Should Swansea City survive in the Premier League there will be many lessons to learn from what their talisman Gylfi Sigurdsson describes as a strange season. The recent years of impressive progress at the Liberty Stadium looked as if they might come to a juddering halt when an autumnal run of one win in 13 league games sent them into relegation danger.I dont think anyone saw that coming but it happens in football and its down to the players to get us out of the position were in now because, at the end of the day, we cant get relegated, says Sigurdsson. We want to stay in the Premier League and its a massive thing for the club to stay up next year with the television money coming in. And for us as players, we dont want to have a relegation on our CV. Sigurdsson believes Swansea have more than enough to retain their Premier League status The 26-year-old has been a key performer since the turn of the year, his seven goals in the last 11 matches going a long way to alleviating relegation fears. So, has Sigurdssons form turned things around for Swansea? Or has the teams improved performances brought the best out of the player?I think its both, he says. Personally 2016 has been a very good year. Ive been scoring a lot of goals but I think it comes down to the team playing better football as well. Were picking up more points. Were playing a little bit better than we were. In October and November we were playing really badly but now were doing better and creating a lot of chances. Its just down to the players up front to put them away now. We hear it said in the modern game that certain teams have an identity. It was used as a stick to beat Sam Allardyce during his time at West Ham, when supporters were less than happy with performances; that wasnt the West Ham way, they said. Former Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers often used phrases like Our DNA during his time at Liverpool, as if to claim some unique characteristic that set his club apart. These are blurred areas, often mistaken for simpler distinctions between winning and losing. Gylfi Sigurdsson has been in good goalscoring form for Swansea since the turn of the year But there is no doubt Swansea gained a reputation for a particular style of football since Roberto Martinezs arrival in 2007, which saw them through to the Premier League under Rodgers. The side has continued to evolve, but Sigurdsson believes that was part of the problem earlier this season.I think somewhere along the line we went away from what were all about. Because if you look at the last six or seven years and what Swansea are known for, I think we didnt perform like we used to. We didnt pass the ball like we used to and defend like we once did. We used to win the ball high up the pitch then keep the ball. Sigurdsson found the net from the penalty spot against fellow relegation rivals Sunderland When Garry Monk departed in December, it was club hero and long-serving coach Alan Curtis who took temporary charge. His first match brought an unlucky defeat away to Manchester City, but from that game on the team started to return to the style Sigurdsson talks about. After a long spell on the sidelines, Leon Britton had been restored to the starting XI in the final games of Monks reign, and his tenacity and passing in the midfield holding role helped the team build from a solid base once more.Curtis was ready to take a backseat again when Francesco Guidolin arrived from Italy to take charge of the team in January. But an illness to the 60-year-old Italian thrust Curtis into the limelight once more. Alan Curtis has been in the dugout in the absence of Francesco Guidolin Hes been fantastic, really good, Sigurdsson says of Curtis. All of the boys look up to him and he knows the club inside out. He knows what it means to the club and the city to stay in the Premier League. But of course hes also very experienced and very calm and hes done very well in the absence of the manager and the time before that when he and Dave Adams were taking charge of the team. When Garry left, Curt stepped in and steadied the ship. He took charge for a few games and our performances improved. I think hes very important for us.So what do Swansea need to do between now and the end of the season to ensure their survival for another season?Its a case of just going back to what were good at and playing the football that we used to play; exciting attacking football and keeping the ball with a lot of pressure in the team. If we can do that well be more than fine.Watch the full interview with Johnny Phillips and Gylfi Sigurdsson on Soccer Saturday from 12noon on Sky Sports News HQ, and watch Swansea v Aston Villa on Saturday Night Football from 5pm on Sky Sports 1 HD Also See: Guidolin back for Villa visit Mersons predictions Premier League questions Live on Sky Balenciaga Shoes Sale . -- Oakland Athletics starting pitchers Jarrod Parker and A. Fake Balenciaga From China . Rodriguez, who has steadfastly denied using banned substances while with the New York Yankees, made