Monk sets new target for final two games

Garry Monk has challenged his players to go and break the 40-point mark in the final two games of the season.

The Swans secured their Premier League status last weekend with a thumping 4-1 win over Aston Villa, and welcome Southampton to the Liberty on Saturday before ending the campaign away at Sunderland on May 11.

If Monk's side can claim maximum points in their remaining two fixtures they will end the campaign just a single point short of last season's tally.

And the head coach has called on the squad to surpass the 40-point barrier between now and the end of the campaign.

"You could just see that cloud lifted, not just with the players and the staff, but around the city as well," said Monk.

"Everyone has got a smile on their face and we said before that game that we needed to come out of it with everything intact.

"I think we did that, but we realise there is still a job to do with two games to go.

"We want to break the 40-point barrier and that is the drive for us now."

Saturday's game also sees Monk come up against his former club for the first time as a manager.

The 35-year-old spent eight years on the south coast, making 13 appearances for the Saints before moving to Barnsley and then Swansea shortly after.

"It will be a proud day," he said. "I've got a lot of friends left in Southampton from my time there. That is where i learnt to be a footballer and learned my trade, alongside some fantastic players.

"It's a brilliant club and come Saturday it will probably be one of my proudest moments."

Southampton have enjoyed a hugely successful second season back in the Premier League after a solid campaign last year.

Mauricio Pochettino's side finished 14th in 2012-13 but have won a number of plaudits for their style of play and results this term.

The Saints are currently eighth in the table and Monk had nothing but praise for his former employers.

"From a footballing principle, that is where we have tried to get to," he said. "But this is the first season where we have had a fall back from where we have been going previously.

"I don't think we can compete with them money-wise. They have got great backing with some very rich people in charge.

"They are a vey good football side with a great ethos, and of course you want to aspire to something like that."

Meanwhile, it was also a time for reflection at the Liberty as another Premier League draws to a close.

Following Michael Laudrup's departure back in February, Monk was tasked with keeping the club in the top flight after a tough few months.

But after survival was sealed last week, the head coach believes it has been another learning curve for everyone involved at the club.

"It's been a very long season," he said. "Ultimately, I don't think disappointing is the right term, but football changes so quickly.

"The two results we've just had changes the whole complexion, but if we can finish in the 40 points bracket then it would be hard to say it has been disappointing.

"From my point of view it has been brilliant. We've got to where we wanted to be, but on the whole it has been a difficult campaign - but one we have learned lots from."