Jordan Ayew believes that Swansea’s recent results have given them confidence that they will be able to beat the drop this season.

Paul Clement’s side are still two points adrift of fourth-from-bottom Hull but a win against Stoke and Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United have given the Swans hope with three games to go.

Swansea host Everton at the weekend before travelling to already-relegated Sunderland and then entertain West Brom on the final day, and Ayew says confidence is high.

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Gylfi Sigurdsson’s second-half free-kick cancelled out Wayne Rooney’s penalty, and the Ghanaian believes that Swansea were unlucky not to take all three points from Old Trafford.

“I felt we deserved to win. We played better than them, but that is an encouraging sign,” said Ayew, who was brought down for the free-kick that lead to Sigurdsson’s stunning equaliser.

“For our confidence, that performance will really help. We have to take that into the next three games. We have to stay positive.

“They are three massive games for us, but we are fighting as much as we can.”

If Swansea are to beat the drop then they will hope that Hull drop points somewhere from their final three games. Marco Silva’s side host Sunderland this weekend and then play Crystal Palace and Tottenham.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes goalkeeper Petr Cech showed he can still do it at the top level after a scintillating display in the North London derby.

The 34-year-old was in inspired form at White Hart Lane, but it wasn’t enough to stop Tottenham Hotspur prevailing 2-0 thanks to goals from Dele Alli and Harry Kane.

That means Spurs will finish above the Gunners in the Premier League table for the first time in 22 years whilst also putting a massive dent in the Gunners’ hopes for a top-four finish.

But while the majority of the players had a bad day at the office, Cech was one of those who could at least leave with some credit, according to Wenger anyway.

(Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

“He had an outstanding performance,” Wenger said. “He was one of the players who turned up today and it shows that he still has it at the top level.

“It’s a big blow [to concede two goals so quickly] but I think on the first goal we were a bit naive and that was disappointing.

“I felt it was a tight game until they scored the first goal. After, we conceded the second one straightaway and then mentally we were under shock a little bit. From then on, it became difficult for us.

“Overall I think if you look at the chances created, Spurs deserved to win the game. We didn’t create enough, we didn’t take our chances. There was plenty of room in the first half to do more than what we did with the balls we had. That is the regret of the game.”

Jamie Vardy insists there’s more work for him to do on the Leicester training ground, despite finding himself on a real hot streak under new manager Craig Shakespeare.

The England striker scored his 15th goal of the season at the weekend, seven of which have come in the nine league games since Claudio Ranieri’s sacking.

The 30-year-old’s winner against West Brom at the weekend moved the Foxes up to 40 points in the league and means Vardy has scored in each of his last three visits to the Hawthorns.

And while the Foxes aren’t quite mathematically safe, the frontman’s contribution proved crucial, and he was quick to pay tribute to his team-mates for keeping out a stubborn Baggies side.

(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

“It’s not a bad ground for me at the minute but I have to do that week in, week out, so I’ll go back out to the training field and look forward to next week,” he said.

“It’s a great win and a great three points but nothing is mathematical yet, so we go into the next game to try and get another win.

“We’ve defended brilliantly as a team [on Saturday], kept our shape well at the back, and it’s a great three points for us.”

Everton defender Seamus Coleman has rubbished any claims that he might not be able to hit the height of his powers again when he returns from injury.

The 28-year-old suffered a horror leg break while on international duty with the Republic of Ireland in March, needing surgery on a broken tibia and fibula after a tackle by Wales’ Neil Taylor.

Coleman may not play again this year with a lengthy layoff expected, but is believes any suggestion that he might struggle to regain the same form he was showing for the Toffees this term is nonsense.

“I knew instantly that I’d broken a bone in my leg, and the initial thought was to hold it, in case someone tried to lift me up to take a quick free-kick,” he said.

“It was a case of trying to stay calm and looking after it until the doctors came on. I told them it was broken, and they knew. Once they had it under control, it was only then that the pain kicked in.

“I’ve watched it back, psychologically there’s some players that don’t want to, but I think it’s best to get it out the way. It’s fine, I’ve got over all that. Obviously, it’s not nice, but it happens.

“I’m now looking forward to the challenge, it’s not been smooth for me to get to where I am, so this is another little challenge.

“I’ll have good days and bad, but I’ve still got the best job in the world, so I have to stay positive.

“[Staying patient] will be the hard bit. I’ve read different articles, and I’ve got no fear of coming back a different player, none of that nonsense.

“I won’t be afraid of my first tackle. But the time will be the one. We just have to break it into months.”

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte believes he has a ready-made replacement for David Luiz if required, with up-and-coming defender Nathan Ake ready to step into the void.

Versatile Dutchman Ake, 22, came on for the final ten minutes in Chelsea’s 3-0 win at Everton with Luiz limping off with a leg injury.

Ake impressed so much on loan at Bournemouth earlier this term that Conte was prompted to recall him early from the Vitality Stadium.

And the Italian manager is adamant he will be an able deputy should Luiz fail to recover in time for next Monday’s clash with Middlesbrough at Stamford Bridge.

“I don’t think it is a serious injury for him,” he said.

“I hope in the next game that David Luiz is available to play. Also now in this part of the season it is important sometimes to try to play if you are not 100 per cent with your condition.

“He is showing us great commitment in this season. Don’t forget his injury in the knee after the game against City – but I am very pleased for the impact of Ake in (the Everton) game.

“He came on and I think he looks a veteran and it is great.

