Clement: “We’re going to fight hard to the very end”

Oli Fisher

Swansea manager Paul Clement believes his side will beat the drop, despite a 2-0 defeat against fellow strugglers Bournemouth on Saturday.

The Swans boss has targeted six points from the next two games as the South Wales club continue their fight for survival.

Benik Afobe sealed the Cherries’ win after Alfie Mawson’s first-half own goal put them ahead.

The result leaves Howe’s men nine points clear of the drop zone, while the Swans are one place and three points above the bottom three.

“Clearly it wasn’t good enough on the day,” he said. “For periods going into their first goal we did okay.

“We have to rebuild and go again because Bournemouth have showed, they were right in it and they’ve just won back-to-back games at home and that’s what we have to do now.

“We go and play two home games, Middlesbrough, a massive one in two weeks’ time, followed by Tottenham, which is obviously a difficult one.

“We have to remember that we’ve come a long way in a short time.

“(There are) nine games to go and I’ve still got a lot of belief that we can do it (stay up). Our objective is to come 17th or higher.

“I have to say congratulations to Bournemouth, they deserved to win.

“We’re going to fight hard to the very end and I’m sure it will go to the very end.”