Dyer knocks Pompey out of FA Cup (From Daily Echo)

Dyer knocks Pompey out of FA Cup

9:44pm Sunday 25th January 2009 in Saints News

NATHAN DYER

SAINTS loanee Nathan Dyer brought a huge smile to the face of his club’s fans on Saturday – by helping to dump holders Pompey out of the FA Cup.

Dyer, on loan to Swansea until he end of the season, scored the first goal as the Championship club stunned Tony Adams’ Premiership strugglers 2-0 at Fratton Park.

A glorious 27th-minute strike from Dyer, booed throughout due to his Saints connections, and a penalty by Jason Scotland left Pompey’s cup defence in tatters.

Swansea, who sit ninth in the Coca-Cola Championship, played passing football throughout and Martinez was thrilled the upset was completed in style.

“I’m delighted that we were able to come to a Premier League environment and be ourselves,” he said.

“If you look at our form in the Championship over the last six games, we’ve been at that level and I’m glad we’ve stayed there.

“We had no Championship experience at the start of the season and it was bit of an eye-opener when we came into the league.

“For me, I’m extremely proud of the way the players dictated things from the beginning against Portsmouth.

“There’s room for improvement but the average age of the players is 25-26 and there’s huge hunger in the team.

“They want to win games for Swansea and that’s why our dominance today didn’t surprise me.

“It would be very foolish to say we can go on to reach the final but I know we can improve on this.

This is a fantastic result.”

Martinez hailed an outstanding display by Dyer, who.

“Nathan was a threat all of the time. Mentally he’d run out of gas at the end, as you’d expect, but he will fulfil his potential,” said Martinez.

“I’ve always said he has to play in the Premier League and slowly he’s getting there.

“He’s had a few problems in the past. He’s desperate to enjoy his football.

“He’s a lively character in the dressing room and is fresh.

“The crowd reaction maybe added an extra spice to his game, but the real difference today was his hunger.

He’s learned from his mistakes in the past and is ready to fulfil his potential.”

Swansea are back in Hampshire next Saturday, this time at St Mary’s – but Dyer won’t be playing against his parent club.