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Swansea City manager Michael Laudrup wants his side to make home advantage count. Nick Potts/PA Wire/Press Association Images
Fortress

Laudrup wants Swansea fortress

Dane believes home form will be key to Premier League success.

SWANSEA MANAGER MICHAEL LAUDRUP has pinpointed his side’s home form as holding the key to a successful first season in south Wales.

Swansea have picked up four points from their opening two games at Liberty Stadium, but will have to be at their best to overcome an in-form Everton when the two sides meet in Saturday’s early kickoff.

Laudrup is full of praise for David Moyes’ team, who currently sit level on points with Swansea in the table, but insists he will be going for the win.

“We are happy with the points we have but it is only a start at the moment,” Laudrup told Walesonline.co.uk.

“You cannot take away what we have already got but we have to continue, we cannot sit back and that ‘that’s great’. Every game is difficult and it is the same Saturday against a very good side.

“It is a big challenge for us against a club who have a lot of continuity on the pitch and in the offices. David Moyes has been there ten years so everyone knows exactly what is wanted of them.

“They are strong with a lot of individual quality, especially on the left side where they are very good with Baines and Pienaar.

“And everybody knows about Fellaini who is a difficult player to mark in particular in the last third. They are a strong side but we have a lot of confidence and we know what we are capable of.

“It is difficult for us but we are at home and we know we have to get a lot of points at home – it is vital for us like most teams in the Premier League. Even though the opponent is a very good side with the same points, we have to go for it and for a win.”

The hosts’ job has been made all the more difficult by the absences of injured trio Neil Taylor, Kyle Bartley and Kemy Agustien, while centre-back Ashley Williams is struggling for full fitness and his centre-back partner Chico Flores is set to miss the first of his three games through suspension.

“We’ve had a few setbacks with injuries and some of our regular starters have not been able to train but we hope they will be fit,” Laudrup said.

Injuries are not the only concern for Williams, who made a couple of costly mistakes in the Swans’ last two league games, as well as enduring a 6-1 thrashing by Serbia while on international duty with Wales.

However, Laudrup is standing firmly behind his captain, and insists his mistakes must be put into context.

“I have spoken to him like I always speak to my players,” he added.

“He has had a difficult week and has not been able to do much because of his ankle.

“But he will hopefully be fit. It is important for us that our captain is there.

“He made mistakes but players are allowed to make mistakes and are permitted to have bad games because the important thing is that they give their all and they play in the way we want them to.

“Mistakes can happen but there is context to them.

“It’s easy to say afterwards what you should or shouldn’t have done but the way we play means that we do not always put it out of the stadium like many players would do.”

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