Phil SumblerSteve Cooper says that his side will not be going out to play for the draw that they know would be enough to take them to Wembley in tonight’s second leg of the play-off semi-final against Barnsley.
The Swans will bring a 1-0 lead back to South Wales thanks to Andre Ayew’s goal at Oakwell on Monday night but it would be a dangerous game to try and sit back on that lead for 90 minutes (and possibly more) and give Barnsley a potential edge in what will be a tense night at the Liberty.
That said it would be equally as dangerous to push all out for extra goals and leave ourselves exposed at the back which creates a dilemma for Cooper as he looks to take his team one step further than we managed last time around.
The Swans boss insists that he will set his side up as he normally would do and treat the game the same as any other despite knowing that the wrong result tonight will end our season and leave us heading into the summer break on the back of a second successive semi-final defeat.
“You’ve got to approach the game as you normally would,” said Cooper.
“It doesn’t suit our style or identity to play for a draw. Our idea going into games is to try and control the game with and without the ball.
“There’s a lot at stake, but that’s just part of the preparation.
“We’re aware there’s a 1-0 lead and a draw benefits us, but I don’t think you can go into the game thinking about that too much. It’s just really focusing on what the game plan is.”
