Manager Brendan Rodgers felt his Swansea side had shown they have substance to go with their style after they maintained their unbeaten Premier League home record with a 2-0 win over Stoke at the Liberty Stadium.
Swansea have attracted plenty of praise for their passing style but they showed that they can also handle the grittier side of the game as a Scott Sinclair penalty and record signing Danny Graham's first goal for the club sealed a win which puts them up to 10th in the table.
Rodgers said: "It was a mammoth effort today, everyone knows Stoke are one of the most difficult teams to play against and I thought our performance and what we put into the game was incredible."
He added: "My players have put a marker down today that people who do not know us will look at.
"Everyone talks about our style and our football, I think you saw today there is a steel in the team. To keep a clean sheet against a team like that...the players were incredible today and they got their just rewards."
Glenn Whelan and Jon Walters went closest for the visitors. Whelan saw his low free-kick come back off the post while Walters' volley was helped on to the bar by Michel Vorm.
But manager Tony Pulis admitted giving away the early penalty had made life difficult for his side, who he believed were feeling the effects of their midweek exertions against Besiktas early on.
He said: "We gave them a good start, Ryan's challenge was a poor challenge which he did not have to make as the kid was going away from goal, and they get the start every team in the Premier League wants.
"It lifted them, they were nice and bright in that first 15 minutes, but after that time lapsed until they got the second I thought we were the team looking to get the equaliser.
"Psychologically three games at this level in a week is tough, we looked a little leggy in the first 15 minutes, but we grew into the game and if Walters' effort goes in or Whelan's doesn't hit the post it could have been different. But those are the fine lines."
Source: PA
