Steve Cooper | We were the better side

Head coach Steve Cooper felt Swansea City had been the better side as their Carabao Cup run was ended at Watford.

The Swans suffered a 2-1 defeat, but gave their Premier League opponents a stern examination at Vicarage Road and could feel with some justification that they would have at least merited a penalty shoot-out.

They had fallen behind when Danny Welbeck’s deflected header found the net, but the visitors levelled with a fantastic flowing move finished by Sam Surridge.

However, Roberto Pereyra bundled in a cross from substitute Gerard Deulofeu with just 11 minutes to play to ensure it was the Hornets who went into the hat for the last 16.

But Cooper had plenty of positives to take from a fine display.

“The performance was much better than result, that’s for sure. We were by far the best team in the game for large parts,” he said.

“We looked like the home team with the way we played, showing bravery by playing out from the back.

“Obviously we were disappointed to concede off a set play, which was against the run of play.

“But we showed good character, we scored a goal from the move of the match, playing how we want to play.

“We showed great bravery on the ball, we wanted to win and were unlucky to lose.”