Phil SumblerSwansea City’s automatic promotion hopes have been dented in the last two games before the international break as we lost two games on the bounce for the first time this season and also failed to score in either game.
A 3-0 defeat at Bournemouth last Tuesday was followed up by the 1-0 derby day defeat to Cardiff City on Saturday and left the Swans looking up at Watford in 2nd place ahead of the break that will precede the final nine games of the season.
The back to back defeats have left Steve Cooper looking for a reaction from his team when the action returns and the Swans visit Birmingham on Good Friday and he admits that there is work to be done on the training pitch ahead of that game although some of that is clearly hampered by the absence of some key players who are away on international duty with their countries.
Andre Ayew was added to that list at the start of the week despite it initially being thought he would miss all of Ghana’s internationals and that will mean a long trip for the Swans top scorer just a few days before that Friday evening game in Birmingham.
Cooper also admits that the side have been unable to train properly due to the fixture schedule but we have to remember that these positions are not ideal but every team is in the same boat in this season ahead of every other one that has gone before it.
Speaking via the club’s official website, Cooper said “We are third, I don’t think many people would have put us here at the start of the season, so it is a tough one to get over, but we have to make sure we come back stronger with nine games to go.
“We need the break, we can take a deep breath, have a little rest and get down to some work on the training pitch.
“We have not been able to train normally because of the schedule, so we want to use the time wisely and be ready for that final run-in.”
The Swans game at Birmingham kicks off on 2nd April with an 8pm kick off.
