Super Cooper’s set to move on up after a Lowe high point
SCHEMING Steve Cooper masterminded another win which kept his Swansea side’s promotion bandwagon rolling and pricked Barnsley’s bubble.
The Swans were far from their fluent best but defender Ben Cabango headed home the opener on the stroke of half-time before striker Jamal Lowe rifled in a second 10 minutes after the restart.
Swansea were relegated from the Premier League after a seven-year stay in 2018 but they reached the play-offs in Cooper’s first season in charge last term, losing to Brentford in the semi-finals.
Their form this season has fired hopes of a top-two finish with this latest success keeping them in second, four points behind leaders Norwich.
Tenth-placed Barnsley went into the match having won 11 times in 17 outings since Frenchman Valerien Ismael was appointed in October.
They threatened first when Victor Adeboyejo latched onto Herbie Kane’s lofted pass behind the Swansea defence but could only thrash a fierce 20-yard shot over the crossbar.
Adeboyejo then found space inside the right channel and hit a fierce right-footed strike which drew a smart stop from Freddie Woodman at his near post.
Swansea went close four minutes later when defender Marc Guehi headed just wide from a corner.
It was a contest full of the endless industry that so typifies the Championship but cried out for a touch of class from somewhere.
Six minutes before the break Barnsley midfielder Callum Styles’ right-footed shot flew straight into Woodman’s midriff.
Then, in first half added time, another long throw-in from the right flank by Connor Roberts finally broke the deadlock.
The ball sailed to the edge of the six-yard box and Cabango showed impressive strength to outmuscle two Barnsley defenders and direct a glancing header past Walton for his third goal of the season.
When referee Jeremy Simpson blew the half-time whistle soon after, Barnsley skipper Alex Mowatt booted the ball into the stands in frustration.
Mowatt’s future remains the source of much debate as his Oakwell contract expires in the summer.
Barnsley have offered him a new deal, having already turned down one offer for the Leeds academy product.
Swansea grew as an attacking force after the break and Roberts lashed a volley just wide in the 52nd minute.
Three minutes later disaster struck for the hosts as defender Mads Andersen and Michal Helik went for the same ball with fatal consequences.
Lowe was on hand to fire home a clinical right-footed shot.
BARNSLEY: Walton 6; Sollbauer 6 (Sibbick 84th), Helik 5, Andersen 5; Brittain 6, Mowatt 5, Kane 6 (Palmer
(63rd) 6), Styles 6; Chaplin 6 (Morris
(63rd) 6), Adeboyejo 6 (Thomas 84th), Woodrow 6
SWANSEA: Woodman 6; Naughton 6, Cabango 8, Guehi 6; Roberts 7, Smith
6, Fulton 6, Grimes 6, Bidwell 6; Lowe
7, Ayew 6
STAR MAN: Ben Cabango
REF: J Simpson