Steve Cooper | Missed chances have cost us

20th April
First team
QPR home Steve Cooper

Steve Cooper was left to rue missed chances as Swansea City saw their automatic promotion hopes all but ended by defeat to Queens Park Rangers.

Lyndon Dykes netted a 90th minute winner for the Rs at the Liberty Stadium.

The 1-0 defeat leaves the Swans nine points adrift of second-placed Watford – who also have a healthy advantage in terms of goal difference – with three games left after the Hornets picked up a 1-0 win at already-promoted Norwich this evening.

The Swans had their opportunities during an open first half, with Wayne Routledge being denied by the post and then over-running another sight of goal.

Korey Smith was also denied by QPR keeper Joe Lumley, and head coach Cooper felt those missed chances were the difference.

“We are disappointed, we missed chances in the first half, and they have ended up costing us on the basis we have ended up conceding,” he said.

“If somebody had said we were going to create as many chances as that in one half then we would have been happy, and we would have expected to at least take one of them.

QPR home Korey Smith

“We did not manage to create as much in the second half, partly because we did not manage the ball and the game well enough.

“We turned it over too much, and lacked a bit of composure, which is unlike us.

“When you do that you give up territory, and in the end allowed QPR to get into areas where they can create and score.”

And Cooper also accepted that Swansea’s automatic promotion hopes are practically over, but urged them to respond and ready themselves for the task of sealing their play-off spot.

“Technically it’s not over, but it’s a mammoth task now and we have not helped ourselves tonight,” he added.

“We now have to make sure we get ready and win our next game, there are three left and unless we win games nothing can happen. We know that.

“We did not get the job done tonight, we have to try and get it done in the next one.”