South Wales Evening Post

Garry Monk has called for a Fortress Liberty this season as Swansea City look to swim with the big fish of the Championship.

The League One champions raced to the title last time out thanks in part to a sensational record on the road - a tally that topped their home form.

And captain Monk has pointed to home form as a critical source of points as Roberto Martinez's side return to the second tier of the English pyramid for the first time in 24 years.

Swansea clearly had the best away record last season - their 48 points being six better than Leeds United's return.

But home form is under the spotlight for the new campaign considering their 42-point tally was the fifth best in League One throughout 2007-08.

Swansea have to wait until next week for their opening home game against Nottingham Forest, with Martinez and Co heading to The Valley to take on Charlton Athletic tomorrow.

And Monk, who has played in the Championship during loan stints with Stockport and Sheffield Wednesday, believes solid home form can help the club float above water this season.

"It's been a long time coming and we're finally here thank God, but there's still a lot of hard work to be done," said Monk, who picked up Swansea's players' player of the year gong along with his inclusion in the League One PFA team of the year last season.

"We have got to make sure we put everything into this league and we must enjoy it as well.

"We need to make a step up, but everyone is determined to do that - the whole squad is buzzing with excitement.

"The attitude in training and for games has been spot-on and if we can take that into the first game and give a good account of ourselves then that can set the standard.

"Some good early results will give the boys a lot of confidence. It will also show the new players that have come in that we can compete at this level.

"If we are playing well and not quite getting results it is not the end of the world, because we know we are doing things right. Sometimes that is when a little bit of luck can prove the difference.

"But we shouldn't fear anything this season, we should relish the challenge - that is our attitude.

"Hopefully the Liberty will be packed every game and there will be an atmosphere that makes it difficult for away teams to play under.

"We have to be steady and solid and make sure our home record is good. We have got to make it a fortress."

Having experienced the Championship at different clubs, Monk has seen first-hand the demands of the league.

Few expect Martinez's men to replicate the success of Bristol City last season, who came within one win of playing Premier League football, but Monk admits he hasn't set any landmarks for his team yet.

"At the moment it's all about Charlton - we can't look further ahead than that," said the 29-year-old. "We never looked too far ahead last season and this will be the same.

"We want to test ourselves against great players and teams, and we will do that week in week out.

"First place would be brilliant, the play-offs would be good, but I don't want to set a target for us.

"It would be nice to consolidate, but we should see how we go and take it slowly.

"Look at Bristol City and Hull City, nobody expected them to do what they accomplished last season. If we can surprise a few teams and managers then we know we are doing our jobs."