INJURY WOE A DISTANT MEMORY FOR JOSH
Bitter Swans boss Cooper: Maybe their ground staff were off over Christmas
SWANSEA boss Steve Cooper blamed Cardiff’s groundsman after being denied a slice of derby history.
The Swans were hoping to become the first side in the 108-year history of the south Wales rivalry to claim a league double over their neighbours.
Cooper blamed the goalless draw on the Bluebirds’ groundstaff for letting the grass grow too long in a bid to stifle his team’s silky passing game.
“The grass was long, but that’s fine, that’s their prerogative,” he said. “Maybe the ground staff had time off over Christmas.
“We don’t want to make any excuses. In a good way we are frustrated, because we definitely came here to win. It’s probably a better point for them than for us.”
But Bluebirds captain Sean
Morrison rubbished Cooper’s suggestion that the pitch played a role in the result.
“I don’t think the grass was an issue,” he said. “The way we set up and put pressure on them was in our game-plan and definitely in the first half it worked.
“We didn’t want to go down in history as the team to lose both derbies. It’s just disappointing that we lacked a bit of cutting edge up front.
“I thought the boys did fantastic. It could have gone either way. I’m happy we haven’t lost but disappointed we didn’t win.”
Swans’ on-loan Rhian Brewster was thrust into the game just seven days after winning the Merseyside derby with Liverpool. The 19-year-old started but his Championship debut never quite got off the ground, despite earning a yellow card after 10 minutes for clattering late into Lee Tomlin.
Bluebirds boss Neil Harris had a surprise up his sleeve by taking goalkeeper Neil Etheridge out of the firing line and replacing him with Alex Smithies amid interest from West Ham.
Swans goalkeeper Freddie Woodman was called into action to tip the ball around the post from Robert Glatzel’s header.
In a game of six yellow cards, the bitter rivalry threatened to spill out of control after Swans youngster Ben Cabango crashed through Bluebirds striker Glatzel in the air.
Bersant Celina almost gave the visitors a first-half lead as he curled a shot against the post.
Cardiff sub Callum Paterson headed against the bar from Josh Murphy’s cross.
Harris said: “After losing the first game we certainly didn’t want to lose back-to-back derbies. I really enjoyed it, and if Paterson’s header is an inch lower then we probably win the game.”
CARDIFF:
SWANSEA:
MOTM
BERSANT CELINA (SWANSEA)
Ref: Tony Harrington Att: 28,529
Harrop 17
JOSH HARROP’S bid to make up for lost time is bang on track – and he has the goals to prove it.
His super strike at Blackburn earned Preston a draw and was also another tick in the recovery box.
The former Manchester United man was out for nearly eight months last season with a cruciate ligament injury.
But in his comeback campaign, Harrop has scored seven goals so far.
“I’m certainly putting to bed the memory of that cruciate injury and all the rehab,” said Harrop (above).
“It makes me want to make up for lost time. That’s my seventh goal of the season and it was the best of the lot.
“I anticipated the situation before the ball dropped. I lined it up and
WIGAN
BRISTOL CITY hit it sweetly. It was a great game to score in – a derby game is very important.”
Blackburn scored after just three minutes when the lively Adam Armstrong shook off North End skipper Tom Clarke to rifle in his eighth of the season, only for Harrop to level matters.
The game was marred by a bad facial injury to Corry Evans, who was carried off with a broken nose and a possible broken cheekbone.
Boss Tony Mowbray said: “I’m sure some new players will arrive over the next few weeks, players we believe can help this group get better still.”
BLACKBURN:
PRESTON:
REFEREE: ATTENDANCE: