PENALTY BOX-SET

Swans boss Clement can’t even enjoy videos as he plots path to safety

SWANSEA boss Paul Clement has tried escaping the pressures of their relegation fight with a box-set binge. But he admits he spends almost every waking minute plotting their survival. Their Premier League status could be guaranteed if they beat relegated Sunderland today, and Clement has been clearing his head before a vital weekend in the race to beat the drop. He said: “Sometimes I go for a run along the Mumbles road. I see the supporters, they give me a wink usually or ignore me when we don’t do so well! “I read sometimes or get into box sets on the ipad to try and lose myself. “It’s hard though, when I’m looking out the window of my office it probably looks like I’m not doing anything. “But they’re the times that I’m thinking about the right messages to say, and when I drive in, when I wake up, even when I’m staring at the TV at night. “Maybe I’m not watching what is on the TV, I’m actually thinking about what is the best thing to say to an individual player or to a group.” The Welsh side can heap the pressure on relegation rivals Hull if they claim victory at the Stadium of Light. Marco Silva’s side will then have to avoid defeat at Crystal Palace tomorrow, or face returning to the Championship a year after securing promotion. David Moyes’ Black Cats side proved they are no pushovers when they tamed the Tigers last weekend. But Clement has no concerns his players are ready to deliver after some inspiring speeches between the squad. He said: “They’ve all taken on certain amounts of responsibility. “Angel Rangel (below, top) is someone who has got great English-speaking skills, so he’s good. Obviously Leon Britton, Jack Cork, Wayne Routledge (below, bottom) and Nathan Dyer are really vocal. “Wayne spoke in the dressing room just before we went out against Stoke. He had his civilian gear on because he’s injured. “He came in just as we were about to go out and he said: ‘I hope you all know how important this is. I hope you know.’ They were the last couple of words, then out they went and did a good job. So there’s one example.” Palace could be dragged back into the relegation scrap if they are beaten by Hull and Swansea heap more misery on Moyes’ men. And Clement will be shutting himself off from the world if the Swans fail to make it three wins from four matches. He added: “If we do a good job on Saturday it’s going to be easier to watch the Hull game. If we don’t I might lie in a dark room somewhere!”