Mike van der Hoorn | Half-time pep talk key in Hull win

Mike van der Hoorn has revealed how head coach Steve Cooper and assistant Mike Marsh struck the right tone to help Swansea City turn around their season-opening clash with Hull.

The Swans had trailed at the interval against the Tigers, as Daniel Batty glanced in Kamil Grosicki's shot to put the visitors a goal to the good.

But the hosts flew out of the traps at the start of the second half, and within four minutes of the restart they had secured a lead they were not to relinquish.

Borja Baston headed a Jay Fulton flick over the head of Hull keeper George Long to level, before van der Hoorn himself guided in Nathan Dyer's volleyed cross at the near post.

Cooper revealed after the game that he had told his players at the break that they needed to raise their game and raise the tempo.

And van der Hoorn felt the positive message struck a chord, as shown by the response from the players.

"The boys were nervous in the first half, and the start of the new season is always tough," said the Dutch defender.

"We had a good pep talk from the gaffer and Mike Marsh at half-time which really helped us.

"We immediately improved after the break and even the first ball was moving forward.

"That is how we want to play and how we should play this season."