Swansea City manager Garry Monk has hailed his players after the 2-1 victory over Aston Villa and insisted that he is not focused on media speculation suggesting that he may leave the club.

Andre Ayew scored three minutes from time to end a six-match winless run in all competitions for the Welsh side and relieve the pressure on the 36-year-old, simultaneously plunging Tim Sherwood's future at Villa into further doubt.

Monk described the rumours of his dismissal and links between himself and Sherwood's job at Villa Park as "a circus" and reiterated that his focus has always been on the pitch.

"Any three points is welcome in the period that we have been in," he told BBC Sport. "It was good to get back to winning ways.

"It has been a bit of a circus this week but you have to live with that. I don't really focus on what has been said, I focus on the group and football.

"There will be ups and downs. Winning games is all people care about,and we deserved the three points. I know what this group is capable of. We still have a lot to do but hopefully this is the start to get some momentum now."

The victory has lifted the Swans to 11th in the Premier League table.