Jake Bidwell embracing close-knit atmosphere at Swansea City

Jake Bidwell loves the close community feel he has experienced since joining Swansea City, and he hopes he can help ensure the club and its supporters have play-off football to look forward to.

The experienced left-back joined the Swans last summer following his departure from QPR, having also played for Brentford and Everton.

Having played his football in Liverpool and London, the 27-year-old has found there to be a different close-knit atmosphere in Swansea.

It is an adjustment he has been more than happy to make.

“I’ve noticed a difference in being at Swansea over the past year – it’s not the same as playing for a club in London,” says Bidwell.

“Wherever I go in this city, people are Swans fans. That’s the only team and so everyone wants you to do well and I get stopped when I’m walking the dog by people who want to talk and wish you well.

“You don’t really have that community feel in London. It’s not the same.

“I’ve really enjoyed it as the season has gone on. I’ve got to grips with a new squad and a new manager and I’ve really embraced it.

“With four games to go, it is still in our own hands in terms of the play-offs and anything is possible.

“It would be a great first season managing in senior football if Steve Cooper can get a team into the play-offs.”

Bidwell has been an integral part of Cooper’s squad this season, making 34 appearances in all competitions.

He has most recently been utilized as a wing-back following Swansea’s change of system to a three-man central defence.

He has started every game since the resumption of football, helping the Swans collect 10 points from a possible 15 to have them within tantalising reach of a play-off place.

Tough tests against fellow promotion hopefuls Leeds and Nottingham Forest lie in wait in the next few days, but Bidwell believes Swansea can complete the task and extend their season beyond July 22 and their final fixture at Reading.

“It is all still in our own hands. We know what we have to do to achieve something this year and make the top six,” he says.

“The gaffer will have a game plan, we’ll analyse them and be ready to go on Sunday.

“We know Luton was really disappointing, but Millwall was an improvement. A lot of teams crumble there when they go behind, but we dug in and got level.

“We’ve had two important wins and we’re right in the mix.”