I thought Jay was magnificent," he added. "When I first put him in the squad a couple of weeks ago, people asked who he was. Today, they saw the player he is.


"He's a very good footballer and, for his full debut, I thought he was absolutely brilliant.


"He's a very humble and level-headed lad, and if he keeps working hard, then we will have a serious player on our hands."