Our best performance yet, says Clement

29th July
First team

Paul Clement saluted Swansea City’s best pre-season performance yet after watching his team win 2-0 at Birmingham City.

The Swans beat Harry Redknapps’s Blues thanks to goals from Tammy Abraham and Leroy Fer.

Clement admitted his team’s display was far from perfect, but felt there were signs of improvement as the Swans overcame their Championship hosts.

“There were some pleasing things I saw today. Of all the games we have played so far, I think that was the best,” the Swans manager said.

“We are moving in the right direction. There’s not long to go now before the start of the season so I am pleased we have made progress over the recent games.

“We played some good football today. We got caught a couple of times playing in the wrong areas, but I am encouraging the players to build from the back and be confident with the ball.

“It certainly wasn’t perfect and there are still things to work on before we go to Southampton, but some of the movement was good and some of the passages of play were good.”

The Swans took the lead on 56 minutes when Abraham volleyed home from Leroy Fer’s cross.

Fer then struck himself with a long-range shot which deflected in off Michael Morrison.

The Swans had chances to score more goals, although Birmingham had their moments going forward too.

“It was a good game,” added Clement.

“Birmingham have some good players and some athleticism in their team which meant they caused us some problems on crosses, so we are pleased with the clean sheet.”

Gylfi Sigurdsson was not involved at St Andrew’s amid continued speculation linking him with a move away from the Liberty.

And Clement stressed after the game that a decision on Sigurdsson’s future needs to be made soon.

“There’s no update,” he said. “We made a decision between myself, the club and Gylfi that during this period, he wouldn’t be involved in games.

“The situation is still the same, but we want a quick resolution to this issue. We are getting to a point now where something needs to be done and done quickly.

“Otherwise he needs to stay here and play his football for Swansea.”