Swans’ new boss bounce hasn’t gone flat, insists Clement ahead of big clash
THE new manager bounce has become the dose of wizadry most struggling Premier League clubs look to in an effort to preserve their topflight status, but Paul Clement and Steve Agnew know there is no magic wand they can wave to ensure three priceless points when Swansea City and Middlesbrough meet tomorrow.
The Swans boss stopped short of calling the Liberty Stadium fixture a mustwin assignment for his side, understandably so given nothing will be definitively decided when the final whistle blows.
Whatever the outcome, the Swans and Boro will need results from elsewhere to stay up; this is no one-stop shop for Premier League survival.
Yet there is no denying its importance. For the first time since Clement was appointed in January, Swansea head into a game having suffered setbacks and feeling like they have regressed.
Defeats at Hull and Bournemouth don’t get given anything you don’t work for.
“The first couple of days after the Bournemouth game were long days, they always are when you haven’t done well, so it’s been good to have the players back and we could feel the shift of emphasis this week going into the game.
“The squad sense the importance of this game, but I wouldn’t say it’s mustwin because what if you don’t win? Is the season over? No, of course it’s not.
“You’ve still got eight games and they are games that you can win at home or away. I think the fact we won at Liverpool away, it’s something we can always look back on and say ‘we can go anywhere and get a good result.’ But it’s a very important game, there’s no question about it.”
Boro have had just one game since Agnew took over the reins following the departure of Aitor Karanka, with Joe Jordan, Jonathan Woodgate and Paul Jenkins joining the coaching team at the Riverside.
While Agnew may be a new man at the helm, he was at Karanka’s side ever since returning to the club in December 2014 and it remains to be seen whether he largely follows the same template as his former boss, or look to make significant changes to how the goal-shy Teesiders play.
Regardless, Swansea will want to make it four wins from four home games tomorrow, something they last achieved during the closing stages of last term where Norwich, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool were seen off.
And his side’s ability to deliver when the heat has been on them at the Liberty gives Clement plenty of confidence.
“The message to the players is to relish playing at home and to be bold, as they have been,” he said.
“You go back to the games against Leicester and Burnley, we crated a lot of chances and put good crosses into the box. We were dangerous on those days and we want that kind of mentality again.
“It’s difficult to know exactly what