Monk pleased with performance

4th October

Garry Monk was pleased with his side's improved display after they were held to a 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.

In an open and entertaining fixture at the Liberty Stadium, the Swans were twice pegged back by Christian Eriksen, who struck home two free-kicks for the visitors after an Andre Ayew opener and a Harry Kane own goal had edged the Swans in front.

Ayew scored his fourth league goal of the season when he rose high in the box to head home from Jefferson Montero's cross, before Eriksen levelled the scores, deceiving Lukasz Fabianski with a 25-yard effort midway through the first half.

Monk's men re-took the lead when Kane sliced a clearance into his own net before the break, but Eriksen found the back of the net with yet another set-piece to earn a point for the visitors in the second half.

And following a disappointing defeat at Southampton last weekend, Monk was pleased with his side's response this afternoon.



"I'm pleased with the performance," said the Swans boss. "We have had a couple of performances below our standard, but we were much more like ourselves today.

"We wanted to get back on track, and the players were excellent today - you could see their passion and desire to win that game.

"Every single one of them performed well, including the substitutes that came on.

"Part of me is disappointed that we didn't take three points. Had we not have conceded those free-kicks, we'd have probably won the game. 

"We had chances to win it at the end, but if you're honest I think it could have gone either way.

"Tottenham have great quality, are in good form and are a tough side to play against, but it was pleasing to see that we matched them.

"We just need to find that consistent level of performance, which was our biggest strength last season."

Monk was especially satisfied with Swansea's first goal of the afternoon, when Ayew headed home following a superb flowing move by the home side.

He added: "As a manager, it's that type of pattern and build-up where you get the most satisfaction. 

"When you work hard on something in training and see the players take it out onto the pitch on a matchday, it's a great feeling. It was a fantastic goal."

Meanwhile, Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino felt his side should have taken maximum points from this afternoon's fixture, despite falling behind on two occasions.



"Maybe we dropped two points," said Pochettino. "I felt we were better than Swansea, but we lacked killer instinct in front of goal.

"We are disappointed in the result but not the performance."