Steve Cooper believes Swansea City can take heart from their Carabao Cup exit at Watford – despite the club’s second defeat in three games. The Swans went out of the tournament as they lost 2-1 at Vicarage Road to the Premier League club, who were still smarting from their 8-0 mauling at Manchester City on Saturday. Quique Sanchez Flores got the response he wanted from Watford thanks to a winner from Danny Welbeck and Roberto Pereyra’s opener after Sam Surridge had equalised for the Swans.

Swansea City manager Steve Cooper accused referee Tony Harrington of being influenced by the Bristol City bench in his decision to send off Jake Bidwell. The Swans boss was angered by the decision to dismiss Bidwell who was given a straight red card during the late stages of Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Ashton Gate. Harrington consulted an assistant before showing a red card to the full-back for a late challenge that prevented Robins substitute Niclas Eliasson from breaking away on the right.

Steve Cooper has admitted the flair factor went missing at Swansea City as he suffered his first defeat as manager. The Swans remain top of the Championship, but their previously unblemished record now has a figure in the loss column after Nottingham Forest deservedly won 1-0 at the Liberty Stadium. Cooper’s side had won six successive games in all competitions and scored 19 goals in thrilling fashion in doing so going into the game, but did an impressive job of disguising the fact.

Steve Cooper has dedicated his August EFL Championship manager of the month award to the Swansea City fans who have cheered his team to the top of the table. Cooper has won the first award of the campaign in his first competitive month as a club manager. During that time the former England U17 head coach has guided the unbeaten Swans to five victories and one draw in their opening six league fixtures.

Wayne Routledge, the man who refused to turn his back on Swansea City, has been hailed as inspiration to the youngsters who have taken the club to the top of the Championship. The 34-year-old was due to join the mass exodus from the Liberty Stadium over the past 18 months when his contract expired at the end of last season, but agreed new terms, and a much reduced salary, to stay for another year. At the time Tweeted he was “beyond happy” and three months on he was able to add after his last-gasp winner at Elland Road last weekend that if you “keep working, special things can happen.”

Steve Cooper had a three-word replay to anyone prepared to start talking about promotion for Swansea City even though it was still August. “We are growing,” said the Swans manager – a neutral response to chatter about a return to the Premier League after his team gained an eye-catching 1-0 victory at Leeds United that took them to the top of the Championship. “It is the perfect result – a clean sheet away from home and scoring one,” said Cooper after the evergreen Wayne Routledge’s goal had taken his team to the summit.

Warren Gatland will walk onto the Principality Stadium pitch before today’s game against Ireland for the final time as Wales coach. Wales supporters, both casual and obsessive, will be sad to see him go, but so will a wider coaching fraternity, says Graham Thomas. It’s not just rugby in Wales that will find there is a large hole to fill when Warren Gatland waves goodbye to his adopted nation at the end of August. As the New Zealander prepares for his final game in Wales as national coach – the World Cup warm-up fixture at home to Ireland on August 31 – then the country’s entire coaching community should be bracing themselves for his departure.

Swansea City manager Steve Cooper pinpointed the return of Jack Evans as the highlight of his team’s emphatic 6-0 thrashing of Cambridge United. The Swans will travel to Watford for the third round of the Carabao Cup after their convincing win at the Liberty Stadium on Wednesday night, where Cooper brought on Evans for the final 17 minutes. It was a poignant moment for the 21-year-old midfielder, and the club, as his debut appearance came just a year after he was given a cancer diagnosis.

Kyle Naughton has hailed Steve Cooper’s management skills as the reason behind Swansea City’s stunning start to the season. The Swans full-back scored the opening goal in his side’s 3-0 victory over Birmingham City on Sunday – an emphatic win that ensured the club have made their best start to a season for 41 years. For Naughton the result was further evidence of the impact Cooper has made at the club since he took over from Graham Potter earlier in the summer.

Former Swansea City coach Pep Clotet insists he still loves the club but that won’t prevent him from ruining their day on Sunday at the Liberty Stadium. The Spaniard was former manager Garry Monk’s right-hand man for two years and then followed Monk to Birmingham City before one of the Blues’ habitual coups left him in charge this summer. This afternoon, he will seek out some old friends but aim to deny his old club the three points they need to put them joint top of the Championship with Leeds United.

Steve Cooper insists his high-flying Swans will not be “snobby” about their elevated status. The Swansea City manager remains unbeaten since he took charge at the club after a 3-1 victory at QPR on Wednesday night lifted his team to second place in the Championship table. With four matches played, only Leeds United are above Cooper’s men on goal difference after three victories and a draw.

Borja Baston wants Andre Ayew to join him in staying for the season at Swansea City. Spanish striker Borja and Ghanaian captain Ayew both appeared destined to leave the Liberty Stadium earlier this summer as the club looked to continue slashing costs. But with few takers, the pair were recently re-introduced to the squad and both have responded with eye-catching performances to help their side to third place in the early Championship table.