Attacking threats please head coach Cooper

Steve Cooper was pleased with the attacking threat his side carried as Swansea City eased to victory at Middlesbrough.

Rhian Brewster struck twice and Andre Ayew added a penalty as the Swans restarted their season with a 3-0 win at the Riverside Stadium.

On-loan striker Brewster will bag the headlines after taking his goal tally during his loan spell to six, but the likes of Aldo Kalulu and Conor Gallagher also caught the eye, while George Byers and Jordon Garrick made lively cameos from the bench.

And while pleased to see Brewster among the goals, Cooper was keen to share out the plaudits for a fluent attacking display.

 “Rhian looked a real threat, got his two goals and he's disappointed he didn't have three,” said the Swans boss.

“He's a really good player, but we are a team that likes to play as a team.

“I thought Aldo [Kalulu] was equally a threat down the right-hand side in the first half, and Andre was doing what he does week in and week out

“I thought Conor Gallagher did brilliantly – winning the penalty getting in the box - and the midfield players were also getting high up the pitch.

“Rhian obviously will get some headlines because he got a brace but it's as a consequence of the team playing the way we want to play.”

Following his opener Brewster grabbed a t-shirt displaying the words, “We refuse to be silent. Our colour is not a crime”, in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

The two sides also took a knee prior to kick off in recognition of the cause, following a minute of applause for the work and bravery of NHS staff during the Coronavirus pandemic.

And Cooper re-iterated that Brewster’s display, and the Black Lives Matter movement, is something that has the firm support of the club.

“We have supported Black Lives Matter as a club, we had a picture of us as a squad taken on Thursday at the training ground,” added Cooper.

“Obviously in collaboration with Middlesbrough and their officials we showed our support at the beginning of the game.

“Rhian has a voice, like everybody else, and we support each other. We are as one here, that was just another example of that.”