Steve Cooper | Golden Glove success can give us boost for play-offs

8th May
First team
Freddie Woodman and Steve Cooper

Steve Cooper believes Freddie Woodman’s Sky Bet Championship Golden Glove award can give Swansea City an extra lift going into the play-offs.

Woodman was presented with the award following the final regular fixture of the Championship campaign against Watford, with the 24-year-old recording more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper in the division. He becomes the first Swan keeper since Dorus de Vries (24) in 2009-10 to win the award.

Woodman’s performances between the sticks have caught the eye once again in what is his second season-long loan spell from Newcastle United.

And Cooper believes the award is testament to a fine team effort throughout the season, with the Swans boss hoping it can act as a catalyst as his side enters the play-offs.

Freddie Woodman

“It’s great for Freddie to have recognition like this, and he was quick to point out that it was more of an award for the efforts of the team,” said Cooper.

“That’s what we stand for here – it’s all about the team, and everyone within the squad shares that belief. It’s something that we’re passionate about, and it has been an approach that has served us well once again this season.

“Defensively we have been very strong, and that is down to the performances throughout the team – starting with the attackers doing their jobs up top, through to the midfielders and defence and finally with the goalkeeper – and the coaches that work day in, day out with them.

“Everyone is interlinked, and we’ve been very pleased with the defensive aspect of our game this season, and this award proves that we’ve been doing that particularly well.

“We’ve now got to take those performances into the play-offs because we are going into two tough games.

“It’s a challenge we’re really looking forward to and we’re going to give it everything we’ve got.”