Gylfi: Lessons must be learned
1st November
Gylfi Sigurdsson believes the lessons of last season can help the Swans turn their fortunes around in the Premier League.
The Swans went down 3-1 at Stoke City on Monday night, with Bob Bradley's side sitting five points adrift of fourth-bottom West Ham after ten games.
But Sigurdsson, who captained the Swans for the first time at Stoke, feels his team-mates can use the experience from the 2015-16 campaign as they bid to rise up the table.
During last term, the Swans went through of period of just one win in 11 games, but after the new year they picked up 21 points from 12 games in a season which eventually saw them finish 12th.
"We can learn from the position we were in last year," said the Icelandic midfielder.
"With the position we were in last December, we managed to turn it around with some good results. We know that when we pick up a good result we can use that and get a run going.
"Last season we went on a run without a win for quite a long while. But as soon as we won a game it gave us confidence and we kicked on from there.
"But you look to your next game and concentrate on that. It's Manchester United at home next, and we must have an immediate reaction."
The Swans found themselves behind after just three minutes at Stoke, with former striker Wilfried Bony tapping home from close range following Joe Allen's goalbound effort.
Despite Sigurdsson setting up Wayne Routledge's equaliser just five minutes later, the visitors rode their luck and Charlie Adam (twice) and Marko Arnautovic both hit the woodwork.
But Stoke wrapped up victory after the break, with Alfie Mawson clearing sub Ramadan Sobhi's effort into his own net before Bony headed home Allen's cross to make it 3-1.
Sub Borja later saw his shot deflected onto the crossbar, while the Swans thought they had been awarded a penalty when referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot after Wayne Routledge had been fouled by Erik Pieters, only for the official to switch the decision to a free-kick after consulting his assistant.
Reflecting on the loss, Sigurdsson added: "We were poor at Stoke.
"We need to improve defensively and offensively.
"We gave them a goal early on from a set-piece, and although we got back on level terms they hit the post three times and we were lucky to go into the break at 1-1.
"But, overall, they deserved to win."
