COOPER HITS GOLD WITH GIBBS-WHITE

SWANSEA boss Steve Cooper believes he could have struck gold with the signing of Wolves striker Morgan Gibbs-White.

The 20-year-old’s decision to join up with his former England youth coach on a season-long loan paid instant dividends against Preston, his close-range finish settling a tight opener.

But Cooper believes there is plenty more to come having seen signs of a relationship with fellow strikers Andre Ayew and Jamal Lowe flourishing this season.

“Morgan has goals in his game, there’s no doubt about that,” he said. “He’s a positive player and willing runner. You could see that with his goal.

“But all the attacking players did well. Andre and Jamal ran so hard and put their backline under a lot of pressure. They did not let them play.

“I thought we were threatening. We’re only three weeks in from the start of pre-season and not 100 per cent up to speed.

“Yet the fact we’ve picked up a win here in the condition we’re in at the moment is a big plus.”

Gibbs-White’s second-half strike, turning in a cross from Jake Bidwell after a raking crossfield pass from Ayew stretched Preston’s back line, settled a low-quality game.

The home side improved after a second-half reshuffle by boss Alex Neil but were wasteful with the openings did they create.

“Our use of the ball at the top end didn’t damage them enough but I felt both teams cancelled each other out,” said Neil.

“We created a couple of opportunities and should have scored at least one.”

PRESTON: Ripley 6, Browne 4, Storey 5, Davies 5, Hughes 6, Pearson 5, Ledson 6 (Gallagher 72, 6), Bodin 5 (Maguire 57, 6), Potts 5, Sinclair 4 (Stockley 57, 6), Barkhuizen 6

SWANSEA: Woodman 6, Guehi 6, Rodon 6, Cabango 6, Roberts 6, Smith 6, Grimes 5, Bidwell 7, GibbsWhite 6 (Fulton 63, 6), Ayew 6, Lowe 5 (Routledge 79, 5)

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