Give up on play-offs? No chance
SWANSEA City’s play-off aspirations took a significant blow as they were held to a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Wednesday.
Here are the key talking points from the clash with Sabri Lamouchi’s side...
THE ANDRE AYEW TACTIC WORKING WONDERS
There was much debate around referee Oliver Langford’s decision to award Swansea a penalty when Andre Ayew was felled by Ryan Yates in the final stages of the first half.
But the Ghana international kept his cool to take the spot-kick himself and send Brice Samba the wrong way to put Swansea 2-1 up against Forest.
It took the attacker’s goal tally to 17 for the season in all competitions, and it also meant he maintained his 100% record from 12 yards out this term.
However, in similar fashion to the penalties he took against Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday, the opposition were somewhat riled by his run-up to the penalty.
Ayew has embarked on a slow and stuttered approach to all three of his post-lockdown penalties, something which could put him at risk of having to retake the spot-kicks.
He’s pushing the boundaries to say the least, although while he’s marginally on the right side of the laws surrounding spot-kicks, Ayew looks like adding to his goal return every time Swansea are awarded a penalty.
THE FLYING START
Cooper has refused to make wholesale changes to his side since the restart of the campaign, and the same can be said about the majority of the sides in the upper echelons of the Championship.
Swansea looked jaded late on in the loss to Leeds, while they lost control in the second half at Forest.
But in terms of the Swans’ performances, they have no doubt been much improved from the second half of the Sheffield Wednesday win onwards. And sources at the club believe consistency – where possible – with team selection has played a significant part.
They ran riot in the opening 20 minutes against Lamouchi’s side and were well worth their 1-0 lead, although they were punished for not taking more of their chances as Sammy Ameobi beat Erwin Mulder in emphatic fashion with his side’s first shot on target.
The Swans have shown some serious bottle of late, coming from behind to beat Birmingham as well as delivering the goods against Sheffield Wednesday after a turgid first-half display in that 2-1 triumph.
Earlier on in the campaign, draws away to Forest and Millwall would be considered impressive results for a side with play-off aspirations, although, at this stage of the season, it’s all about registering ticks in the win column.
After a dream August, discontent grew among some sections of the Jack Army with the way things were going on the pitch, but Swansea have shown they can mix it with the best in the division in recent weeks and have offered plenty of hope that Cooper is getting his methods across in the process.
BREWSTER’S GOING TO THE TOP
Rhian Brewster gave the Swans a deserved lead as early as the eighth minute after Conor Gallagher and Jake Bidwell combined on the left wing.
But it was the nature of his strike against Forest that was simply breathtaking.
The 20-year-old adjusted his body position and lashed a first-time effort into the roof of the net with his left foot from Bidwell’s cross to take his tally to nine goals in 18 appearances for the Swans.
It was no doubt the pick of his Swansea goals so far, and the Englishman even had the approval of club legend Lee Trundle who couldn’t hide his delight with Brewster’s fine opener at the City Ground.
“What a finish that is. He is deadly in that 18-yard box,” Trundle wrote on his official Twitter account.
Cooper is asked about the Liverpool loanee in every single press conference, whether it be by those who cover Swansea on a regular basis or by those who have an eye on his future with Jurgen Klopp’s side.
“I was right behind it, as soon as it left his foot it was only going in,” said Cooper.
“It was a really good goal. He’s only come off with a dead leg, so I’m sure he’ll be fine for the weekend.”
Coincidentally, Brewster (nine) and Ayew (15) have the same number of league goals as Gylfi Sigurdsson (nine) and Fernando Llor
ente (15) managed during the 2016/17 season. So it’s fair to say they really have been Swansea’s dynamic duo this term.
As for Brewster, he’s clearly an outstanding talent. And what a coup his signing was for Swansea back in January. How they’d love him back at the Liberty Stadium for the duration of next season.
THE PLAY-OFF PICTURE
Cooper has refused to give up on his side’s play-off hopes, and given they’re mathematically in with a shout, fans would no doubt be disappointed if that wasn’t the case.
The Swans trail Cardiff City by three points with just two matches left to play.
The Bluebirds are in the box seat to secure the fourth and final play-off spot, with Millwall two points behind Neil Harris’ side.
So, it seems a battle between seven sides for one top-six spot has now been whittled down to just three contenders, although Bristol City and Preston are still in with the slimmest of chances.
Cardiff end the campaign with games against Middlesbrough and Hull, while the Lions take on Queens Park Rangers and Huddersfield.
And Cooper is under no illusions that his side must beat Bristol City and Reading over the next week to keep their faint hopes of finishing in the play-offs alive.
“We have got to concentrate on trying to get six points.
“The way this season has gone I don’t think it will be as straightforward as everybody winning their games and it finishing as it is,” he said.
“What we have to do is make sure we get the points and try and sneak in, if we can.
“We’re not out of it, we are not giving up.”
Cardiff are the 2/5 favourites to finish sixth, while Swansea are at 5/1 to secure a play-off spot and 33/1 to actually go up.
Certain results could ensure Swansea are officially out of the running by 5pm on Saturday, although given the nature of the division, you simply cannot rule out there being a few more twists and turns that keep Cooper’s men in the mix, as long as they do the business against the Robins.