the decision nearly four weeks after arbitrator Fredric Horowitz largely upheld the discipline issued last summer by baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. "I think its a good move for him," former Commissioner Fay Vincent said. https://www.fakebalenciaga.com/.com) - SirDominic Pointer posted career highs of 24 points and seven steals to lead No. Fake Balenciaga Cheap . He was attracted by the punishing defence, the strong running game and a coaching staff he trusted. The 49ers announced Thursday that Manningham had signed a two-year deal to join the team he helped knock out in the NFC championship game two months ago in their latest offensive upgrade at wide receiver. Fake Balenciaga Shoes . Villar connected off Joe Saunders (11-14), sending a drive well over the left-field fence for his first career homer. The Astros scored six times in the first three innings to chase Saunders.CHICAGO -- Chris Sale is a dominant power pitcher with the potential for a double-digit strikeout performance every time he takes the mound. But the Chicago White Sox ace said his focus against the San Diego Padres on Sunday was being economical. "The philosophy is on or out in three, so I was just trying to fill the zone with quality strikes and go from there," he said. Sale pitched a two-hitter, Paul Konerko homered and the White Sox posted 4-1 victory to avoid being swept. Sale (5-0) struck out nine, walked none and threw 100 pitches in the complete game performance that lasted just 2:08. He froze Everth Cabrera for a called strike three to end the game, and retired the final 14 batters. Sale has allowed just two earned runs in his last 25 innings spanning four starts, and has a 1.59 ERA overall. The lefty was on the disabled list in late April because of a strained muscle in his pitching arm. Because of that, Sale was on a pitch count -- the White Sox wouldnt say how many -- but he never was in danger of being removed because he was so efficient. "I think the rain-shortened start and then pitching on his regular turn, he was fresh," San Diego manager Bud Black said, referring to Sales last start on Tuesday when he went just three innings. "We havent seen him during the regular season, but you can see why this guys one of the best pitchers in the American League: deceptive delivery, good velocity, really good change, good breaking ball," he said. "He had it working today." Konerko also doubled and drove in three runs as the White Sox won for the eighth time in 13 games. The veteran slugger has been playing every day with rookie Jose Abreu on the disabled list, but that is scheduled to end Monday when Abreu is activated. "Im just trying to chip in," Konerko said. "Im here to have good days against left-handed pitching like that, and you try to do your best on the other days when you have to play like its been. Its been a bit of a whirlwind the past couple weeks getting back in there and playing, but its good to have it today with the way (Sale) pitched." EEric Stults (2-6) gave up four runs and five hits in six innings.dddddddddddd Sale sailed through the first four innings, retiring 12 straight batters to start the game. Konerko gave Chicago a 1-0 lead in the second when he hit a drive to the back of the left-field bullpen for his third homer of the season. Chase Headley led off the Padres fifth with his fifth homer. Tommy Medica followed with a single, but Sale quickly regrouped. He got Jedd Gyorko to ground into a double play and struck out Yonder Alonso to end the inning. "I dont think he missed any of that one," Sale said of Headleys homer. "It was a fastball left right there for him and you cant do that to him. Hes a big, strong guy and made me pay for it, obviously." It was a rare mistake. Through eight innings he had thrown just 84 pitches, making the decision to bring him out for the ninth that much easier for manager Robin Ventura. The White Sox regained the lead in the fifth on a solo homer by Tyler Flowers. They added two more in the sixth when Konerko doubled down the left-field line with two out, driving in Dayan Viciedo and Alexei Ramirez. That was plenty of offence for Sale. "He was fantastic today," Ventura said. "This was as efficient as he has been ever from watching him. He was pounding the strike zone and down in the zone, too." NOTES: Abreu (tendinitis left ankle) played in a simulated game for the second straight day and said he feels fine. He is set to play Mondays game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. "Sitting out has been difficult," Abreu said through a translator. "But you have to recognize there are things we dont control." No official move will be made until Monday, but Chicago is sending INF Marcus Semien to Triple-A Charlotte. ... Padres CF Cameron Maybin missed the game and is listed as day-to-day after leaving Saturdays game with a sore right calf. ... Director of scouting Doug Laumann said that the White Sox, who pick third in Thursdays amateur draft, "more than likely" would select a pitcher in the first round. ' ' '