Phil SumblerSteve Cooper leads the Swans in search of history against Cardiff City tomorrow when he looks to maintain his unbeaten derby record and deliver the first ever league double in the fixture.
Cooper’s previous three derbies have seen the Swans triumph twice and draw once and he will be looking to continue that run tomorrow not just because he needs the win to maintain our promotion push but he searches for the win that will write his name in South Wales derby history books.
It is an incredible statistic to think that in 29 previous seasons where the sides have played in the same division no team has ever completed two league wins in the same campaign but that could end tomorrow after Jamal Lowe’s double secured the Swans a win at the Cardiff City Stadium earlier on this season.
Cooper promised at his press conference yesterday that his team would “go for it” which is as much testament to the criticism aimed at the team in recent weeks as it is about pushing on because it is a derby.
The Swans boss was not losing sight that whilst this is a big game it is also just another game on the road to promotion and one that takes on added meaning after the disappointment of a heavy defeat at Bournemouth in midweek which put a real dent in our promotion hopes.
With the international break on the horizon as soon as the game finishes tomorrow night, Cooper will know that he does have the chance to lead his team into that break on the back of both a morale boosting win and the bragging rights across the area fresh in the minds.
“There’s a first for everything and if Saturday is that time, then brilliant, we have to go for it,” Cooper said.
“I would much rather be going into it knowing you can do the double rather than the other team do it, that’s for sure.
“That is something to thrive on and get excited about. It is not a pressure it’s an opportunity.
“I hope I carry that on but it’s not about me being unbeaten, or any individual,
“It’s about the city, not just the football club, the city. That is who we are representing. We are going to do it with pride, we are going to do it with ambition and we are looking forward to it.”
