Paul Clement: Swansea City win is wonderful feeling

4th March

Paul Clement savoured "a wonderful feeling" after Swansea City dug deep to beat Burnley 3-2 thanks to Fernando Llorente's last-gasp winner.

A thrilling contest looked like being remembered chiefly for the decision to give Burnley a penalty - which was converted by Andre Gray - when the Swans were leading 1-0.

But despite huge frustration over the spot-kick, the Swans finished up smiling after Llorente's header put them five points clear of the Premier League relegation places.

"There was only one result we would have been satisfied with today, and that was the win," Clement said.

"And it was an exhilarating moment when we scored the winning goal.

"Just go back a couple of weeks and we had the opposite emotion, when it looked like we were going to get a hard-earned point at Manchester City until they scored in the 93rd minute.

"Today we had the other end of the spectrum and it's a wonderful feeling.

"That was also because of the circumstances of the game. We were behind 2-1 having hit the woodwork three times and conceded a penalty which should not have been given.

"Football is like that. You can plan your tactics and the players can implement that plan, but then you get things that come out of nowhere.

"You have to deal with them. You have to use them as motivation to go and do even better.

"We went behind, 2-1, with one of their only chances. But we got back level and then we pushed and pushed to find the winner."

The Swans had taken control of a thrilling game early on and, after hitting the woodwork twice through Alfie Mawson, they went ahead on 12 minutes when Llorente nodded home from Leroy Fer's fine centre.

But Burnley levelled thanks to a penalty award which left the home players stunned.

Referee Anthony Oliver gave a spot-kick for handball even though Burnley striker Sam Vokes was the man who handled, and Andre Gray drilled home from 12 yards.

Gray then netted again just after the hour to leave the Swans staring at a costly defeat, but Martin Olsson levelled just eight minutes later with his second goal in two home games.

The Swans pushed hard for the winner they deserved, and it finally came when Llorente, who had earlier nodded against the bar, powered in his second header of the afternoon in the second minute of stoppage time.

"I am not sure there's a better player in Europe at attacking crosses," Clement added.

"I have worked with some good ones. Andy Carroll gets spoken about, what he can do if you get good balls into the box.

"But Fernando has come up with some key goals for us and he has had a hand in a few goals as well."

Llorente's late matchwinner meant the Swans' anger over the first-half penalty decision eased considerably.

Nevertheless, Clement made an impassioned plea for the introduction of video technology.

"100 per cent I would welcome that," he said. "I really don't understand why it is taking so long to do it.

"It's been spoken about for years and years. Next there will be a trial and then it will be introduced a year or two after that.

"I feel for the referees. I referee games in training and sometimes I guess on decisions. Sometimes I go on the players' reactions.

"It's very hard in real time to get some decisions right.

"But what's bizarre is that the four officials are the only people in the stadium who cannot get the help (to see replays).

"The staff can do it, the media have got it and the fans can get it through their mobile devices.

"I haven't seen it back myself, but I knew within 30 seconds that it was the wrong decision because someone from my backroom staff told me."

Despite the upbeat mood in the Swans camp after a third straight home win, Clement is calling for calm from his players.

"We are making steps in the right direction. We have 27 points and are five points clear of the relegation places. On the morning of January 3, we had 12 points and were four points from safety.

"It's been a good shift, but we have still got a lot of work to do."