Laudrup: Next fixtures are crucial
19th January
Michael Laudrup believes the next six games are crucial in shaping the remainder of Swansea's season after his side were beaten 3-1 by Tottenham at the Liberty.
Despite Wilfried Bony's 78th minute strike, the Swans were defeated by Tottenham, courtesy of a brace from Emmanuel Adebayor and an own goal by Chico.
After a promising start to the game by Laudrup's side, Adebayor put the visitors in front ten minutes before the interval when he nodded home Christian Eriksen's well-placed deliver.
In the 53rd minute, the visitors doubled their advantage when Chico turned Kyle Walker's cross into his own net before Adebayor added his second and Spurs' third of the game when he slotted past Gerhard Tremmel to make it 3-0.
With just over ten minutes left on the clock, Bony pulled one back for the Swans when he smashed a first-time shot past Hugo Lloris after Roland Lamah teed the striker up.
But it was too little too late for the Swans, and Laudrup felt his side needed to score while they were on top.
"We have to admit it is a difficult moment for us," said Laudrup. "In the league we haven't won for quite some time.
"But the players showed a great attitude and performance, dominating for half an hour against a good side.
"We had a couple of good chances, some really good shots from Bony, but the first chance they have they score.
"I knew if we didn't score when we were doing well, this could happen. It's about getting that goal in the right moment.
The defeat leaves the Swans in 15th position in the Barclays Premier League - three points above the relegation zone and three points adrift of the top half.
With the bottom half of the table so finely poised, Laudrup realises the importance of his side's upcoming fixtures.
"We don't need much to turn things round," explained the Swans boss "If we were playing poor all the time or if players are worried about having the ball, it would be a much more difficult job.
"The only ones who can change this is ourselves and by winning games. We won at Old Trafford, but it wasn't in this competition.
"There are a lot of other teams in our situation, at least with the points.
"From tomorrow, there will be six points separating 10th position to 20th, and in the next six games, we play five direct opponents.
"The next six games will decide whether we suffer until the end of the season. The next four, especially, are key games.
"If we win the next couple of games, it can all change and it will give the whole team confidence.
"When you are struggling in terms of results, even when you do well you draw or lose. The only medicine is to win a game in the league."
Meanwhile, Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood was pleased with his side's victory against a difficult opponent.
"I'm delighted with the win because it's a tough place to come," said Sherwood. "They play a different way and are very brave on the ball.
"After the first 15 minutes we got to grips with it. We didn't have a shot on target until we scored, but I always felt we were the most dangerous side.
"We just needed to find that final pass, that bit of quality in the final third, and we would open them up. For an hour, I thought we did that."
