'Edge in the air' as Swansea's Sheehan eyes rousing finish

Alan Sheehan is in caretaker charge at Swansea City until the end of the season, with the club still weighing up their long-term managerial options

Alan Sheehan says there is a welcome "edge" on the training ground as Swansea City bid to finish a difficult season with a flourish.

Swansea host Plymouth Argyle on Wednesday (19:45 BST) knowing victory would take them beyond the Championship's traditional 50-point safety mark.

The Swans are seven points clear of the bottom three in 15th having taken 11 points from seven league games since Sheehan took the reins following the departure of Luke Williams in February.

The Irishman says the challenge now is to continue what has been a positive run throughout the six matches which remain in 2024-25.

"I think there's a really good atmosphere around the place. We are really happy with the level of training - it's challenging and there's a bit of an edge in the air," he said.

"We want to get better, we want to be adaptable and we want to gain confidence from winning in different ways. The lads are so behind it right now.

"I think we have got to be delighted with the win against Derby backing up a wonderful display against Leeds. We have to continue that momentum."

Sheehan says he does not know "the algorithms or what the data says" about how many more points are needed to secure Swansea's second-tier status for next season.

The fact is they are close to getting over the line – and may have done so already – after last Saturday's victory over Derby.

The Rams success was not pretty, but eased the pressure on Sheehan's players as they prepare to face another side in the relegation mix, bottom-of-the-table Argyle.

After Plymouth, Swansea face a testing trip to promotion-chasing Sunderland before Easter fixtures at home to Hull City and at Queens Park Rangers.

They go back to London to face Millwall five days later before rounding off the season with a home game against Oxford United.

Sheehan's current points-per-game ratio is exactly the same as he managed during a seven-match spell at the helm last season.

"When I came into this position, if you'd said you'd have the same record as previously, seven games and 11 points, with the run of games coming up, I'd have said 'I'll take that'," he added.

"Now we are here I am very happy and very proud of the players for what they have done so far and know that the challenge is to keep going like this."