Clement has given ‘huge lift’

S WA N S E A c a r e t a k e r manager Alan Cur tis revealed new head coach Paul Clement contributed to the 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace by talking to the players both before kick-off and at half-time.

Clement’s appointment was announced yesterday afternoon and while he watched much of t he evening’s game from the stands and will officially manage his first match against Hull on Saturday, he soon joined Curtis in the technical area.

Swansea demonstrated improved belief and defensive resilience to secure only their fourth Premier League victory of the season and climb to 19th when Angel Rangel’s 88th-minute finish restored their l ead after Wilfried Zaha’s volley had brought Palace level. Alfie Mawson’s first-half header deservedly put the visitors ahead, with 17th-placed Palace again poor during their third game under Sam Allardyce.

“Paul came down, he made a real positive contribution,” said Curtis, 62. “He came into the dressing-room to talk to the players prior to the game, and also came down at halftime, then right at the end there, and was involved in the substitutes as well.

“I told the players starting, ‘You’ve the first chance to impress. You’ve got a new manager in, it’s going to give a huge lift to everyone’.”

Curtis was asked to what extent Clement was involved at half-time, and he said: “He came down, he took an active part in it, he took it from the off.

“It probably wasn’t the hardest talk at half-time, we played really well. But he made a real positive contribution.”

Alfie Mawson (left) celebrates his goal with team-mate Neil Taylor.