Steve Cooper | We showed we can battle and win ugly

Steve Cooper felt Swansea City underlined their willingness to win ugly when the situation requires as they beat Barnsley and remained in the automatic promotion places.

Goals from Ben Cabango and Jamal Lowe sealed the win at Oakwell; Cabango heading in a long throw from Connor Roberts on half-time, before Lowe capitalised on a defensive mistake after the interval.

It moves the Swans four points clear of third-placed Bournemouth, and stretched their unbeaten run to six games in all competitions.

There was also a 14th Championship clean sheet of the season to take back to South Wales alongside the three points, and the Swansea head coach praised his side’s application.

“A 2-0 scoreline away from home is always a brilliant result in this league,” he said.

“We had to work hard for it, it was not a pretty affair to observe at times but that is what it took.

“The pitch was difficult, it was windy, conditions were tough and Barnsley looked to put us on the back foot and were quite direct.

“You have to be able to deal with those things, otherwise you can get caught in your own half and jumped on.

“We showed a different side to us today, and credit to the lads because they did it really well.

“It probably wasn’t a pretty affair, but it was a fairly comfortable win.”