Cooper pleased by Morgan Whittaker display

Steve Cooper felt Morgan Whittaker’s performance from the bench was a positive to take from Swansea City’s defeat to Bournemouth.

The Swans suffered a 3-0 defeat to the Cherries, a first loss in five games for Cooper’s side, that leaves them three points off the top two with a game in hand.

Whittaker, a January signing from Derby, was introduced at the break with the visitors 2-0 down at the Vitality Stadium.

And he proved a lively presence, forcing Asmir Begovic into a fine fingertip save after driving in from the right flank to get away a powerful, early shot.

An attempt at a similar effort was blocked, before Begovic again denied him from close range as Whittaker’s late run met an excellent cross from Ryan Manning.

“Morgan is a player who has been doing really well in training,” said Cooper.

“We brought him in during January for the future really, but we wanted to put him in the first-team squad straightaway because of the position he plays.

“He is doing well and, the more opportunities we can give him in the shorter term, the better.

“He took the opportunity in this game well, and on another day Begovic might not have pulled of those saves.

“I was pleased with him, he did well.”