'We must keep improving'

Connor Roberts reckons Swansea City must keep on improving if they are to maintain their early-season momentum in the months ahead.

Graham Potter’s men have taken seven points from their first three games of the new Championship campaign.

That represents a positive start for a youthful squad who said goodbye to a host of senior players over the summer and are getting used to life under a new boss.

But Roberts is aware that the Swans’ form could quickly turn around if they do not push for more progress.

“We have played some good teams already this season. We have only conceded one goal and we haven’t lost,” the Swans right-back said.

“It’s going pretty well at the moment, but we know things can go backwards quickly.

“That means we have to keep working hard, stick together and learn from the gaffer and his staff.”

Having won at Sheffield United on the opening day and then beaten Preston in their first home game of the new campaign, the Swans dropped points for the first time in 2018-19 at Birmingham City on Friday night.

Yet Potter’s players were pleased to come away from St Andrew’s with a share of the spoils having been under the cosh for long spells.

“It was backs against the wall from pretty much the outset,” Roberts conceded.

“We are going to get games like that on his league, plenty of them probably.

“We are a young side but we have to stand up and grind out results like we did.

“We can take a lot from the performance. We have a young team – as a back four we are very young.

“We are only going to learn and improve by playing in games like this. I think against Preston and against Birmingham we have proved we can dig in and that is going to be important.”

Roberts is one of a host of youngsters currently making their mark in the Swans’ senior side.

After Joe Rodon made his first-team debut against Preston, winger Daniel James became the latest development player to be pitched into the action by Potter at Birmingham.

Roberts was thrilled to see another rising star get his chance – but is aware that the Swans’ crop of promising youngsters must deliver.

“I am delighted for Dan – he has deserved it,” he said.

“He works very hard behind the scenes and I am sure some of the fans have seen that watching under-23s.

“He is a good, good player, but obviously it’s a different ball game when you play against teams like Birmingham in the Football League.

“The likes of Joe, Dan and me have all got to keep improving and keep performing.

“It’s great to be out there on the pitch but we have to perform.”