Clement: We deserved something - but we must be better

Paul Clement felt Swansea City were unlucky not to continue their unbeaten away run after defeat at West Ham – but acknowledged that his team must do better.

The Swans boss saw his side go down to a last-minute goal for the second weekend in a row as Diafra Sakho struck to give the Hammers a 1-0 victory.

Clement felt the final score was tough on his side, who had seemed set to make it four clean sheets in four away league games this season.

But he was quick to point out that the Swans must do better on the front foot.

“It’s a hard feeling knowing we are going away with nothing,” Clement said.

“The least we deserved today was a draw. I can’t say we deserved to win, although in the first half we had good control and passed the ball well but didn’t create enough.

“It’s always difficult to lose a game so late on. We have kept clean sheets at Southampton, Crystal Palace and Tottenham and we were very close to doing that again.

“That’s a good foundation, but we have got to create more chances and score some goals. We are not doing that at the moment.”

The Swans have netted just three league goals so far this season, two in the win at Palace and one in last weekend’s home loss to Watford.

“It’s frustrating because I thought our football was a lot better today,” he added.

“I said that after Watford – let’s get back to our identity, what we are good at. This club have shown that for many years and we showed it in the last five months of last season.

“We passed the ball well. We moved it well through the thirds and then there was a hopeless ball into the box.

“The front players were not ready, or the midfielders were not looking to combine with the front players, or the front players were too static.”

Clement started with Wilfried Bony and Tammy Abraham up front and Jordan Ayew playing behind them.

But the Swans managed just one shot on target, a long-ranger from Bony which was saved by Joe Hart.

And Clement made it clear afterwards that he wants more from his forwards.

“The front players have to do better,” he said.

“Even on a day when they are not getting much service, they have to battle away until they get that opportunity.

“Or they have to create something themselves. Good strikers carve out opportunities for themselves, whether it’s a good run or some individual skill.

“They can also create chances for other strikers with a good pass or a good interchange, but we haven’t got that at the moment.

“I have got complete confidence in the players we have. I feel they can do it, but at the moment work on the training ground and what we are doing on the pitch are not connected.

“We have to get those things connected.”