There is no naivety to my positivity

Last updated : 28 February 2015 By Tony Scholes

Swansea manager Garry Monk had spoken ahead of the game about a win taking them to forty points and that's just what they did with a second 1-0 victory over us this season.

He said: "Forty points is the first port of call for any club, especially those outside the big clubs. It was the initial target for us, to try and get there as soon as we could, and we've managed to do that now.

"47 points is the best we've achieved in the Premier League as a total, so that is the next aim for us. We'll use that as extra motivation. If we can achieve that, it shows we are pushing on. It's important to show progression."

Monk became the latest manager to be critical of the Turf Moor playing surface and added: "We knew today's game was never going to be easy. The conditions and the pitch made it difficult for both teams to play good football.

"I've spoke about having to be adaptable as a team. You have to show you can scrap out wins as well as play good football. We showed that today.

There weren't too many chances for either side. When we got the goal, we didn't really look in danger. The first goal was always going to be crucial so thankfully we were the ones who got it."

Sean Dyche admitted afterwards that the edge was missing from our play. "It's a frustrating one because the general play, apart from being just off with that real edge we play with, was good," he said.

"I was certainly pleased with the way we were trying to win the game because that was apparent. It was just the fine margins of the Premier League I felt, but we know we have to turn performances into wins.

"There is no naivety to my positivity; we know we have to win games because points are hard to come by in this league."

He added: "Neither side were on top of their game. There was a bit of flatness to both sides. In the second half we came out really well and I don't think they had been in our box for twenty minutes and they get a corner and it's a soft goal.

"If you don't make the first contact you have to make the second and we didn't make either. Tom makes a great save, Tripps reacts and it unfortunately spins off his knee. Tom makes another great save and unfortunately it just squirms out of his hands.

"It was a soft one and a frustrating one because we were on the front foot and creating half chances, not necessarily golden chances. To get the goal go against was a blow, but we kept going and almost got something."

Dyche didn't thing the penalty shout for handball was a spot kick but did question the one later when Sam Vokes, on as a substitute, was pulled down in the box.

On the first, he said: "I don't think their lad can do a lot about the penalty shout when it hits his hand. The second one on Sam I have certainly seen given.

"We pride ourselves on our honesty, and at times maybe too honest because Sam just jumps and gets pulled down enough to stop him going for the ball, but doesn't make a meal of it.

"I don't want him to because I want us to play with honesty, but I think we are all aware of watching other games how many players would make a big meal of that and then the referee is under pressure.

"You can only ask the referee to make decisions and I thought that certainly had a better than even chance of being a penalty."