Laudrup Aims To Improve Set Piece Defending

Swansea City manager Michael Laudrup says he's looking to improve his side's set piece defending after they conceded from a corner against Manchester United in today's 1-1 home draw.

In the previous 5 games, including today's game against United, the Swans have conceded from a set piece in four of them, and there's an obvious need for improvement in this area. West Brom, Spurs, Norwich City are the other clubs to recently score goals against the Swans from set pieces.

Laudrup was pleased with the performance and result but insists his side need to improve their set piece defending:

"I am pleased. It was a good performance,"

"They started the first half quicker than us and got the goal, but we came back and scored and it was an even second half.

"In the second half it was very open and end-to-end.

"The game could have gone either way, but in the end we got a great point - a great point not just for the club, but for the players.

"In this game last season maybe there was too much respect for their players. This year it was completely different."

"We are trying to work on set-pieces.

"It is part of the price we have to pay with the way we want to play. Players like Nathan (Dyer), Leon (Britton), Jonathan (de Guzman) and Wayne (Routledge) have the height we need to play the way we do.

"But in set-pieces we will have problems some times, but it is an area we want to improve."

Laudrup now quickly moves on to the next game, away at bottom side Reading on Boxing Day:

"I`m happy for everyone - the players, the staff and the fans,"

"We can enjoy it for 24 hours because then we are concentrating on Reading.

"It is very important for us as it is the end of the first half of the season.

"If we can win that we will move onto 27 points, which would be excellent, or maybe 25 points with a draw."

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