Swansea warning for table toppers
COOPER CAN’T WAIT TO TAME THE CANARIES
STEVE COOPER hailed his Swans for scoring a hat-trick of “classy, brilliant” finishes.
The Swansea boss saw midfielders Conor Hourihane, Matt Grimes and sub Jay Fulton conjure brilliant goals to finish off Rotherham.
The Welsh club are asserting themselves in the top two, unbeaten in nine games, and face a showdown with big promotion rivals Norwich on
Friday.
The victory didn’t come easily, against resilient opponents who pumped the ball into the box.
Cooper (above) said: “I am really pleased and the dressing room is lively. To score three away is a good return.
“And we scored three brilliant goals, class finishes, from our midfielders and also in the moves, we showed the way we want to play football.” Asked if he was now in a title race, Cooper replied: “I don’t know. That’s for other people.
“We have a week to look forward to the Norwich game. We can reset and do work on the grass.”
Hourihane has played three games since his loan move from Aston Villa on January 20 but has already given his new side a boost.
The Irishman could prove to be one of the most astute signings of the January window.
Swansea took the lead thanks to Hourihane, in a game that was a physical battle.
He pulled the strings, grabbing a goal and an assist in the first half.
The 29-year-old volleyed home after Andre Ayew, Jamal Lowe then Yan Dhanda combined to tee the star up with a volley from 15 yards.
City made it two with a special strike from Grimes.
Hourihane pinged over a corner, which was punched away by keeper Jamal Blackman.
Grimes, who scored the winner when these two met in Wales, was lurking on the edge of the box and
took the dropping ball on the volley, crashing it home.
The Millers hit back when sub Freddie Ladapo looped a header past Freddie Woodman from Wes Harding’s long throw into the penalty area.
But Fulton scored with his first touch after a devastating counter attack.
Jake Bidwell was set clear down the left wing and crossed first time.
Fulton’s finish was cute, a front post run and a flick with the outside of his boot.
Cooper said: “Conor could make a big difference for us and has two goals already.
“Grimesy is picking up positions at set pieces that he doesn’t usually do. I am really happy for Fulton to
score.” Millers boss Paul Warne said: “Hourihane is like the best kid at school. We threw the kitchen sink at them.
“If ever we needed a crowd in it was today.
“We needed more energy. They edged it on good finishing.”
Blackman 5, Ihiekwe 5, Wood 5 (Robertson 59, 6), MacDonald 5, Olosunde 6 (Giles 45, 6), Lindsay 6, MacDonald 5 (Lapado 45, 6), Wiles 6, Harding 6, Crooks 6 (Jozefzoon 79), Smith 7 (Hirst 77).
Johansson, Clarke, Vickers.
Woodman 6, Cabango 6, Bennett 6, Guehi 6, Roberts 6, Grimes 7, Hourihane 7, Dhanda 7 (Fulton 74, 7), Bidwell 7; Ayew 6, Lowe 6 (Morris 83).
Hamer, Latibeaudiere, Evans, Manning, D Williams, O Cooper, Garrick.
Conor Hourihane. The on-loan Villa midfielder has made a great start to his spell and will be a big asset in the second half of the season.
Tony Harrington 7.