Gareth Vincent, BBC Sport Wales
Defeat at Hull City on Saturday would have left Swansea City only four points clear of the Championship’s bottom three with two demanding home fixtures to come this week.
The tough assignments are still coming, of course, with Leeds United and their band of Swansea old boys coming to Wales on Tuesday night before Ipswich Town visit next weekend.
But it is remarkable how one good result can lighten the mood at a football club – and the challenge now for Luke Williams’ team is to build on their 1-0 triumph at MKM Stadium.
Liam Rosenior was critical of his players after Liam Cullen’s goal had secured a win which leaves Swansea seven points clear of the drop zone, suggesting Hull had been guilty of “over-confidence” as they took on opponents who had been struggling for form.
But regardless of Hull’s display, Swansea deserved credit for what was their most complete performance in some time.
There was a clean sheet – the first in the Championship under Williams and only the sixth in 31 league games this season – with goalkeeper Carl Rushworth enjoying a largely peaceful afternoon.
On top of that, Williams’ team produced another bright attacking display which might have secured a more comfortable margin of victory.
The biggest positive of Swansea’s display was the combination of balance, pace and attacking threat offered by their two new wide players, Przemyslaw Placheta on the left and Ronald down the right.
Their presence meant opportunities for others to thrive, with Matt Grimes and Jay Fulton dominant in midfield and Josh Tymon impressing once more with his surges forward from left-back.
Kyle Naughton also put in another impressive shift at right-back, with the veteran’s late substitution because of injury the one black mark on a much brighter day for Williams’ team.