Ethan Galbraith can't help but smile as he remembers the thrilling final moments of Swansea's remarkable turnaround win against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup. That match ended with Galbraith picking up a fan's glasses after the post-goal scrum.
With the clock ticking into the 97th minute, Galbraith rattled the woodwork with a powerful strike from outside the box, and his teammate promptly hammered in the rebound before racing off toward the home end to revel in the moment, with the crowd swarming the players.
Extraordinary Turnaround
This completed an incredible turnaround given Swansea had been behind 2-0 during the final 45 minutes. During the delirium, there was some unintended consequences. Galbraith explained, "There was a spectator trying to get our attention and Josh Key and I were thinking: 'What's he on about here?' Then we saw the glasses. It was a bit of banter putting them on. We are on the pitch as athletes but we're humans, too, so to have a joke with the fans is always good."
Pep Guardiola Test
The result booked a fourth-round fixture at home against Pep Guardiola's side on Wednesday, a team Galbraith came close against at the equivalent round of the FA Cup with his former club in February. He had arguably the best view when his former team took the lead in spectacular fashion, with the attacker's volley from about 45 yards going in via the woodwork and the opposition keeper. It feels criminal that it was recorded as an own goal.
"You would have expected they would've credited him for taking the effort on from that range," says Galbraith, who played in the middle before switching to right wing-back after Orient changed formation. That meant facing off against City's winger, with whom he swapped shirts, and the player was among the Manchester squad who praised the way his former team played positively.
City's Quality
"Physically they are very good but even the fundamentals and routine actions, they can just execute repeatedly," Galbraith says. "It seems as if they always find their target and they know how to control and slow down a game. You can believe you're doing well and then suddenly they will just deliver a through ball through a line without you even seeing. You have to be switched on throughout of the game. It requires a resilient mindset and focus just to stay in the game."
New Chapter
The Welsh side pushed to sign Galbraith in January and fought off rivals to bring him in in the summer in a seven-figure transfer. He made a name as a crowd pleaser across multiple campaigns at his former club and has swiftly achieved similar status in his new home. At the London club he reunited with his former manager, who previously gave Galbraith his initial sustained opportunity in professional games on loan at his loan club from Manchester United. Then came a loan at lower division Salford City, before he moved on from Old Trafford.
Growth Journey
"I was likely a bit naive going into senior level. I think numerous professionals would say youth team games is completely distinct. Sometimes it seems possession is exchanged without real physicality. There's not many hard challenges. Once you start playing men's games you have to learn quickly."
Country Call-ups
He has demonstrated that growth for both domestically and internationally, shining for Northern Ireland, who could still reach the World Cup next summer via the qualifying rounds and for whom he has featured in the last several matches, including both legs games against a football powerhouse. His former international manager, Galbraith's ex- international manager, gave him the ultimate compliment, saying he was Northern Ireland's "midfield general" given how he controls possession and his ability to spot a killer pass.
Starting Out
It has been a remarkable path for the youngster from the neighborhood in his hometown, just outside the capital, who used to see his dad, his father, also a engine room operator, play for Ballyclare Comrades.
Red Devils Debut
The player's single match for United came in the away trip in 2019, a Europa League trip to the Kazakh capital, where they competed on an synthetic surface and the stadium roof was sealed owing to temperatures of bitter cold. "That proved to be a long trip and it was cold out there," he says, smiling. "The week before, the academy prospects practiced as a group, so that helped us acclimatise. Just to accompany the senior squad and earn some playing time at the end was incredible."
Leaving United
How difficult was it to move on from Old Trafford, the club he joined from Linfield aged his mid-teens? "It was relatively straightforward, because I arrived at the moment where I knew I wasn't going to make it at the senior squad. I'm extremely thankful for the time I spent there but it reached a stage where I thought I had to take a different path, move to a lower level and play professional soccer. Now I'm steadily working my way back up."
New Environment
It is the middle of the day at Swansea's Fairwood training base but Galbraith has an appointment at the early evening: a road rules assessment, another move in the direction of getting on the road. Prior to relocating to the local area, the mid-twenties player was a frequent passenger in Swansea's so-called fun bus, a small coach driven by club employees, Pete and Howard, which ferries players to and from practice and games.
"I travel with Gonçalo Franco, another squad member, the midfielder – Melker Widell used to be in it but has started driving. It's nice to socialize with the lads but I'm hoping to be the subsequent individual to stop using the bus and on the road. Franco likes to pull a few pranks; he's always up to all sorts."
Public Engagement
When he represented his former club, Galbraith would mix with supporters on the Tube after starting his journey at Brentwood. "I tried|I attempted|My aim