“He is only a young player that started to play for two years, Watford and Bournemouth, and now is showing great commitment, work-rate and concentration when I ask him to play. It is great for him.

“It is not easy to be used to play every game for Bournemouth and to arrive for Chelsea and stay on the bench and sometimes understand.

“But I think he understood I trust him because I put him in the (FA Cup) semi-final against Tottenham. I put him now in a very important moment for us.”

Saido Berahino remains confident the goals will come at Stoke City after a barren start to life in the Potteries.

The striker was a big-money signing in January, arriving from West Brom for £12million, but he has struggled to settle in an under-performing team and has now gone 12 games without a goal for his new side.

Manager Mark Hughes is expected to splash the cash this summer and re-energise his squad with youth and pace, as he tries to re-invigorate his time in charge.

And that should benefit Berahino, who is not yet concerned about his poor start at the club after missing a couple of good chances against West Ham on Saturday.

“I’m enjoying myself. It’s been a while since I’ve played back-to-back games and I’m improving every time,” he added.

“Mark Hughes has always told me to get yourself into the position where you can score, give yourself a chance.

“I did that in the first half at the weekend [against West Ham], it was a great block and in the second half it was a good save. I’ve just got to keep going and be patient.

“Every striker goes through this phase so I’ve just got to keep strong and put myself into good positions.”

Ashley Young believes that Manchester United can still finish higher than fourth in the Premier League – despite their faltering home form and crippling injury crisis.

United failed to see off relegation-threatened Swansea City on Saturday and have recorded a whopping 14 draws in the league this season, 10 of which – including last weekend’s 1-1 stalemate with the Swans – coming at Old Trafford.

Defenders Luke Shaw and Eric Bailly were also forced off to further add to Jose Mourinho’s plethora of injury headaches.

However, with United currently fifth in the table and a point behind Manchester City, wideman Young hasn’t given up hope of his team finishing with a flourish and snatching Champions League qualification.

“After ten draws at home, you think about the points that we’ve lost and thrown away and where we could have been in the league,” said the 31-year-old.

(Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)

“When you go one goal ahead, you always want to get the second. We did try [against Swansea] but it just wouldn’t come.

“I think, on another day, it could have been two or three. It wasn’t to come and we just have to prepare now for the other games.
“A lot of people have been talking about fourth spot in the league but I thought we could go even higher than that.

“We’ve got a game in hand and a lot of tough games but as long as we’re prepared, I’m sure we can go and get the points that we need.”

West Ham United goalkeeper Adrian is targeting more clean sheets before the season is out, saying it will give his side a real boost in confidence heading into the summer break.

The Hammers drew 0-0 with Stoke City in a lifeless game between two underachievers on Saturday, but both will have been relieved to leave without conceding.

Adrian had lost his spot as West Ham’s starting keeper to Darren Randolph, but he has regained the number one jersey – and back-to-back clean sheets has helped the Hammers moved further away from the relegation zone.

Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Their status as a Premier League club is almost assured and Adrian is now chasing a final flourish to a difficult campaign, in West Ham’s final three games with Tottenham, Liverpool and Burnley.

“The Premier League is never easy, and it’s always difficult, but we showed that we are a solid team and we defended very well,” the keeper said.

“It’s not just about the defenders; it started at the strikers. [On Saturday], we were a little bit unlucky that we couldn’t score that one goal and get the three points.

“It’s also very difficult to keep a clean sheet in the Premier League, and we have now two in two games. We want to win as many games as possible now.”

Mauricio Pochettino was beaming with pride after Spurs guaranteed themselves a finish above Arsenal for the first time in 22 years with victory in the North London derby.

Dele Alli and Harry Kane got the goals for Tottenham on Sunday afternoon as they desperately tried to keep pace with Antonio Conte’s Chelsea side.

The Blues won 3-0 away at Everton and remain four points clear at the top of the table with four games left to play in the Premier League.

But that wasn’t bothering Pochettino who was delighted to secure victory over the Gunners – their ninth successive win in the league.

“Yes, I’m proud, but I’m proud about all the staff, all the players, the fans, the club. That is a collective job,” he said.

(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

“We all work together and we all deserve the prize, because we are Tottenham, and that’s most important.

“Together we have achieved finishing above Arsenal for the first time in 22 years, together we are second in the Premier League and still in the title race and that is most important for me.

“The important thing is every time we play this season, we’re going to enjoy, and we enjoy playing football and enjoy playing together. That is a fantastic feeling.”

Gutsy, determined, and desperate to avoid the drop, Middlesbrough’s spirited performance against Manchester City was far from a surprise for Citizens boss Pep Guardiola.

Boro have won just five times all Premier League season, but almost stunned City with a sixth before Gabriel Jesus grabbed a late equaliser to spare visiting blushes at the Riverside.

That halted Guardiola’s charges in their bid for a top-four place, they’re now just one point ahead of Manchester United with four games left to play having drawn for the fifth time in eight outings.

But the former Barcelona manager – who will go without a trophy in a season for the first time in his career – was quick to praise relegation-threatened Boro, who twice led in the North East.

“We were much better in the second half and created enough chances to win the game, but it’s not easy against a side like Middlesbrough who are fighting down at the bottom,” he said.

“I think the fight for the top four will go down to the last game – everyone who is competing for those places have tough games so it will not be easy but we will give absolutely everything in these last few matches to try and be in there.

“In the first half we had problems to control their counter-attacks, but the second half was much better. We did absolutely everything to get the winner, but it wasn’t enough. It’s a point and we are still there and it now all depends on the final few games at the Etihad.”