SHREWD COOPER TAPS UP EX-SWAN BRENDAN

ROOKIE manager Steve Cooper heads into his first derby as Swansea boss this afternoon, but he’s fully aware of what’s at stake.

The 39-year-old has done his homework ahead of today’s showdown with arch-rivals Cardiff, including speaking to former Swans boss Brendan Rodgers, now in charge at Leicester. “I spoke with Brendan for half an hour on the phone in the week and he reinforced the magnitude of it,” said Pontypridd-born Cooper, whose dad Keith, a former top-flight referee, is a Cardiff fan.

“He spoke fondly of it and he had a great time here.

“He’s done the Old Firm and Merseyside derbies as well so he’s had experience of big games. It was a good conversation.”

The Swans have stuttered of late – they crashed 3-0 at home against Brentford in midweek and have picked up just one point from their last four games at the Liberty Stadium.

It saw the former leaders slip to ninth place heading into the weekend, though they were only four points of top spot.

The derby could, therefore, be the ideal opportunity for Cooper’s men to forget about their recent woes and get back on track.

He added: “We know it’s a big game, an important game. We are representing the community, the city and everything the football club stands for.

“We have to use that as motivation.

“It’s not something to be fearful of, it’s good pressure.

“It’s something we should thrive on. We need to focus on the game, on the performance and what it takes to do that.”