Nigel Gibbs: Swansea City must improve at home
28th January
Swansea City face Southampton at the Liberty on Tuesday knowing home form must improve if they are to pull clear of the relegation scrap.
That is the verdict of new assistant coach Nigel Gibbs, who is urging Paul Clement's players to build on their rousing win at Liverpool when the Saints come to SA1.
The Swans head into the Southampton clash in buoyant mood after landing their best result of the season last weekend, a 3-2 triumph at Anfield which few saw coming.
The Liverpool victory means the Swans have now won more Premier League games on the road (three) than they have at home (two) so far in 2016-17.
And Gibbs reckons their next challenge is to improve in their own backyard.
"We need to do better at home," Gibbs declared.
"Our home record is not good enough and we need to work hard at that.
"Southampton are a good side and it will be another tough game for us. But we will make sure we are well prepared again and hopefully that will bring another positive performance and result."
Gibbs is a vastly experienced coach who began life in the dugout 15 years ago at Watford, the club he served with distinction throughout a 20-year playing career.
As well as the Hornets, the 51-year-old has worked for Reading, Leeds United, Millwall and Tottenham Hotspur, the club he left earlier this month to join Clement in Wales.
While the new management team are still getting to know the Swans squad, they have been delighted with what they have seen on the training ground thus far.
"The players have responded really well to us," Gibbs added.
"We are working hard, getting to know them while they get to know us. We are putting our ideas across and it has been full-on - really, really hectic.
"The Liverpool result was great for us and so too was the performance. It has given everyone confidence as we move to the next game.
"The head coach keeps talking about getting performances right and that's what we are focusing on.
"Now we are looking at the next game, which is Southampton, and we will keep on doing that right through until the end of the season."
The Swans' only home wins in the league in this campaign came in successive Liberty fixtures.
They beat Crystal Palace 5-4 at the end of November before backing that result up with a 3-0 triumph over Sunderland.
As the Swans target home victory No. 3 of the season, they will look to carry on where they left off at Liverpool.
"So many aspects of that game were pleasing," he said.
"The players carried out the instructions we gave them, but not only that they used their initiative, their football intelligence and their quality.
"To score three goals away from home was excellent. We were disappointed with the goals we conceded, but we will keep working on that."
