Phil SumblerThere must be moments when you hate being a football manager. Moments when you are asked to explain a moment of madness by one of your players or a performance that is sub standard. And then there are moments when you can talk about how your team overcame a 3 point and 5 goal deficit to reach the play-offs for a place in the Premier League.
So it was little wonder yesterday evening that Steve Cooper was gushing with praise for his team after late goals were enough to see them leapfrog Nottingham Forest and take their place alongside Brentford, Fulham and Cardiff to compete for a place amongst the top sides in English football next season.
From looking down and out and away from the race just seven days ago the Swans are now possibly just three games away from regaining a place in the Premier League and certainly know that we head into the end of season competition with momentum firmly on our side.
Cooper saw three of the goals scored by substitutes that he introduced into the game, two from Routledge and one from Liam Cullen – his first senior goal for he Swans.
What an eventful night! In the end we got the job done and that was the objective,” said the head coach.
I don’t think we thought it would be that way, but it was going to take something extraordinary for it to happen, and it has.
We were patient, waited for the moment and scored four excellent goals.
It was a bit of a blur late on, if I am honest, but we managed the game out and got over the line.
We are calm now, and refocused, because it’s a time for a pat on the back, but it’s not a time for celebrations yet. – Steve Cooper
Liam Cullen was equally delighted as he took to Twitter to remember the moment he scored his first senior goal for the club
Couldn’t be prouder to score my first senior goal for this club on a night like tonight❤️ unbelievable achievement from everyone and can’t wait for the play offs🤩 @SwansOfficial pic.twitter.com/OlaVkGl9tB
— Liam Cullen (@LiamJCullen) July 22, 2020
Whilst Wayne Routledge was just using the words of Roger Evans…
Swansea… O City… Said I!
— Wayne Routledge (@WayneRoutledge) July 22, 2020
