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Swansea City walloped gallant heroes Bradford City in the final of the Capital One Cup at the Wembley Stadium in London last night, earning Swansea their first major trophy since their formation as a club.
Here are five talking points that stood out for me during the game.
1.) Bradford have every reason to stand tall and proud
The last time a League Two side went through to the final of the League Cup was Rochdale in 1968.
Bradford are only the second side to do so and that shows just how great an achievement making it to the final is. Even if they did not win the trophy, the Bantams can be plenty proud of their scalps this season.
Stunning Wigan Athletic, Aston Villa and – most impressively – Arsenal this season, their exploits have earned the squad an all-expenses paid trip to Las Vegas at the end of the season…one they completely deserve.
2.) There is a rather large consolation prize for Bradford
Bradford’s appearance in the final has awarded them a welcome windfall of £2.5 million, which can surely be invested to help them become a better club.
Most clubs who are in English football’s lower leagues do not have rather significant funds to propel them to the higher echelons of the Football League and Bradford can now afford to splash the cash on a few more quality players.
3.) European football beckons for Swansea next season
When Birmingham City won the League Cup two seasons ago, they were automatically granted a Europa League qualification berth.
The same holds true for Swansea next season, with Michael Laudrup’s men guaranteed a place in Europe. This will surely help them attract a better class of players that they perhaps would not have been able to, if they had not gotten a ticket to Europe.
It also acts as an incentive for existing Swansea players to stay on and compete in Europe.
4.) This makes Swansea’s centenary season all the more memorable
This is Swansea’s hundredth season in existence as a football club, and this League Cup triumph only highlights how far the team from Wales have come.
In 2002, Swansea narrowly avoided relegation to the Football Conference and non-League football after a wretched ten years in the football doldrums of relegation.
Last year, they made a triumphant return to Premier League football, ending the season in eleventh place. Being the first Welsh team to play in the EPL since its inception in 1992, they have now made their return to the top flight of English football even more memorable with this win.
It’s not just the win, but the manner in which it has come. 5-0 is the highest scoreline in the final of the League Cup (Manchester United beat Wigan Athletic 4-0 in 2006) and to do it in the hundredth year since the formation of Swansea Football Club against one of the most gallant performers of the tournament is truly commendable.
5.) Nathan Dyer should have been allowed to score his hat trick
Nathan Dyer opened the scoring with the first goal and sealed it with the third goal of the game. He should have been allowed to complete his hat trick when Jonathan de Guzman was brought down in the box.
After a heated argument between the two players, it was the Dutch midfielder who converted the penalty. Dyer in the course of things was then denied the chance to write his name in the history books by becoming the first Swansea player to score a hat trick in a cup final.
He never did get to do so, despite earnestly testing Bradford’s keeper with several shots and although he did get a winner’s medal, will rue not becoming the first Swansea player to score three at the new Wembley.
