Cooper ‘over the moon’ with a first Swans start
SWANSEA City’s Brandon Cooper described himself as being “over the moon” after making his Championship debut in the 2-1 victory over Derby.
The 21-year-old came off the bench as the Swans came from behind to beat the Rams and go fourth in the table.
The home side trailed to a Tom Lawrence header shortly after half-time, but quickfire goals from Morgan Whittaker and Connor Roberts gave boss Steve Cooper’s boys all three points.
Brandon Cooper was introduced as a sub late in the game to make his Championship bow after a spell adbsent through injury.
“I’m over the moon for the team to get the win and keep the momentum going into the playoffs,” he said.
“But it’s nice to make my Championship debut after a couple of months being out injured, so thanks to the manager for putting me on and giving me that bit of sugar at the end.
“Everyone knows how ambitious I am to try and do the best I can. It’s nice to have got my Championship debut but I want to keep going now.”
Cooper enjoyed a fine loan spell with Newport County earlier in the campaign, making 25 appearances in all competitions under the tutelage of Michael Flynn. He also won a call-up to the senior Wales squad for the first time back in March for games against Mexico and the Czech Republic.
The youngster was recalled from Rodney Parade in January but unfortunately suffered an ankle injury upon his return.
“I’ve had injuries in the past so I know that there’s always light at the end of the tunnel,” he said
“It was hard though because I’d gone from playing two games a week with Newport, and then getting inured abruptly stopped it.
“It was a hard one for me to take, especially the timing, coming back from the loan and then getting injured after two or three days.
“But the medical staff have been great with me, they have kept me positive and to get my Championship debut has topped it off.
“The loan spell was a great experience for me and exactly what I needed at the time. It has made me grow as a person, I played a fair few games in a short space of time in what was a good team too.
“It’s a big foundation for me going forward in my career.”
Meanwhile Morgan Whittaker believes momentum is key for the Swans as they prepare for the Championship play-offs.
Swansea know they will face either Bournemouth or Barnsley after Saturday’s victory over County.
Ex-Rams youngster Whittaker, 20, says Cooper’s team are determined to finish the regular season with a flourish.
“Anything can happen in the play-offs so it’s good to have that momentum,” he said.
Swansea’s final game before the play-offs is against a Watford side who have already secured automatic promotion.
Swansea cannot catch thirdplaced Brentford, but know they will be at home in the second leg of the play-offs should they avoid defeat at Vicarage Road.
Bournemouth, who host Stoke on the final day, and Barnsley, who welcome champions Norwich to Oakwell, are both three points behind Steve Cooper’s Swans.
“These two games could easily have been games where we didn’t play our stronger teams or got minutes for people, but I think it’s important to take good momentum into the play-offs,” added Whittaker.
“I haven’t really thought about who we will play. I think as a team we will back ourselves against any of the other three teams. As long as we focus on ourselves, we will be all right.”
Whittaker made just his third Swansea league start against Derby, having joined the south Wales club from the Rams for around £700,000 in February.
Before he headed home the equaliser against Derby, his one previous Swansea goal in 11 appearances had come in the FA Cup against Manchester City.
Whittaker celebrated by putting a finger in each ear.
“I am over the moon,” he said. “It was my first Championship goal so obviously I think I am going to celebrate.
“It was meaning no disrespect to Derby. It was about us getting the points and keeping the momentum going.”
Swansea forward Andre Ayew and key defender Marc Guehi missed the Derby game because of injury issues, but Cooper says the duo will definitely be fit for the play-offs.