SWANS ON SONG IN DYING MOMENTS
Wilmot’s leveller a relief for Cooper
SWANSEA boss Steve Cooper’s side extended their unbeaten league away record by drawing at Sheffield Wednesday – with an equaliser deep into stoppage time after conceding moments earlier.
Cooper said: “I guess there’s a little bit of relief, having gone 2-1 down and thinking the last thing we deserved was not to get a win today.
“It’s a difficult place to come to and I thought Sheffield Wednesday started the better. They’re a real threat with the way that they play, but we managed the storm and then just completely controlled the game in the first half.”
Andre Ayew gave the visitors a first-half lead and Wednesday eventually equalised through substitute Fernando Forestieri after hitting the woodwork three times. The home side thought they had won it when Morgan Fox put them ahead, but Ben Wilmot struck at the death to level.
Wednesday went close to taking the lead inside the fourth minute when a corner from Kadeem Harris picked out Jacob Murphy and his first-time shot was saved by Freddie Woodman, who pushed the ball onto his left-hand post.
Atdhe Nuhiu also threatened with a curling 20-yard effort which was not far off target.
As the hosts continued to apply early pressure, Woodman parried Steven Fletcher’s header and Nuhiu looked to get on the end of the rebound but Ayew was on hand to clear.
Swansea’s first effort came when Dominic Iorfa challenged Nathan Dyer and deflected the ball goalwards, forcing Keiren Westwood to save.
The visitors survived another scare on the half-hour mark when Kieran Lee’s cross found Fletcher whose header came back off a post.
Swansea took the lead against the run of play when Westwood failed to deal with a Matt Grimes corner and Ayew pounced on the loose ball from close range.
Bersant Celina put a low drive wide while at the other end, Barry Bannan fired in a 30-yard effort which was straight at Woodman.
Wednesday threatened soon after the re-start when Fletcher’s searching low cross from the left picked out Murphy, who shot wide under pressure.
The hosts had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down after Nuhiu appeared to be hauled down inside the area.
Swansea threatened twice in quick succession with Ayew putting a header wide from a Wayne Routledge cross and Wilmot heading against a post.
Wednesday equalised when Adam Reach’s low drive was parried by Woodman and Lee put the ball across the face of goal for Forestieri (81) to finish from close range.
Fox struck in time added on after Iorfa headed a corner down before Wilmot equalised with a far post header.
Sheffield Wednesday manager Garry Monk said: “It was very frustrating in the end.
“The effort and commitment is there and it’s clear they’re fighting hard for each other, but set-pieces in the last two games have cost us.”