Clement: Let's be positive at West Ham

Paul Clement is planning to take a positive approach at the London Stadium this weekend as Swansea City target victory over West Ham United.

Clement’s Swans were deeply frustrated with their performance after defeat by Watford last Saturday left them without a point from their three home games in 2017-18.

They will look to put the Hornets reverse behind them by continuing what has been an impressive start to the season away from home.

The key to the Swans’ success on their travels so far has been defensive resilience, with no goals conceded in three league games to date.

But Clement wants his team to offer more at the other end of the pitch as they take on a West Ham side who have also had their difficulties in the early stages of the new campaign.

“We have worked on some things this week and I want to play a positive line-up on Saturday, a line-up that can get us the right result,” said the Swans manager.

“We want to try to get a victory, as West Ham will want to do in what is a big game for both teams.

“The clean sheets we’ve had away from so far this season have been a help, but we are defending better than we are attacking.

“We are working on that and I fully believe we’re going to keep improving in that area.

“Good defending gives you a platform, but we have done a number of sessions this week on getting some of our patterns right offensively.

“I have seen some positive signs in training, as I did in the second half against Watford, and I am sure the positive attacking performances are not far away.”

The Swans started last week with Wilfried Bony and Jordan Ayew up front but, after a disappointing first half, Clement made changes at the break.

Roque Mesa came on as the Swans switched from 5-3-2 to 4-4-2, with Tammy Abraham also arriving from the bench to join Bony in attack. Ayew, meantime, dropped back to operate behind the front two.

“Our best football in that game came with Abraham and Bony up front and Jordan in behind,” Clement added.

“That’s an option I am thinking about for this weekend.

“Hopefully, as we are away from home and West Ham will want to win the game, we will find a bit more space to do the things we want to do.

“We need to be better going forward and we are working at that, but it’s still early days in the season.

“I think the fact that were so many ins and outs in the summer has had an impact on us (in attacking terms), but the more we train together and play together, the better we will get.”

* Please note, Network Rail will be carrying out improvement work on the railway from Swansea to London – trains will still be running but will be diverted on route.

Fans should plan their journey at GWR.com before travelling.