Alan Sheehan | We made it hard for ourselves but we got the job done

Head coach Alan Sheehan admitted Swansea City had made the task of reaching the third round of the Carabao Cup harder than it needed to be, but was pleased to see his side get the job done with a penalty shootout win over Plymouth Argyle.

The Swans had taken the lead on the night through a thunderbolt of a strike from Zan Vipotnik just after the 20-minute mark.

The Slovenian striker was unable to convert a later chance after picking off a loose backpass, while Melker Widell was denied by the keeper in the opening minutes.

However, Plymouth levelled in first-half stoppage time when Brendan Wiredu held off Widell to head home a deep free-kick.

The second half was a wide open affair, but neither side could take advantage and so the tie went to penalties.

All five of Swansea’s takers found the net, with Andy Fisher saving from former Swan Matthew Sorinola to seal a 5-3 shootout success, and a place in Wednesday’s third-round draw.

“The aim was to get through to the next round and from that perspective we got the job done,” he said.

“I think we made it more difficult for ourselves than it needed to be. In the first half I was happy with a lot of things, we controlled the game and had plenty of chances.

“Then we concede from a set-piece and the second half became like a game of basketball, it was end to end and we were not able to control it well enough.

“Credit to Plymouth, they came and gave it a really good go and turned it into a proper cup tie, a frantic game.

“We stayed in the game and got through, and everyone got some valuable minutes so we’ve got a good outcome.

“It was a cracking strike from Vipi, we were clinical in scoring five from five in the penalties.

“Andy Fisher made some important saves in the second half, it was an opportunity for him and he helped us get in the next round.”