‘WE’LL PARK OUR FEAR TO GO UP’
BIG World Cup winner is guiding Swans and rising Kop star towards Prem
vCity Stadium: Monday, 7.45pm
SCOTT PARKER reckons Fulham are the best prepared of the four teams in the play-offs – because they’ve had more time to think about them.
And he insists his men are not suffering scars from failing automatic promotion.
Fulham were 60/1 to finish second prior to their draw at Wigan on Wednesday, which confirmed fourth, though they had already secured a play-off spot weeks ago.
Meanwhile, Brentford suffered heartache at their failure to go up while Cardiff and Swansea only sealed a place on the final day.
Ahead of Monday’s trip to Cardiff, Parker (above) said: “I think we knew the challenge ahead of us. I said there would be some twists and turns, but we realised the other night we would need a lot of results to go our way.
“My message to the players has always been there are three ways to go up: as winners, second or through the play-offs.
“I don’t feel there is any psychological harm to my side even though we were only two points off second.
“We are very clear and focused on what we need to do. There’s a lot at stake but we need to worry about ourselves – and show up like I want us to. If we do that I know we will be fine.
“It will be tough but you would not expect anything less at this point.” Cardiff boss Neil Harris (left) has told his players not to be distracted by a potential play-off final with Swansea. Harris knows his side will have their hands full facing Fulham over the two legs in the semi-final, and added: “We want more than this and success now would be promotion. I know there is a lot of noise at the moment about a south Wales derby in the final, but we have to block that out.”
Marty Wilde
Liberty Stadium: Tomorrow, 6.30pm
WHEN Steve Cooper was entrusted with Liverpool’s latest rising star, Jurgen Klopp knew what he was doing.
Swansea boss Cooper had led striker Rhian Brewster to success in England’s Under-17 triumph at the 2017 World Cup.
Fast forward three years and Cooper and Brewster, 20, find themselves hunting promotion to the Premier League. Anfield boss Klopp would wholeheartedly approve.
Swansea’s 4-1 success at Reading on Wednesday night (right) has set up a two-leg tie against Brentford for the right to reach the play-off final and, potentially, the riches of the top flight.
On-loan Brewster, who scored against the Royals, has 10 goals this season. His football education – for club and country – could not have gone better.
“We’re definitely in a good place,” said Cooper.
“Not just the way we secured the play-off place.
We feel since we’ve returned we’ve played really well.
“Confidence is high. We really believe in what we do anyway, but that’s never been more than it is now.”
Cooper remains a rarity in
English football as a coach who has lifted a World Cup. Among the other talents to flourish under his guidance, Phil Foden continues to hold down a place in Manchester City star-studded side.
Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho is the hottest young property in Europe and Callum Hudson-Odoi was handed a five-year £150,000-a-week contract to keep him at Chelsea.
A trainee at Wrexham as a youngster, Cooper failed to make a single professional appearance for the club.
He went on to play for The New Saints, Rhyl, Bangor City and Porthmadog before taking his coaching badges and earning a Pro Licence at the age of 27. After a