Alan Curtis confident of Swansea City escape

Swansea City caretaker manager Alan Curtis is "really confident" that the Welsh side can battle their way out of the Premier League's relegation zone.

Curtis has been in charge for two weeks since Garry Monk's sacking and saw his side drop into the bottom three at the weekend.

Although Curtis has not won either of his matches, performances have somewhat improved, with a narrow late defeat at title hopefuls Manchester City followed by a goalless home draw against another top-eight side in West Ham United.

Ahead of the Boxing Day match at home to West Bromwich Albion, Curtis expressed his confidence in the team to get out of trouble.

"We probably feel aggrieved a little bit that we are in this position," Curtis told reporters. "We feel as if we should be a top-half side.

"When you look at the quality of the players we've got, lots of them are internationals.

"It's just been a realisation in the last couple of weeks just how good the players are, and that's why they are international footballers. That's why I feel really confident that we will get out of trouble."

Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins has reportedly held talks with Marcelo Bielsa over the managerial vacancy, although Roberto Di Matteo is the new bookies' favourite to succeed Monk.