Russell Martin relishing Sheffield United test

Russell Martin knows the level of the challenge that lies ahead of his side as Swansea City prepare to face Sheffield United this afternoon, but feels it is a test that should excite the visitors.

The Blades currently sit second in the league table some 10 points ahead of third-placed Middlesbrough with a game in hand.

The south Yorkshire side are nine games unbeaten in the league and have only suffered one home defeat since October 20, but Martin says his young side must embrace the occasion ahead of them as they look to bounce back from the late agony of defeat to Birmingham.

“In the home game we played really well,” said Martin.

“The test for us now, and for this young team, is to go to Bramall Lane, where it will be a brilliant atmosphere, and perform against a team right at the top of the table.

“[Sheffield United] are winning games in lots of different ways and there’s a real threat in terms of their power and athleticism. They’re a team full of experience and I’m sure the fans will be right behind them.

“We’re going to try and be the team we want to be so I think it will be an exciting game for us.”

And the Swans boss expects his side to continue to play with the same identity and style which at one stage had them firmly in the top six earlier in the season, and sees them among the leaders in a number of performance metrics in the second tier.

“We really believe that process and performance will lead to results more often than not,” he added.

“We were on a really good run, and then a frustrating run where performances were good but the results maybe didn’t reflect it.

“But the best thing about it was that throughout those tough times, the identity of the team has never faltered.

“The fundamentals of this team and what it stands for has never changed.

“There might be some mistakes but the willingness to run and get the ball back as quickly as we can, to keep control of the ball as much as we can, be aggressive and progressive with the ball has been something to be proud of and we have to maintain.

“That identity is the thing that will help us move forward as a club.”