ICE-COOL ANDRE DOES IT AGAIN!
...but Warnock fumes at late spot-kick winner
ANDRE Ayew proved to be Swansea’s hero with a lastgasp penalty winner for the second game running as they stepped up their promotion push – and left Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock seething.
After netting a contentious penalty to earn the Swans a 2-1 win at Stoke on Wednesday, Ghanaian international Ayew kept his nerve again to score from the spot in the seventh minute of time added on against Boro.
Ayew had put the Welsh side ahead before Sam Morsy pulled Middlesbrough level in the opening minute of injury time. Then came the late drama as referee Gavin Ward pointed to the spot for a foul by George Saville on Jake Bidwell – after initially pointing for a corner.
Warnock said: “They can’t keep having that much luck with penalties. I don’t know if it’s Cooper’s dad (former top-flight official Keith) who’s influencing this.
“He must have all the numbers. It’s the only thing I can think of but, joking apart, they can’t keep having decisions like that. The penalty at Stoke the other night was scandalous.”
NEIL Warnock laughed as he jibed that Swansea are benefitting from controversial refereeing decisions because manager Steve Cooper’s father, Keith, was a former official.
Warnock’s Middlesbrough were beaten at Swansea as Andre Ayew converted a penalty in the seventh minute of stoppage time – the second time in four days that the Welsh side have scored a late spot-kick to win.
It came after Ayew had put Swansea ahead in the first half before Sam Morsy levelled in the first minute of injury time.
Jake Bidwell then tumbled under George Saville’s challenge in the penalty area deep into injury time and, although referee Gavin Ward at first pointed for a corner, a spot-kick was awarded and Ayew coolly stroked home.
“The penalty at Stoke the other night was scandalous,” Warnock said.
“They must be laughing their heads off at the minute, but what goes around comes around. I’m sure we’ll see Swansea (in the Championship) next year.
“They can’t keep having that much luck with penalties. I don’t know if it’s Cooper’s dad who’s influencing this.
“He must have all the numbers. It’s the only thing I can think of but, joking apart, they can’t keep having decisions like that.”
Warnock predicted he would receive another apology from referees’ boss Alan Wiley after Boro’s play-off hopes were dented.
“I’m sure I’ll get an apology now from Alan Wiley as I’ve had three or four in the last six weeks,” Warnock said. “I’ve had that many apologies I don’t know what to do with them.”
Boro will feel they deserved more after pushing Swansea back and dominating possession and territory for long periods.
Boro grew in confidence throughout the first period and Marc Bola’s break to the byline was almost rewarded with the opening goal. Bola crossed and Duncan Watmore turned it goalwards, only for Guehi to intervene with a vital touch that sent the ball wide.
Yannick Bolasie was booked for hauling down Guehi and the foul led to Swansea taking the lead.
Conor Hourihane’s freekick was only cleared as far as Connor Roberts and his return header prompted confusion in the Boro defence. Bola and Jonny Howson went for the same ball and it fell kindly to Ayew, whose shot deflected off Spence and beat Marcus Bettinelli at the near post.
Boro had the ball in the Swansea net within seconds of the restart as Bola drove home ferociously from 25 yards – but referee Ward had already penalised Bolasie for clattering into Jay Fulton inside the penalty area. Boro continued to press and levMarc elled when Morsy slammed home his first goal since February 2020, although Ayew’s 13th of the season in the seventh minute of stoppage time ultimately denied them.
Asked about Warnock’s comments on Swansea, Cooper said: “All I care about is ourselves. I will only give comments on ourselves.
“I am not interested in other clubs, never have been.”