Cooper finds derby defeat hard to take

Steve Cooper watched Cardiff City take away the three points from the Liberty this evening and admitted that defeat was hard to take in a game that the Swans dominated in just about every department bar the one that actually mattered.

Cooper watched his side have 23 shots at goal during the game but the damming statistic was that just 1 of them was classed as on target compared to our visitors who had 7 of their 9 shots on target as well as scoring the only goal of the game.

The Swans also mustered 75% possession overall and an incredible 81% in the second half where we had 17 of our 25 shots but the lack of a killer touch in front of goal was costly for the Swans who are seeing automatic promotion chances slipping away as Watford look to move away from the pack in the same way that Norwich have in recent weeks.

Off the back of those statistics it would be easy to assume that the Swans had bombarded the Cardiff goal but it never felt that way as Dylan Phillips had a relatively easy night in the Cardiff goal although he was ably assisted by his defenders who threw themselves in front of Swansea efforts on more than one occasion.

It is the first time this season that the Swans have lost back to back league games and only the second time in Cooper’s tenure as manager so you can understand why he found it so hard to take that we got nothing out of the game.

Speaking to the club’s official website after the game Cooper said “The only way to reflect on it is as a massive disappointment because this is a massive game for everyone, we know that.

“We’ve come out on the wrong end of it and, with the way it has happened, it is hard to get our heads around.

“We have conceded off a long throw, which we knew was coming, and – not through any lack of trying – it has fallen to Flint.

“It has been all us for the rest of the game. We have played some brilliant football, created a load of chances and dominated every statistic you could want to, apart from the one that matters most, and that’s the scoreline.

“So, it’s a tough one to take. It’s a bit raw at the moment because we know it’s a big game and we wanted to do well in it.”

The Swans now have a welcome two week break thanks to internationals with Birmingham up next on Good Friday but it could be a long two weeks to reflect on what has been a disappointing period for the Swans.