‘Start gives Swans belief’
SWANSEA City head coach Steve Cooper has been nominated for the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month award for August.
The Swans have collected 16 points from a possible 18 so far this term, with their victory over Leeds United – their first at Elland Road since 1949 – before the international break sending them to the top of the table.
Cooper has been nominated for the gong alongside Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa, Charlton boss Lee Bowyer and Bristol City’s Lee Johnson.
And centre-back Mike van der Hoorn is among the contenders for August’s Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month award.
The Dutchman has played every single minute of Swansea’s league campaign so far and has helped his side keep three clean sheets, as well as scoring what proved to be the winner on the opening day against Hull City.
He will battle it out with Preston’s Daniel Johnson, Charlton’s Lyle Taylor and
SBrentford striker Ollie Watkins for the award.
In League Two, Newport County manager Mike Flynn – whose side have risen to second in the division – has been nominated alongside Exeter’s Matt Taylor, Crewe’s David Artell and Michael Jolley of Grimsby.
As for the player award, Exiles’ Ryan Haynes will be in competition with Grimsby’s James Hanson, Forest Green’s Jospeh Mills and Swindon’s former Cardiff striker Eoin Doyle.
All winners will announced tomorrow.
KY Sports pundit Andy Hinchcliffe has given his verdict on Swansea City’s promotion chances this season and their recent clash with Leeds United.
Steve Cooper’s side have won five matches out of their opening six, sitting top of the standings after securing a total of 16 points out of a possible 18.
The Swans’ flying start to the campaign has certainly defied expectations and has led to some raised eyebrows, particularly after their superb victory against title-favourites Leeds before the international break.
However, while optimism continues to surround Swansea, Hinchcliffe be believes Cooper’s side were ‘battered’ by Marcelo Bielsa’s outfit and has questioned whether they can sustain their early season run of form.
“Leeds may have lost at home to Swansea, but they absolutely battered them at Elland Road. The Swans then got one chance at the end and took it, which sometimes can happen,” he told Sky Sports about the recent result.
“For me, Leeds are the strongest team in the Championship and are a lot better than last season. It is as simple as that.
“Their performance at Bristol City on the opening day was one of the best away displays I’ve seen in the Championship. They absolutely dominated them.”
Speaking about Swansea’s chances this season, Hinchcliffe added: “You can’t say Swansea and Charlton have over-performed in their first six games, but it is fair to say that both sides have been clinical. They haven’t always dominated but they are winning games.
“What Charlton have done so far is incredible after getting promoted, and for Swansea it is really great to see them move on so swiftly after losing Graham Potter, Daniel James and Oli McBurnie in the summer.
“But is it sustainable? Neither side started the campaign as promotion contenders, Charlton would just have been hoping to survive and Swansea probably could have had an outside look at the top six, but at the moment their styles are working well.
“From here it is about making sure you do enough to keep winning games.
“I can’t see either keeping up a push for automatic promotion, but the fact they have started so well really does give everyone else belief.”