Swansea City manager Bob Bradley has declared he’s up for the fight ahead of Saturday’s game against Sunderland, but he warned his troops that Jermain Defoe could deliver a knockout blow.
Just two points separate the sides heading into Saturday’s highly-anticipated match-up, with David Moyes’ side holding a slender two-point advantage ahead of kick-off.
The Swans suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur last time out and they conceded four times the week before, albeit emerging victorious thanks to a stunning finale at the Liberty Stadium.
And speaking ahead of Saturday’s game, Bradley admitted defensive improvements are of paramount importance.
“It has to improve. We have to defend better in all areas. We are not going to survive if we continue to concede the number of goals we have. You don’t have to be a genius to see that.
“There have been moments along the way where I have felt we have made a step in the right direction, but there has to be more consistency.”
He continued: “I continue to work in every possible way to help us improve, and I will put my arms around these guys and say ‘come on, you can do it’.
“I am going to keep fighting. That’s how I work. At the end of the day all that matters in this job is that you get results.
“Results are hard to come by when you take over a team who have been struggling, and results when you do that in the Premier League are even harder to come by.
“But that’s what I signed up for when I took the job. I knew when I came in this was going to be a big test and it still is, but that’s no problem.”
The American also took time out to pinpoint the threat posed by leading scorer Defoe, urging his side to deny the striker any sight at goal.
“Everyone knows Jermain has made a career out of savviness in the way he moves and lethal finishing.
“He still finds those little cracks and those little chinks. If you allow him to do that, he scores goals.
He added: “He is a striker who lives off the tiniest bit of space, so we have to be aware of where he is and close him down.”