CLEMENT LOOKS A BROKEN MAN

PAUL CLEMENT looks like a broken man but is set for a stay of execution at Swansea City, with board members still backing their manager. Swansea are rock bottom of the Premier League after a ninth defeat in 12 games at Stoke on Saturday. He has support among his players but their performances are at odds with that and Clement had no choice but to declare his ‘toothless’ side deserve to prop up the rest. Key figures at Swansea are understood to be still willing to give the boss a chance to resurrect their season in a titanic home clash with West Brom this Saturday. Clement is self-critical and so too was Lukasz Fabianski. ‘We have to be honest with each other and honest with ourselves,’ the goalkeeper said after surrendering their early lead. ‘There is an issue with our confidence. Things go well for us until something happens and when we got punished with the mistake for the equaliser, suddenly we dropped our levels.’ The win served as a shot in the arm for Stoke manager Mark Hughes, also under pressure, but he has to contend with an unhappy Lee Grant. Grant was dropped for first-choice goalkeeper Jack Butland, despite the England international not being fully fit after breaking a finger. Butland wore customised gloves which prevent the damaged finger from moving. ‘I can play through so I wanted to get back out there,’ he said.