Thursday 13 April 2017 15:03, UK
Paul Clement has urged his Swansea City side to play without fear of relegation and focus on delivering a big performance in their vital clash with Watford on Saturday.
The Swans are two points adrift of safety at the bottom of the Premier League and, with only six games left in 2016/17, are only too aware that time is running out in their survival battle.
Clement felt the end-of-season tension hindered his team as they were beaten in disappointing fashion at West Ham last weekend and the Swans head coach has told his players to put pressure to one side as they look to end their worrying five-game winless streak at Vicarage Road.
"If you overthink things, if you read all the media reports and listen to what the fans are saying, it can drive you crazy," Clement said.
"But ultimately, we are preparing for a game of football where we want to do well and we want to do our best.
"It's fine to see what the media are saying - I do it myself. But I have always said to the players that if they are going to do that, they should not get too excited when people are praising them and they should not get down when they are being criticised.
"We can't focus on anyone else or anything else. We can't worry about who other teams are playing or what they are doing.
"We just have to focus on what we can affect, which is our own performances. I don't want the players to have fear about the result or about what could happen at the end of the season.
"For us it's about focusing on the task in hand and that is our game at Watford."
Clement has revealed that midfielder Jack Cork, who has played in every game since he was appointed, will miss the Watford trip as a result of the sprained ankle he suffered at West Ham last weekend.
"Jack isn't going to be fit and that's disappointing because he has been a regular since I came here," he added.
"He could be out for two weeks from the time he suffered the injury, but he has got a chance for Stoke.
"He will be a loss to us, but this is an opportunity for another midfielder to come in, possible someone who is fresh.
"Leon Britton is in contention and Jay Fulton is a possible, while a change in shape is possible as well."
Having come off the bench at West Ham, Fernando Llorente has got a week's training under his belt and could therefore be a contender to start against the Hornets.
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