This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Regular Punter’ series, where we gather original opinions from select, passionate fans of the clubs concerned on matters surrounding their team and share them with a wider audience…
Football League World Swansea City fan pundit Jacob Bellayuto has been “extremely surprised” by the Welsh side’s fantastic start to the season but is confident they can continue their good run of results.
Under new boss Steve Cooper, the Swans are two points clear in the Championship after beating Leeds United 1-0 in a top-of-the-table clash on the weekend.
Bellayuto explained that their fast start to the 2019/20 campaign had taken him off guard after some key figures left the club in the summer.
He said: “I have been extremely surprised by Swansea's start to the campaign. Sitting at the top of the league and winning all our games in the Carabao Cup has caught me off guard.
“Coming into the season, I expected another mid-table finish. Losing Graham Potter, Oli McBurnie, and Dan James over the summer dashed my hopes of a promotion push this year, but I also wasn’t of the opinion that relegation was an option.
“I saw us finishing anywhere from 9th to 14th.”
Bellayuto suggested the arrival of Cooper has been integral to Swansea’s success so far.
He said: “One month in, things have changed drastically, and I think the reason for that is Steve Cooper.
“He has continued to push the ‘Swansea Way’, brought Borja Baston and Andre Ayew back into the team, and has worked with our youth extremely well.”
He continued: “I fully expect Swansea to continue their good run of results and think we should at least finish in the play-off spots if not seal automatic promotion.
“We are playing very well, and our depth up top and in the midfield seems set up for us make a good run. The only concern could be a lack of defensive depth, but at the moment, it isn’t an issue.”
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Baston, who has been labeled a flop in the past, has been a key player for Cooper’s side this season, adding five goals in five appearances, and Bellayuto earmarked the Spaniard and goalkeeper Freddie Woodman for individual praise.
He said: “His (Baston) return to the team has been crucial to the team’s success this year. He has filled in perfectly for Oli (McBurnie).
“I have also loved the way Freddie Woodman has played in goal. Last season, we had tons of switching of the goalkeepers and no true number one.
“Woodman has provided the consistency and stability in goal that can and has helped Swansea make the leap into the top six.”
Due to the international break, Swansea will have to wait until Saturday 14th September for their next game – a visit from Nottingham Forest in the Championship.