“There were 3,000 there but during the game it felt like 35,000″ – the words of Steve Cooper as he reflected on the ninety minutes that preceded his comment, a ninety minutes that was enough to book his side a place at Wembley and the chance to extract revenge on Brentford.
The Swans and the Bees will go head to head for the second successive season in the play offs next weekend but this time the prize will be much bigger as the winners will take away a Premier League place for next season in what is known as “the richest game in football.”
That though is still seven days away and for now we should reflect in the performance that got us there which clearly pleased the Swans boss who said after the game “The overwhelming emotion is pride,” he said.
“We have got a bigger game next Saturday to get ready for, but we showed a lot of character and determination over the last two games.
“We respect Barnsley and the journey they have been on, and they test you in a different way.
“It’s hard to play against and it’s hard to find a rhythm because of the territory they get and the way we do it.
“We handled it well and what I liked about that is that, with fans back in the stadium for the first time in 14 months in the midst of a pandemic, they saw a team that is just fighting and giving everything they have for their people.
“That’s important to me, and it was amazing. The fans got us over the line.
“I was asked before the play-offs whether it was an advantage to be home for the second leg, and I sat on the fence a little bit.
“But it was an advantage to be at home tonight because of the support we had from our people in getting behind their team.
“I am very, very grateful to them.”