Phil SumblerThe line up named by Steve Cooper ahead of the Swans clash at Watford today will have raised more than a few eyebrows amongst the supporters as the boss named a strong line up for the last game of the season.
With the prospect of a play off campaign just around the corner then it was expected and suggested that squad rotation would come into play but that was not the case for Cooper as he elected to bring back the likes of Andre Ayew for the game – decisions that he justified after the game.
Result wise it did nothing for the Swans as already promoted Watford ran out 2-0 winners at Vicarage Road to take themselves past the 90 point barrier but leaving the Swans with the consolation of finishing 4th in the table and securing a second leg of a semi final at home into the process.
We now have Barnsley waiting in the wings with a first leg at Oakwell on 17th May (8.15pm) and a return at the Liberty on 22nd (5.30pm)
But it was the subject of the team selection that Cooper was talking about first after the game when he reflected back on the defeat and he justified his decisions “Some of the lads needed the minutes as it would have been too big a gap from last Saturday’s game to the first game against Barnsley
“Once we got to a certain amount of minutes it made sense to stick to the plan and make those changes.
“It was maybe not ideal in terms of getting the result, but there is a bigger picture and, in the end, it has not impacted on our league position and who we are playing.
“As I have said before, it does not matter who you play or where you play, it doesn’t guarantee the result you want, you take it as it comes.
“Is it an advantage to be at home for the second game? We have to approach the first game right, and get the work done on the training ground and be ready for it.
“We have been to Barnsley, they deserve a lot of credit for where they are and it will be a really tough game.
“All four play-off teams are really good outfits, so we have to be ready.”
