By Fraser Watson
Swansea manager Steve Cooper admitted he would be giving his players an extra day off after they secured a Championship play-off spot at Reading – but insisted they’d achieved nothing yet.
His side came from a goal down at the Madejski Stadium to eventually draw 2-2, with the returning Andre Ayew the catalyst for a second half fightback.
It was enough to take Swansea back up to fifth spot, but more importantly, maintained their eight-point advantage over their hosts with just two games each left to play.
“We are happy to be in there again of course and hopefully we go better than last year.
“But achievement is not the right word as this club as had big moments in recent years, being in the Premier League and in Europe.
“So I don’t want the ambition of the club to be seeing a play-off place as an achievement. But then looking at the present – we’ve not benefitted from lot of investment but have competed at top end of the table.”
A bright start from the visitors – which saw Ben Cabango head a good chance wide and Wayne Routledge have a shot deflected over – was undone on the half hour mark when Yakou Meite nodded home from John Swift’s inviting cross.
Moments later, a misplaced back pass from Connor Hourihane almost allowed Reading to make it 2-0, only for Lucas Joao to be thwarted by Freddie Woodman’s diving save.
But it was introduction of Ayew, who missed the deferat to QPR with a hamstring injury, that turned the tide.
The Ghanaian was part of a triple substitution after 64 minutes and had barely been on for two minutes when his outrageous back heeled pass took out three Reading players, allowing Jay Fulton to drive into the area and although his effort was blocked by home keeper Rafael Cabral, Jamal Lowe was on hand to tap in his 14th goal of the campaign.
And with seven minutes left, Ayew went from provider to scorer as he struck from close range following good work from Jake Bidwell.
But although Swansea were denied a first win in three when Reading sub Tomas Esteves swept a left footed shot home in injury time, they survived a nervy final few moments to cement their top six place.
“I always thought we’d get there (play-offs) but only a few games ago we were still going for automatic promotion. So credit to the lads.
“We scored two good goals but then it was always going be crazy because they had to win and had four or five attacking players on the pitch by the end. We wanted to win and are slightly disappointed we haven’t but ultimately, we had to get that point.”
Today represented Cooper’s 100th game in charge, the first Swansea manager to achieve that feat since Roberto Martinez.
However, he brushed off the feat and said his only focus now was on the next two league games, at home to Derby next Saturday before going to Watford on the following weekend, and then preparing for a tilt at promotion.
And he said there wouldn’t be wholesale changes in the next fortnight.
Steve Cooper today becomes the first #SwanseaCity manager since Roberto Martinez to reach 100 games in charge of the club. Centurion#Swans
— Mark Poyser (@MAPoyser) April 25, 2021
“There’s no written rule for how you get into the play offs and it’s dangerous to start trying to plot who you want to play.
“Obviously, we have to think about how we approach these next two games. But it won’t be a case of 10 or 11 changes.”
As for opposite number Veljko Paunovic, he lamented a “very disappointing outcome.”
Reading topped the table early in the season but were never able to maintain the form which saw them take 22 points from 24 in their first eight games.
“It is hard to accept that our season is over after how hard we have fought,” said Paunovic.
“But although it’s hard to take, we have to look at the positives. This season there has been a huge improvement in our character and our identity and we have an excellent mix of young and experienced players for next season.”
For now at least, Cooper and co can breathe easy. Swansea’s tilt at promotion has endured a bumpy ride these past few months, but one thing’s for sure – it remains very much alive.