Swansea’s fine start does not surprise new coach Cooper
Swansea City head coach Steve Cooper insisted he has not been shocked by his dream start to club management after Birmingham City were swept aside yesterday.
Following Premier League relegation in 2018 and a string of managerial sackings, it has been a pretty miserable time for fans of the Welsh side. Last season manager Graham Potter revived fortunes with a return to the club’s famous passing style and Cooper has built on that in impressive fashion so far.
Here Swansea passed an admittedly awful Birmingham side into submission to move back into second place in the Championship and level on points with leaders Leeds United, who they face on Saturday.
Second-half goals from Kyle Naughton, Bersant Celina and Borja Baston did the damage for Swansea and Cooper said: “It was our best performance of the season. I know we came in at 0-0, but I was happy with how we were playing. I just felt we needed to be more prepared to take risks at the top of the pitch and fortunately the players did that.
“We made a load of passes, scored three goals and dominated possession, but I am equally happy with how we defended.
“I believed we should win every game we’ve played so far and that will continue, so I’m not surprised we’ve won certain games. I believe we can dominate and play what’s in front of us.”
Swansea were quick out of the traps. They dominated the ball from the first minute to the last and had 77 per cent of the first-half possession. Against a limited Birmingham side – who failed to have a shot on target – Swansea could not break through in the first period. Cooper brought on Naughton at half-time and he drove low into the corner from the edge of the box in the 63rd minute.
Swansea soon made it 2-0 when Mike van der Hoorn pressed high, dispossessed Fran Villalba, and Celina did the rest as Lee Camp was again beaten at his near post.
There was still time for Baston to score his fifth Championship goal of the season from the spot after Marc Roberts felled Yan Dhanda.
Pep Clotet, Birmingham’s caretaker head coach and a former Swansea assistant, said: “I’m very disappointed because we did a lot of things right in the first half.
“We came into half-time very solid and I was never worried about the result, but in the second half we struggled. I think Swansea are one of the toughest teams in the league.”
Swansea City