Alan Sheehan | We have to be ready for a dogfight

Alan Sheehan says Swansea City need to be primed for a dogfight when they host Derby County at the Swansea.com Stadium this afternoon (3pm).

The Swans are back on home turf following an excellent performance at Leeds United, where they picked up a valuable point against a team firmly in the race for automatic promotion. 

They now face a Derby team who have clambered out of the relegation places courtesy of a run of four wins in a row under John Eustace.

Caretaker head coach Sheehan knows the visitors will travel full of confidence but - with his side having their fate in their own hands and this being the first of back-to-back home games - he wants the Swans to show the spirit, tenacity and work-rate that typified their showing last time out in Yorkshire.

"Every game is big at this stage of the season, but we have to focus on ourselves," said the Irishman.

"It's a game that might have been looked at differently a few weeks ago, they have momentum, they have four wins in a row and it’s going to be a dogfight. 

"They have found a formula to win games, it’s going to be a difficult challenge, and one we need to ready for.

"We have shown different sides to ourselves in games, you have to respect the opposition whilst focusing on yourself. 

"If we can be at our best, we have shown we can be a test for even the best teams in the division.

"Momentum is a powerful thing in sport, and to win four in a row is a not a feat to be underestimated, but we have to keep building what we want to do."