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. Cheap Shoes Black Friday . 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 Wholesale Shoes Black Friday Free Shipping .com) - The Ottawa Senators will try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive when they face the Chicago Blackhawks who are trying to secure their place in the post-season. Buy Shoes Black Friday . The last team in the NBA that will have any sympathy for the Thunder is the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are showing signs of putting everything together after two years of devastating injuries. https://www.cheapshoesblackfriday.com/ . Cabrera is hitting .218 with three homers and 16 RBI in 80 games this season. The Padres recalled second baseman Brooks Conrad from Triple-A El Paso to replace Cabrera on the roster. CHICAGO -- Anthony Rizzo congratulated Jason Hammel for his first National League win after the Chicago Cubs topped the Pittsburgh Pirates. Only, it wasnt. Not even Hammels first this season. Hammel threw seven strong innings, Rizzo tied a career high with four hits, and Chicago won 7-5 on Wednesday night despite allowing five solo home runs. But Rizzo apparently forgot about Hammels victory last week -- or the 27 the veteran right-hander had with Colorado. "Just make sure that everybody knows that Rizzo was not there with us in Pittsburgh last week," a joking Hammel said. "Its a good one. Its a good one. "I didnt know I didnt win at all in Colorado, either." Signed to a one-year, $6 million contract over the off-season, Hammel (2-0) won his Cubs debut when he beat the Pirates in Pittsburgh. He got off to another good start in this one, retiring the first 12 batters until Pedro Alvarezs first homer of the game tied it to start the fifth. Hammel allowed three runs and three hits -- all solo homers -- while striking out six. Rizzo had his career-best fourth straight multi-hit game, Mike Olt and Junior Lake hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth against Wandy Rodriguez (0-2). Emilio Bonifacio, who entered leading the majors with 17 hits and a .515 batting average, was 2 for 5. Bonifacio had two runs for an offence that has scored 21 runs in its last three games after getting eight in its first five. "We had some well-struck balls," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. "They did there at the end, too, so it was a good night to hit." The Pirates found that out as well on a night where the wind was blowing steadily out. Alvarez and Russell Martin homered twice for the Pirates, each getting their second in the ninth off Pedro Strop, and Travis Snider also went deep. It was Alvarezs second multihomer game of the season and ninth of his career, and it the eighth of Martins career, but Pittsburggh only had one hit besides its five solo home runs. China Shoes Black Friday. "Well, were not giving up," Martin said. "Were still fighting. Thats kind of in our DNA. No matter what the score is, were going to give our best effort. Were aware some days were going to get beat, but were never really going to cave in. Today they were better than us." Once again, the Cubs were better than Rodriguez, whom Hammel and Chicago beat for the second time. Rodriguez went five innings, giving up four runs and nine hits, keeping the Pirates from clinching their third straight series win to start the season, something they havent done since 1992. Rodriguez missed most of 2013 with a left forearm injury and Pirates manager Clint Hurdle called his performance an "optimistic outing." "Youve got to remember how long hes been away from the mound," Hurdle said. "He feels healthy. The first pitch strikes were good. A little more consistency and location, just execution at times." The Cubs offensive execution was better. Other than Rizzos congratulations to Hammel. "I was excited. We had a great atmosphere in here after the game," Rizzo said. "He pitched his tail off. We got him the W, so its nice. Hes off to a great 2-0 start." NOTES: Bonifacios hot start has given Renteria an easy choice to lead off. "Typically, if you can have a leadoff guy that you can slot in, its really big," Renteria said. ... Cubs OF Justin Ruggianos RBI double was his first hit of the season. He entered the game 0-for-11. ... The Cubs scored three times in the sixth, and the third came when Lake was originally called out at first on a double-play grounder, but Renteria challenged the call by umpire Mark Carlson, getting it overturned and allowing Rizzo to score. ... Pirates LHP Jeff Locke (right oblique) went six innings and allowed two runs and five hits while striking out 10 and walking one in a rehab outing at Single-A Bradenton. ' ' '