Plenty of positives for Laudrup
Michael Laudrup insists there are plenty of positives for his side after the Swans were held to a goalless draw by Southampton at the Liberty.
The home side started brightly in the sunshine but failed to test Artur Boruc in the early stages, while Rickie Lambert forced Michel Vorm into a fine fingertip save at the other end.
The Swans continued to push for an opener in the second period and Wayne Routledge was denied by a fine stop from Boruc before substitute Emmanuel Mayuka nearly stole all three points for the visitors.
The result means Laudrup's men stay ninth in the Premier League table, but the boss admits that his side must now find points from their remaining five games to achieve a top ten finish.
"I thought we did everything well in the first 25 minutes," he said. "Then Southampton came back into the game and had a couple of chances.
"There wasn't much control from either side at the beginning of the second half, but we arrived in the box four or five times but the last pass could have been better.
"On one hand we should have won, but sometimes you have to accept a draw and take the positives.
"After conceding two goals in each of our last four games, it was good to keep a clean sheet. We now have to find some points from elsewhere now."
The Swans have won just once since lifting the Capital One Cup back in February - a run of six league games.
However, they have remained in the top ten of the Premier League and the Dane emphasised the importance of the final five games as they look to build again for next season.
"It's normal," he said. "When you reach a target, then suddenly there's a reaction. But the only thing I want is to try and change that.
"We want a mentality where we can push on. But I can't complain about the attitude of the players since we won the cup - they have been great for me."
The one bright spark in an otherwise uneventful afternoon saw the return of Neil Taylor to the Swans squad.
The left back had been out of action since suffering a horrific injury against Sunderland back in September, and Laudrup was delighted to see him return.
"It's great for him," he said. "I thought it would be a good game for him, and maybe if it had been different he could have got on the pitch - but I'm happy for him."
Meanwhile, the result means Southampton remain 12th in the table - eight points clear of the bottom three.
And boss Mauricio Pochettino was pleased with the way his players stood up to the task to extend their run of just one defeat in seven games.
"It wasn't a very good game," he said. "But the positive thing is we got a point and didn't concede any goals.
"Perhaps it wasn't one of our best games but we put in a good performance, but we lacked fluidity overall to impose ourselves on the game.
"But we showed great desire once again and I'm happy with my players."
