Swansea City boss Carlos Carvalhal defended his players after defeat to Southampton.

Manolo Gabbiadini's strike means the Swans are now three points adrift of Southampton - and safety - and will go into Sunday's final game of the season occupying the final relegation spot.

Carvalhal said: "We have the feeling we deserve a bit more – minimum one point.

"We played to win, we showed everyone we played to win. Very emotional, not all the time connected. It is not easy to play these games all the time connected.

"Now we are in the position we don't have a lot of time. We don't know what will happen tomorrow and at the weekend we must try and do our part and try and win the game against Stoke.

"It's difficult to explain [the drop off in form] because we make chances – today, against Chelsea, against Everton, but didn't score. I never put the responsibility on our players. They play with everything and the fans gave everything.

"Now we don't have the things in our hands – it is the reality but let's see what happens. We must do our part and win the game and then wait.

"We are professional, it is not easy this situation. We must react very fast because we have a game on Sunday."