MX23RW : Sunday, January 12 01:07:39| >> :600:103665:103665:

Steve Cooper: 'It is only half time in the semi-final'

Steve Cooper: 'It is only half time in the semi-final'
© Reuters
Andre Ayew's excellent curling finish six minutes before half-time proved decisive.

Swansea boss Steve Cooper warned it was "only half-time" after his side took a slender 1-0 lead in their Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final against Barnsley.

Andre Ayew's excellent curling finish six minutes before half-time proved decisive and was a rare moment of quality in a fast and furious first leg at Oakwell.

Fans returned to the stadium for the first time since March 2020 and a crowd of around 4,500 created a super-charged atmosphere.

"Andre came up with a bit of magic to give us a small margin, but it's only half-time," said Copper, whose side were beaten 4-1 on aggregate by Brentford in last season's play-off semi-finals.

"We've been here before 12 months ago and the final whistle in the next game is the most important one."

Swansea were indebted to goalkeeper Freddie Woodman – he kept his 23rd clean sheet of the season in all competitions – for their narrow advantage going into Saturday's return leg.

He produced a brilliant point-blank save to deny Callum Brittain on the rebound in the second half having kept out substitute Carlton Morris' shot.

Cooper said: "He did play well tonight. He did his job. I thought his positional play was good. But we've no time to think too much about it – it's time to look forward.

"It was a good effort from the boys. We knew the game would be a certain type and if we didn't match them, we could come unstuck.

"We did match them and we had bits of quality, the goal was the obvious one.

"We looked a threat. It was an emotional game and it was great to have supporters and I can't wait to get back to our place on Saturday."

Barnsley boss Valerien Ismael felt his players had been affected by the emotion of the occasion in the first half, but was upbeat about their chances on Saturday due to their display after the interval.

"The performance in the second half gives us a good feeling for the second leg. Everything can happen," the 45-year-old said.

"Two years ago Leeds won at Derby 1-0 and everyone thought Leeds would go through. (There is) big pressure on Swansea. We will fight like the second half (on Saturday)."

It was the first time Valerien, who was appointed head coach in October, had taken charge of a game for Barnsley in front of a crowd.

"It was an amazing atmosphere I have to say. It felt like 30,000," he said.

"I think that the first 20-25 minutes we felt the atmosphere in the players, we didn't play well in transition."

Ismael felt Ayew had been offside for his goal, adding: "You can't blame the centre-back, he did his job to step up quickly and then the linesman has to do his job.

"But we have comeback quality, we have a strong mindset, the mentality in the team is good. We need to score on Saturday, it's as simple as that."

ID:447975: cacheID:447975:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4499:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo celebrates scoring their first goal against Bournemouth in the Championship on April 24, 2021
Read Next:
Monday's Championship playoff predictions including Bournemouth vs. Brentford
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1am
Steelers
@
Ravens
6pm
Broncos
@
Bills
9.30pm
Packers
@
Eagles
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Birmingham CityBirmingham23165241172453
2Wycombe WanderersWycombe25156450272351
3Wrexham25156437181951
4Huddersfield TownHuddersfield24145537191847
5Barnsley2512673933642
6Reading2412573933641
7Stockport CountyStockport25108737271038
8Leyton Orient24114932221037
9Mansfield TownMansfield2311483126537
10Bolton WanderersBolton2411493637-137
11Charlton AthleticCharlton239772721634
12Lincoln CityLincoln258892830-232
13Rotherham UnitedRotherham248792424031
14Stevenage238781820-231
15Exeter CityExeter2494112831-331
16Blackpool247983235-330
17Wigan AthleticWigan2376102123-227
18Northampton TownNorthampton2568112439-1526
19Peterborough UnitedPeterborough2474134146-525
20Bristol Rovers2474132238-1625
21Crawley TownCrawley2355132443-1920
22Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury2445152444-2017
23Cambridge UnitedCambridge2445152243-2117
24Burton Albion2428142038-1814


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!