Cooper highlights importance of "under the radar" midfield

Steve Cooper believes Swansea City’s midfield trio have gone under the radar, but insists their contribution is certainly not overlooked within the camp.

Skipper Matt Grimes, Jay Fulton and Korey Smith all got through a mountain of work in the middle of the park as the Swans battled to a 2-0 win over Barnsley on Saturday.

It continued a run of games where the three have played together to great effect, catching the eye in the draw with Reading and the home win over Watford.

With Swansea’s defensive record - and the attacking contributions of Andre Ayew, Jamal Lowe, Connor Roberts and Jake Bidwell – the midfield engine room may not steal the headlines, but Cooper was at pains to highlight the impact they have.

“I thought our midfield three were so competitive. Grimes, Fulton and Smith, from start to finish they just got through so much work,” he said.

“It has a massive effect on what we are doing with and without the ball, and it’s not just tonight.

“Quite often they go under the radar, but they are very important to us.

“You look at the guys at the back too, there are two young guys who play like men and appreciate both sides of the game.

“They take responsibility in building up from the back, but they know with games like this where you are going to have the ball sent down your throat, you have to deal with it.

“Some of our defensive basics were fantastic, and that is great.”