AYEW’S AT THE DOUBLE AS SWANS PUT A WIN ON BOARD

ANDRE Ayew’s brace helped Swansea bring a run of six league games without a win to an end as they brushed aside nine-man Middlesbrough at the Liberty Stadium.

The forward was on hand just after 20 minutes, converting from the spot after being bundled over by Dael Fry inside the box.

Some sloppy work in midfield allowed Boro to respond just after halftime courtesy of Marcus Tavernier’s well-taken strike, and many Swansea fans would have been forgiven for thinking they would once again be in for another frustrating afternoon.

But they were helped just after the hour by a moment of madness from Boro’s Marcus Browne, who was shown a straight red for a heavy challenge on Mike van der Hoorn – 12 minutes after coming on.

To the delight of the home faithful, Swansea took full advantage, with Ayew grabbing his ninth of the season before Sam Surridge drilled home a third just a minute later.

Swansea kept their heads, unlike the visitors, who were reduced to nine men on 77 minutes when Paddy McNair was given his marching orders for a challenge on Matt Grimes, with replays suggesting it may have been given for an elbow on the Swans skipper.

The circumstances of the victory won’t matter a jot to Cooper, who made just one change from Wendesday, with birthday boy Yan Dhanda making his first appearance since October in place of the suspended Tom Carroll.

It was an admirable shift from the 21-year old, but it was Ayew who ultimately stole the show with another sparkling performance.

Chances were at a premium during a combative opening 15 minutes, although Jonny Howson perhaps should have done better after blazing his half-volley from close range high and wide from the tightest of angles.

Boro did their best to put the Swans on the back foot, but the hosts otherwise rarely looked troubled, with Ben Cabango once again impressing on only his second league debut.

And the hosts were rewarded for their defensive efforts midway through the first half.

A superb run by Celina allowed him to slip Ayew in behind the defence, with the Ghanian’s rasping shot kept out well by Aynsley Pears.

Ayew was first to the rebound, but was denied another sight at goal after being brought down by Fry, with referee Dean Whitestone having little hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Having helped his team pick up a point in midweek, a confident Ayew dusted himself off before hammering home the resulting spot-kick.

Swansea then began to display the sort of midfield rhythm that has arguably been so sorely lacking in recent weeks.

Surridge nearly stretched the lead after getting behind the Boro defence, but could only sting the palms of Pears,

Swansea appeared to be on top heading into the interval, but the same old problems saw them pinned back just after the restart.

A sloppy mis-placed pass was pounced on by Boro, who eventually worked the ball out to Tavernier on the left-hand side of the area to drive home.

Cooper will have unquestionably been annoyed to have seen his side pinned back, but there was little sign of panic, and the composure displayed by the hosts will have been a massive positive.

The same couldn’t be said for the visitors, who were reduced to 10 men just a few minutes later.

Browne, who’d previously been booked for simulation just moments after coming on after 51 minutes, completed a miserable 12-minute cameo by earning a straight red for a horrific challenge on van der Hoorn.

It was a gift for the Swans, who showed a ruthless streak that may well have been lacking previous weeks.

A lovely one-two with Barrie McKay allowed Ayew to cut through the heart of the Boro defence like a knife through butter, before applying a cool finish.

Then, just moments later, the win was assured, as Jake Bidwell’s knockdown found Surridge, with his back to goal inside the area, who then turned to drill home.

The game was already gone, but there was still time for Boro’s afternoon to get worse as McNair was shown a straight red for a challenge on Grimes, much to the fury of Cooper on the sidlines.

Nevertheless, he was left delighted by a thoroughly-satisfying afternoon for his side, which ended with some much-loved fist bumps at full-time.