Steve Cooper Admits Swans Blew Big Chance As Connor Roberts Suffers Injury Blow

Steve Cooper admitted his Swansea City side blew an opportunity as they failed to climb back into the Championship play-off places following defeat at Stoke City.

They Swans went down 2-0 and remain seventh in the table after just two victories in their last six league matches. They have only won once away from home in the league in their last seven attempts, but they remain on the fringes of the top six.

Second-half goals from former Swans midfielder Sam Clucas and James McClean ensured Swansea left the Potteries with nothing.

Cooper said: “The way we started, it was an opportunity to go for the kill. It will be one we look back on as a missed opportunity.

“The atmosphere in the crowd was against Stoke, and we should have capitalised on that. In the end, after a good start where we looked quite threatening, we did not continue that and did not do enough to score goals.

“So we are disappointed with ourselves that we did not build on that, and if you don’t win you have to make sure you don’t get beat.

“We have not done enough from the throw-in to win the ball back, it’s ended up on the edge of the box and from there you can run the risk of conceding. The second goal is one that can happen when you are chasing the game.

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“We did not continue our good start and did not do enough to score goals. We never felt like we were under the cosh. But we did not manage certain situations well enough.”

Cooper also confirmed that Wales full-back Connor Roberts suffered a shoulder injury that forced him to go off at the bet365 Stadium.

The Wales international was replaced by Joe Rodon – himself making a return from a three-month injury absence – during the closing stages.

“It was in unfortunate circumstances because Connor Roberts injured his shoulder with the push in the corner, I think it was James McClean,” said Cooper.

“He was struggling to take throw-ins and he was struggling to raise his arms. He didn’t want to come off, but he knew he had to. He couldn’t play to the level that he would like to play at and we didn’t want to do any further damage.”