MX23RW : Tuesday, March 2 10:13:58| >> :120:59141:59141:

Steve Cooper has no issues with picking up ugly victories

Steve Cooper has no issues with picking up ugly victories
© Reuters
Steve Cooper's men moved back into third after Roberts' 87th-minute winner.

Swansea head coach Steve Cooper says he has no problem with winning ugly after Connor Roberts gave his promotion-chasing side a priceless 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest.

Cooper's men moved back into third after Roberts' 87th-minute winner, with the Wales defender's header a carbon copy of his goal at Forest earlier this season.

It got Swansea out of jail as they were second best throughout the game and didn't hit the heights that have kept them flying high at the top of the Championship this season.

Cooper said: "I'm not going to worry too much about how it looked. I'm not going to sit here and say we were brilliant in the game, because in parts we weren't.

"In the end, we managed to create a good moment to go and win the game and we might look back on this result at the end of the season.

"I just thought the game was heading towards a 0-0 draw. Forest are a really good team in good form. They've got loads of experienced and talented players.

"We felt we had to make some tactical changes in the second half, get some more attacking players on and hope things would turn a little bit.

"I'm delighted with the win but knowing we will need to play better in the next game."

Forest had chance after chance throughout the game with Fulham loanee Anthony Knockaert going close on several occasions, including hitting the crossbar with the last kick of the first half.

Knockaert should have scored right at the start of the second period while his captain Lewis Grabban also missed a golden opportunity when Forest broke clear on a counter attack.

Chris Hughton's Forest were the only team who looked like winning, but they paid the ultimate price for failing to convert their chances.

Roberts scored the game's only goal late on when he rose highest to head home a cross from his fellow full-back Jake Bidwell.

Swansea's players went wild with delight as they celebrated Roberts' goal.

Forest manager Hughton said: "I'm really delighted with the performance, but hugely disappointed with the result.

"The performance shows as a team we are getting closer, but if you look at the last two games we've had one draw and lost the other.

"That's the difference between us and Swansea. I'm sure they would admit we were the better side and they did not play as well as they could, but they came away with the three points.

"We need to be more clinical. We can't allow that lapse of concentration. The players all know it's a game we should have not only not lost, but won."

ID:435678:cQx:QQ:

Click here for more stories about Steve Cooper

Click here for more stories about Swansea City

How you voted: Swansea vs Nott'm Forest

Swansea City
81.6%
Draw
13.2%
Nottingham Forest
5.3%
114
Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Swansea City manager Steve Cooper pictured on January 9, 2021
Read Next:
Palace considering Cooper as Hodgson replacement?
>
Latest Sports Video
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Premier League
Championship
Serie A
DFB-Pokal
KNVB Beker
League One
League Two
National League
National League North
National League South
Scottish Championship
Turkish Super Lig
NIFL Premiership
Welsh Premier League
Serie B
Ligue 2
Eerste Divisie
Copa Diego Maradona
Uruguayan Primera Division
Liga MX
Australian A-League
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Norwich CityNorwich33217547252270
2Brentford33189661352663
3Watford33179743241960
4Swansea CitySwansea31178639221759
5Reading33166114537854
6Bournemouth331410947321552
7Barnsley32156113836251
8Cardiff CityCardiff331481149351450
9Middlesbrough33138123835347
10Stoke CityStoke331112103837145
11Bristol City33143163544-945
12Millwall3391683230243
13Preston North EndPreston33134163742-543
14Luton TownLuton32118132737-1041
15Blackburn RoversBlackburn32117144638840
16Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest331010132832-440
17Queens Park RangersQPR311010113136-540
18Derby CountyDerby32108142533-838
19Huddersfield TownHuddersfield33106173850-1236
20Coventry CityCoventry33811143044-1435
21Birmingham CityBirmingham33810152541-1634
22Rotherham UnitedRotherham3185183342-929
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds3297162338-1528
24Wycombe WanderersWycombe3258192353-3023

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!