Open and shut Kasey
KASEY PALMER has been backed to find compensation for the disallowed wonder strike that left Swansea City to wonder what might have been.
Swans head coach Steve Cooper believes Palmer (above) can get on the scoresheet away at Nottingham Forest today, just days after his spectacular overhead kick was ruled out against Sheffield Wednesday.
Ex-Chelsea striker Palmer thought he had won all three points with his acrobatic last kick of the game, but referee Andy Woolmer had blown-up a fraction of a second earlier and the Swans had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
That denied them a fourth straight home win, and Cooper said: “We were all gutted when Kasey’s effort was ruled out – it was a good goal.
“Kasey has those kinds of skills in his locker. He is able to break lines and he plays people in with passes too.
“We are really pleased with how he’s done since he joined us, although like a lot of players he probably wishes he’d started more games.
“That’s just sometimes the way it goes when you join a team that’s doing well, but I know he’ll be ready when he’s required.”
Palmer – who is at Swansea on loan after a £3.5million move to Bristol
City from Chelsea never really worked out – has started only one game, but has come on a substitute in six.
His competition is stiff because he is up against Andre Ayew, the player Cooper regards as the best in this season’s Championship.
The Ghana striker is also one of the best paid in the division, but Cooper said: “I have always thought Andre is worth every penny.
“The Championship this season is open, competitive – it’s also very intense, with matches crammed into a shorter period, so the experience of Andre is invaluable.”
And Cooper is not complacent about struggling Forest. He added: “They have an experienced manager in Chris Hughton and apart from the relegated clubs, Forest’s squad is one of the strongest in our division.”
SAMMY AMEOBI believes that hard work in training will soon reap its rewards in games for
Nottingham Forest.
Forest are heading into the game at Swansea on the back of consecutive losses to stall the progress made since Chris Hughton’s arrival in the hot-seat. Bu But Forest winger A Ameobi (left) said: “I believe we are doing the right things in training. Hopefully we can start to pick u up points.”