Clement: We can become a strong side

Paul Clement reckons new-look Swansea City have the qualities to develop into a solid Premier League side.

The Swans go in search of their first home win of the season when they take on Watford this weekend having been beaten on their own patch by Manchester United and Newcastle.

Clement’s men have been impressive on the road, picking up five points from three league games – and keeping clean sheets in all of them – and coming through two rounds of the Carabao Cup.

The Swans boss is a little puzzled by the contrast between form at the Liberty and away from home.

And he is convinced that given time, his team will have success wherever they are playing.

“We have played five games away compared to only two at home, one of which was against Manchester United,” Clement said.

“We did well for long periods in that game, but the Newcastle performance was disappointing.

“There are no alarm bells ringing after two home games, though. I like to look at the positives.

“We have been very hard to break down away from home and we’ve picked up some positive results.

“I have been pleased with the way we have defended so far, but less happy with our offensive play.

“That’s an area where we are looking to improve and, when we get the two things right, I think we will be a good side.”

The Swans’ miserly defence has been the key to their successes away from SA1 in the first few weeks of the new season.

Aside from 10 crazy minutes at the end of the Manchester United loss, they have been fairly solid on home soil too.

But it is at the other end of the pitch where the Swans feel they must be better.

“The team is evolving – this side feels like a very different team to last season,” Clement added.

“We have had quite a lot of players going out – we didn’t think there would be quite so many, but that’s the way it worked out.

“We have some different qualities already that we didn’t have last year, and in certain areas we have lost a little bit.

“All the time we are trying to improve and develop as a team.

“Our defending has been positive recently but we have lost a little bit on the attacking side of things. I think that will come in time, though.

“The defensive side of things can come a little bit quicker, but offensively you need a bit more fluidity and players take time to get to know each other. We are working on it for sure.”