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Natahn Dyer
Up for the Cup: on-loan Nathan Dyer says Swansea are well-equiped to beat Fulham

Dyer warning for Fulham as Swansea's giant killers smell blood

David Smith
13 Feb 2009


Fear is one emotion Swansea won't be feeling when they test their Premier League credentials against Fulham tomorrow.

Nathan Dyer scored one of the goals that ended Portsmouth's reign as FA Cup holders in the last round and he is confident his side can claim another top-flight scalp.

Swansea are on a 15-match unbeaten run and Dyer says that is all thanks to their manager Robert Martinez. The Spaniard has won plaudits for Swansea's attractive style of play, which Dyer says the team are determined to show at the Liberty Stadium tomorrow.

The winger, who is on loan from Southampton, said: "This is a big game for us in front of a big home crowd. We're looking forward to testing ourselves again because there are guys here with the ability to step up.

"We're not a conventional side with a lot of 6ft 4in lads everywhere, but the manager has brought in players with talent. That shows when we play, because of the confidence Roberto has given us. We won't be afraid to show it against Fulham.

"The gaffer lets us go out and enjoy ourselves rather than putting us under pressure to perform. That showed against Portsmouth and we know we can beat anyone if we put our minds to it."

Although Dyer signed a three-year deal with Southampton last summer this is his second loan spell of the season, having already spent three months at Sheffield United. The 21-year-old will stay with Swansea until the end of the campaign and is grateful for the lifeline thrown by Martinez.

He said: "When you look around our team there are a lot of guys who might not have had chances to show what they can do earlier in their careers. But the gaffer is prepared to give those opportunities.

"Roberto just tells me to make the full-back worried about me rather than me worrying about him. He gives a licence to express yourself and not worry about mistakes. That freedom is fantastic and lifts the confidence in everyone."

Darren Pratley, who started at Fulham's academy only to make one senior appearance before being sold to Swansea for £100,000 in 2006, has also flourished under Martinez.

So much so that last month the 23-year-old midfielder earned a call up to John Barnes's Jamaica squad, only to have his hopes of making his debut in Wednesday's game against Nigeria at The Den dashed by a shoulder injury that will also keep him out tomorrow.

Pratley does not believe his absence will hurt Swansea's push for another Cup upset. "The way we are playing, there is no reason why we can't get a result," he said. "There was no pressure on us against Portsmouth and we beat them, and there isn't any pressure on us now."

Fulham's only away wins this season have come in the Cup, with victories at another Championship side, Sheffield Wednesday, and non-League Kettering.

Manager Roy Hodgson is wary of the threat Swansea pose and said: "We've got to be aware we are playing a very in-form team who deservedly won their last game away to a good Premier League team.

"They've done very well since then and they are just outside the Championship play-off places."

Fulham will be without midfielder Dickson Etuhu, who has an ankle injury that will also keep him out of next Wednesday's Premier League clash at Manchester United. Olivier Dacourt stands by to make his first start since arriving on loan from Inter Milan.

Centre-back Aaron Hughes is also a doubt after he sustained a dead leg in Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifying win in San Marino.

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