Alan Sheehan | We are building our tempo and developing good habits

Assistant head coach Alan Sheehan felt Swansea City showed they are getting into good habits and lifting the tempo after they recorded another pre-season victory and clean sheet against Newport County at Fairwood.

Goals from Ben Cabango, Josh Key, Joel Piroe and Josh Thomas (2) sealed a 5-0 win in the Swans’ final behind-closed-doors fixture of the summer.

After a goalless first half, Cabango scored the opener as his prod towards goal beat the County keeper early in the second half.

Key then doubled Swansea’s lead when he finished from an acute angle after a rapid attack from the hosts, before Piroe netted from the spot and Thomas grabbed a late brace.

There was also another defensive shutout in Swansea’s final behind closed doors friendly as Michael Duff’s squad got more valuable minutes under their belt ahead of the new season.

And Sheehan observed a pleasing step up in intensity and accuracy as the Swans continue to build towards that opening Championship fixture against Birmingham on August 5.

“It was a really pleasing afternoon, another clean sheet, scored goals and we are getting into good habits,” he said.

“The lads acquitted themselves very well, played with a really good tempo and we looked a threat, especially in that second half.

“Now is a good time to get into winning habits and the habit of getting clean sheets. I think it’s important we do these things properly as we work through pre-season because we want to be an aggressive team, in and out of possession.

“That’s what we have been working on the last couple of weeks, these last two games have been good for large parts, but we have still got a lot of work to do, but right now we are in a good place.

“It has been a productive couple of weeks but we have got to be firing at the right time because it is that game against Birmingham that we are getting ourselves ready for.

“Everyone has got the challenge of being ready and fighting to be picked for that first game.”

Striker Thomas was on the scoresheet again, taking his tally to five goals in pre-season, but he was not the only academy product to perform well.

And Sheehan admitted he had been impressed with the calibre of player coming off the Swansea production line.

“As somebody who has only been here a few weeks, I can say that aspect has been very impressive,” he said.

“Filip Lissah has stepped up and proven well-equipped when we have had a lot of possession to step in and break the lines.

“Josh Thomas has done really well, he keeps popping up in the right areas, he likes to run in behind and he is an aggressive player.

“Then you have the likes of Ben (Lloyd), Azeem (Abdulai), Joel Cotterill and Joe Thomas have all done really well. I just hope I’m not missing anyone out!

“But they have all made a really positive impression.”