COOPER’S PREPARING FOR FRESH ASSAULT ON PLAY-OFFS
SWANSEA City have just one game left to play this season before they begin their assault on the Championship play-offs. Victory over Derby County means Steve Cooper’s men need just a point against Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday to ensure they will play the second leg of the semi-finals at the Liberty Stadium.
The 2-1 triumph over the Rams also meant Swansea reached 80 points for the season – 10 more than they managed in the whole of the 2019-20 campaign. It was far from pretty, though. Swansea, who were without Andre Ayew and Marc Guehi, lacked energy and were largely uninspiring until former Derby frontman Morgan Whittaker got the hosts back on level terms.
Connor Roberts then added a stunning second as Swansea ultimately earned all three points which leaves Derby relying on a slip-up from Rotherham United when it comes to their relegation scrap.
But that won’t concern those of a Swansea persuasion. Their focus remains solely on the play-offs.
Barring an enormous 11-goal swing with Barnsley, Swansea will play either Bournemouth or the Reds in the semi-finals as Brentford clinched third place with a game to spare.
Cooper remained coy, though, when asked who he hopes to face after Watford.
“What we wanted to do before today was aim to get as many points as we can,” he said. “That’s been the approach from game one, so let it be the approach to game 46.
“If we finish third, fourth, fifth or sixth, take that as it comes.
“Going into today, if we lost the game, the consequences are less. We don’t want to lose a game of course, we want to go and win and play well and keep building so that when the play-offs come we can be in the best place possible.
“We’re not sitting here thinking ‘we want to play this team or that team’ because, just like us, if you qualify for the play-offs, you’re a good team.
“Whoever we play and whoever anybody else plays, they’re going to be really difficult ties.”
Swansea find themselves in a far stronger position this time around than they were last term when it comes to the play-offs.
They were without the likes of Joe Rodon, Freddie Woodman and Wayne Routledge against Brentford a year ago, but this time they should have a full squad to select from in the semi-finals.
Ayew and Guehi will have been given a chance to fully recover from their respective injuries, while others including Conor Hourihane, Jay Fulton and Kyle Naughton were given a
much-needed rest for the Derby game.
Elsewhere, Liam Cullen and goalscorer Whittaker got some muchneeded minutes under their belts which will no doubt boost options for the semi-finals.
Swansea’s performances have been far from rip-roaring of late, although the same applies to Barnsley and Bournemouth, while Brentford drew a stack of games prior to winning their last three fixtures.
It’s been nigh on impossible to be anything close to flawless this term. Even Norwich City and Watford have had their struggles.
So Cooper is right to point out how great an achievement it is for Swansea to reach 80 points after 45 games. It’s also fitting that Brendan Rodgers’ class of 2011 gained promotion via the play-offs having ended the regular season with 80 points.
However, bookmakers remain unconvinced by Swansea.
Cooper’s men are the least fancied of the four sides in the play-offs to go up.
Skybet have Brentford as the 7-4 favourites to gain promotion, while Bournemouth and Barnsley are at 2-1 and 4-1 respectively. Swansea are at 9-2. That speaks volumes. Swansea were the underdogs last time around, and despite occupying a place in the upper echelons of the table for the entirety of the current campaign, they are unfancied this year too.
Perhaps they’re now in prime position to fly under the radar. Does that even matter? Who knows, as there clearly isn’t a set formula that guarantees success.
This Championship season has been a slog for all involved. But Swansea – along with Barnsley, Brentford and Bournemouth – are now the envy of 18 other Championship clubs.
Getting over the line won’t be easy. Far from it, in fact. But Swansea remain in the race, and that’s all that matters right now.