Swans sail through
Holders Portsmouth suffered humiliation as Swansea's on-loan Southampton winger Nathan Dyer helped send them crashing out of the FA Cup with a 2-0 defeat.Dyer kept his promise to thrive on the animosity at Fratton Park by playing a crucial role in Pompey's downfall, topped by a glorious 27th-minute opener.
A threat throughout, his strike silenced the jeers that erupted every time the elusive 21-year-old from Pompey's bitter south coast rivals touched the ball.
The tireless Jason Scotland, who set up Dyer, inflicted further misery on Tony Adams' side when he slotted home a penalty in first-half injury time.
It was with some justification that Nadir Belhadj protested furiously when referee Andre Marriner pointed to the spot as his challenge on Jordi Gomez looked outside the box.
Egos dented, Pompey subjected the Coca-Cola Championship side to a fearful battering after the interval.
As in the first half, the reflexes of Swansea's heroic keeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos and stout defending denied them on a host of occasions.
Peter Crouch cut a frustrated figure as Konstantopoulos repelled everything the England marksman could throw at him, while during nerve-jangling final spell, Pompey were kept out time and again.
The warning signs for the Barclays Premier League club were there with just a few minutes on the clock, Angel Rangel shooting narrowly wide of the left post.
Dyer set off on a marauding run down the left flank that saw him find acres of space and tee-up Jordi Gomez, who directed his effort straight at David James.
Pompey debutant Jermaine Pennant was forced to try his luck from long range, evidence of a bright opening spell from Swansea who looked marginally the more threatening side.
Keeping the ball on the deck at all times, Swansea were having little problem picking Pompey apart and they fully deserved to take the lead.
And the worst fears of home supporters were realised when it was Dyer who smashed the visitors ahead.
Collecting Scotland's cute floated pass on the edge of the area, Dyer chested the ball down and drilled it past James into the bottom right corner.
The busy Scotland - an imposing figure at the tip of Swansea's attack - deserved his assist, but it was not all one-way traffic as Pompey probed for an equaliser.
Crouch was denied by the lightening reactions of Konstantopoulos and then centre back Alan Tate produced a timely block on an attempt by Pennant.
The pendulum continued to swing as half-time approached, Swansea's defence coming under growing pressure.
But in their eagerness to pour forward, Pompey were caught on the counter in first-half injury time and paid the price as the Championship side extended their lead.
Gomez dashed into the box and tumbled beneath the tackle Belhadj, who protested his innocence as Marriner pointed to the spot before Scotland converted.
Pompey boss Tony Adams brought on Kanu and Hermann Hreidarsson for the second half in an effort to change his side's fortunes.
Crouch tumbled beneath a challenge but Marriner was not interested in the shouts for a penalty and moments later Konstantopoulos had to dive to keep out a header from the towering forward.
Swansea were weathering a fearsome early assault from Pompey and were grateful when Dyer's break and shot at James helped relieve the pressure.
A fingertip save from James kept out Gomez and there were dramatics at the other end as Konstantopoulos produced a sublime save before causing panic by dithering in goal.
Crouch struck the woodwork as Swansea continued to ride their luck amid a series of frantic goalmouth scrambles.
With six minutes to go Pompey, sensing their time was up, took their foot of the gas to leave their cup defence in ruins.
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 - jeered throughout by the home fans because of his Southampton connection - that was capped by a clinical finish of Scotland's astute lob into the area.
"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 dominated the first half but were forced to weather Pompey's attempted fightback after the interval.
Pompey boss Tony Adams had no complaints with the result. "In the first half we were outplayed and outfought,'' said the former England skipper.
"I did warn the players we were up against a very good Swansea team who like to pass the ball and that we would be in trouble if we weren't prepared. Sadly, I was proved right. Without that fight you go out of this competition."We didn't deserve to be 2-0 down at half-time but we didn't play well in the first half either. We were very poor. It's disappointing to go out of the FA Cup, no matter what round it is. You have to put defeats like this to bed as quickly as possible.''
