Leon Britton: Clean sheets key for Swansea City
23rd October
Leon Britton has urged Swansea City to keep it clean once again at Stoke City next week as Bob Bradley's men bid to climb the Premier League table.
The Swans ended a four-game winless streak this weekend as they drew 0-0 with Watford in Bob Bradley's first home fixture in charge.
Though they were unfortunate not to claim a victory, the Swans at least took something from the game as a much-changed rearguard helped Lukasz Fabianski to a first clean sheet since the opening day of the season.
Debutant Alfie Mawson impressed alongside Mike van der Hoorn in central defence, with Stephen Kingsley and Kyle Naughton making up a rejigged back four.
And Britton is convinced the wins will soon come if Bradley's men can rack up a few more shutouts.
"The clean sheet is a big positive," the Swans skipper said.
"We made three changes at the back against two strong boys in Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo. I thought the two lads at centre-back dealt with them very well.
"I thought the whole team worked very hard to get what was a good clean sheet for us.
"We now need to make sure we get more clean sheets in the future because obviously, that gives you a much better chance of getting wins.
"We looked solid this weekend and if we have to carry that on when we go to Stoke a week on Monday."
After a cagey first half which featured few clear-cut chances, the Swans upped the tempo after the break and were unlucky not to break the deadlock.
Gylfi Sigurdsson hit the post and also shot straight at Heurelho Gomes, while van der Hoorn saw a point-blank effort saved by the Watford keeper.
"It was one of those days going forward," Britton added.
"Mike had a big chance. Gylfi hit the post - on another day that goes in off the post. They are small margins.
"But we created chances and we looked solid. They are big positives for us.
"We have to take this positive performance into the game against Stoke.
"We have to carry on playing like this, keeping clean sheets and creating chances, and if we do that the results will come."
Britton had a word of praise for Mawson, the £5 million summer signing from Barnsley who has had to wait for his chance at the Liberty.
"I thought Alfie was excellent against two experienced players who are a handful," he said.
"He dealt with their physicality and he was very good on the ball. It was a fantastic debut."
