‘Home form is key’

Bersant Celina reckons Swansea City must look to turn the Liberty Stadium into a stronghold as they get set for back-to-back home games.

The Swans welcome Blackburn Rovers to SA1 on Tuesday night before hosting Reading on Saturday.

Graham Potter’s men are licking wounds after successive league defeats which have seen them drop to 15th in the Championship.

And Celina believes an improvement in home form is required as the Swans look to climb back up the table.

“The two games this week are very important for us, especially off the back of Saturday’s defeat against Aston Villa,” the attacking midfielder said.

“When you play at home it lifts you. You have the support of the fans and that helps motivate us.

“Playing at the Liberty Stadium always brings a good feeling and I am enjoying the opportunity every time we play at home.

“Home games will be very important for us this season. They are always tough in the Championship, but our goal should be to beat anyone we play at the Liberty.”

The Swans created a number of chances at Villa Park, but their failure to take any of them meant they were beaten by Tammy Abraham’s early goal.

Potter’s side dominated against Ipswich in their last Liberty outing, when some sloppy defending cost them dear as they went down 3-2.

“Sometimes we need a bit of luck to put the chances we create into the back of the net,” Celina added.

“That will come. We are trying to play good football and recreate an identity. That is the most important thing and we are improving.”

Celina, who signed from Manchester City this summer, scored his first Swans goal in the Ipswich defeat.

His fine finish rounded off a sparkling move which began in the Swans’ own six-yard box.

“I did not realise until after the game that we scored with such good build-up play from the back,” Celina said.

“All credit to my team-mates. It was impressive play from the whole team and we want to score more goals like that.”