Brendan – One Goal Will Lift Us

Brendan Rodgers is sure that it will just take one goal to lift the Swans as they search for their first Premier League win

Brendan will take his side into their third league game of the season against Sunderland knowing that a goal and a win will see them head into the first international break of the season with the confidence that they need.

A 4-0 defeat at Manchester City and a 0-0 draw with Wigan may not be the worst start in Premier League history but a morale saping defeat at Shrewsbury means that Rodgers would dearly love to see something to give the club a lift going into the two week break.  With a trip to the Emirates Stadium first back in two weeks time, Rodgers is well aware of what would help this week.

“For me it is just a matter of time,” said Rodgers. “The same questions were asked about our goal threat this time last year.

“We know goals are harder to come from at this level and time will tell.

“And we now face an established Premier club in Sunderland, who have an outstanding manager in Steve Bruce.

“But I have confidence we can create and score the goals we need – and once they get that first one they will start to roll from there.

“We can take confidence from the way we played in the first two games – but that confidence doesn’t become complete until that first win.

“We know we have to be more clinical because the longer a game goes on at 0-0, the greater the motivation is there for your opponents.

“But we have to be patient and believe that we will do what we have always done and get there in the end because one goal could be the defining moment to really kick off our season.

“This is a team game and it is what the team brings,” Rodgers said. “Everyone will shine a torch on guys like Danny Graham, Leroy Lita, Scott Sinclair and so on, but it’s about the improvements we make as a team if we want to score more goals as well as keep clean sheets. The responsibility is on everyone.

“And there is no secret formula; we will continue to work very, very hard on the training field and looking at the tactical element of every game.

“But we do know the opponent has now become better and more consistent and the organisation of teams are better so we have to be more clinical when the chances do come.

“Last year we might have got nine or 10; this year it may be one or two so you have to be ready to take them. But I have every belief in the players here that the goals will come.

“We are in the early stages of our game at this level and we are in a positive place.”