STICK OR TWIST?

Cooper facing selection dilemma ahead of Hillsborough showdown

STEVE Cooper faces a welcome selection dilemma as he goes in search of another three points tonight to boost Swansea City’s promotion hopes.

Cooper takes his side to South Yorkshire to face relegation battlers Sheffield Wednesday (6pm) on the back of an impressive 3-0 victory at Millwall on Saturday.

It was a much-needed win for Swansea, who had lost their previous four Championship games, a run that threatened to derail their hopes of regaining their place in the Premier League.

They are 10 points adrift of secondplaced Watford, though they do have the benefit of a game in hand.

And that gap will be whittled down to seven if they win at Hillsborough this evening.

They would also move nine points clear of seventh-placed Reading by beating Wednesday.

Cooper opted to stick with the 4-3-3 system for the clash with Gary Rowett’s side after it failed to work against Preston just five days earlier, and his patience was rewarded as his tweaks paid dividends.

Swansea’s head coach could be forgiven for wanting to stick with the same starting XI for the trip to Wednesday, although it remains to be seen whether the likes of Wayne Routledge and Ryan Bennett have enough in the tank to start again just three days after the Millwall win.

Connor Roberts will have benefited from an eight-day break and could come into contention, while Jake Bidwell will be vying to replace Ryan Manning.

Swansea’s midfield clicked against Millwall, although fresh legs in the shape of Korey Smith may be needed given the quick turnaround of games. Yan Dhanda is also an option.

However, the key call centres around Routledge in the front three.

The 36-year-old made his first league start of the campaign against Millwall, and he produced a display that played a huge part in ensuring Swansea were far more threatening in attack.

Morgan Whittaker would be the obvious choice to come into the team should Routledge be unable to start, but it remains to be seen whether Swansea will be eager to change a front three that functioned so well at the weekend.

Meanwhile, bookmakers believe Swansea need some kind of ‘miracle’ if they are to clinch automatic promotion.

Leading firm Paddy Power make Swansea 20-1 shots to clinch a toptwo finish, while they are 4-1 to go up via the play-offs.

Spokesman Paddy Power said: “Swansea’s recent form has left their chances of automatic promotion at a lengthy 20-1, but the result against Millwall might just give fans hope of a miraculous recovery.

“With Watford nine points clear of Brentford and 10 ahead of the Swans, their odds of 1-8 for a top-two finish means bookies give them an 89 per cent chance of avoiding the play-offs.

“Not exactly a lot of room for Swansea.

“So, it looks as though Steve Cooper’s side will have to settle for the playoffs.”