Manager's post match South Wales derby reaction

Last updated : 04 April 2010 By Michael Morris

"People say I play it (the derby) down, but it was nice to get the three points more than anything. Then the bragging rights and everything else can follow.

"It's a massive win but it wasn't about Swansea, it's all about the points.

"People can focus on what they want but I don't give that two hoots.

"Sometimes the passion can overrun, you get people sent off and then it's hard, especially against a team like Swansea that keeps the ball.

"If they think I don't care I'm not in the mood to change that attitude.

"All I care about is this football club, those players in that dressing room and those supporters because they deserve it."

Jones paid tribute to goalkeeper David Marshall for a superb save from Shefki Kuqi just seconds before marksman Chopra took his goals tally for the season to 19.

"It was a great save from Dave and made up for their goal in the first half." he said. "They were two great finishes from Chops. He's a pest, if there's something going on he's in it, but his work rate is phenomenal and we've been getting goals from all different areas.

"The one thing we know we can do is score goals and I was determined to make what happened last year wouldn't happen again.

"Last year we relied on the same people but this year we're scoring goals from all over. We had to change it a little bit today because Swansea's shape has caused us a few problems in the past.

"Once we got a grip on it, it worked. We deserved the win and it doesn't matter if you ride your luck.

"Maybe I caught Paulo a little bit cold. But we were probably having the best of the game when they scored and they were probably having the best of the game when we scored.

"We showed great concentration at the death. I was a little bit worried about tiredness because we played the other night and that was a right old tussle against Leicester.

"I was pleased to see Joe (Ledley) back and even Huds (Mark Hudson) said to me to put him on the bench - and he hasn't kicked a ball for three months.

"That shows the sort of people we have at this club. Hopefully we can make the play-offs with a little bit to spare and I can give one or two players the run-out they need.

"We've got some big players coming from injury and they will need a game or two. It's nice to get everyone back."

But Jones admitted he would like to see Swansea - now only two points above seventh-placed Blackpool - make the play-offs.

"I've great respect for Paulo and I think he's got great respect for me. He's always touching me... I think that's a Portuguese thing!

"I really do hope that they're there in the play-offs because it would be fantastic for South Wales."

Unlucky lads
Paulo Sousa believed his side deserved victory and not defeat.

"When you dominate completely the game, when you get more and better chances than them defeat is difficult.

"But football it's that, we need to turn this moment, not an easy moment... we deserved to win this game.

"We have a lot of games until the end of the season, to keep the position we have now.

"I am always positive - in my players, myself, everything. I am never worried.

"We are there in the top six and if we keep doing the things that we are doing - like we did today - we will create more chances than our opponents and we will be there.

"You must remember that we dominated always and had more chances, but we must score more than the others. The present is not so nice but the future is all we think about now."

Bookmark and Share