Fab: We must believe

3rd December
First team

Lukasz Fabianski has urged his team-mates to believe in their own ability as Swansea City look to turn their season around.

Paul Clement’s men suffered another disappointment yesterday as they were beaten 2-1 at Stoke City.

The Swans took the lead at the bet365 Stadium thanks to a sweet finish from Wilfried Bony and looked comfortable for much of the first half.

But two soft goals just before the break, from Xherdan Shaqiri and Mame Biram Diouf, saw the Swans come away with nothing for the sixth time in their last seven Premier League games.

That painful run has seen Clement’s side drop to the bottom of the table ahead of next weekend’s home clash with West Brom.

And Fabianski feels the Swans must now back themselves to compete with the Baggies – and stay united as they look to come through a difficult time.

“You have to believe we will be able to turn things around,” the Polish international said.

“We have to work hard and we have to listen to the instructions and then deliver them on the pitch in every single game.

“Then, once you start playing better and getting some results, the confidence will come back.

“At the moment we have to be really focused in every single second of the game.

“The other thing is that in difficult times you have to stick together as a group.”

Fabianski admits the Swans’ poor form has taken a toll on the mindset of the players.

Clement felt his team’s fragility was apparent once Stoke had turned this weekend’s game around.

And Fabianski concedes the Swans must now dig deep ahead of another vital fixture next Saturday.

“We have to believe,” he stressed. “There is no other way. That’s the thing you start with as a player.

“You cannot question yourself, you have to have confidence that we can turn things around and that we can go and compete in this league.

“A win gives you that, but we have to find that belief now.”

The frustration for the Swans at Stoke was that they had got themselves into a good position – and looked in control – before Shaqiri levelled the scores.

“We made a perfect start to the game,” Fabianski said. “Until we conceded the equaliser, we managed the game pretty well and were in control.

“I think their first goal affected us. We went down a little bit from that moment and then we got punished again.

“We started well, impressively I would say, but one mistake hurt us.”

Fabianski had sympathy for Leroy Fer, who was robbed in his own half by Diouf before Joe Allen played in Shaqiri to score.

“In those areas we have to take care of the ball and be smart with the decisions,” the Swans keeper added.

“Leroy tried to do the right thing, to keep it, but he got caught from the blindside. That was unlucky for him and for us.

“We tried to dig deep and put them under pressure in the second half but in the end we were beaten again.”