"Watford performance shows strength in depth"

Steve Cooper felt Swansea City’s performance at Watford highlighted the strength in depth in his squad.

A 2-1 defeat at Vicarage Road ended Swansea’s run in the Carabao Cup, but they were more than a match for Premier League opposition on the night.

That was despite Cooper making eight alterations from the line-up that had started the weekend draw at Bristol City.

The head coach felt the Hornets had been second best such was the quality of Swansea’s performance, and feels it highlights just how difficult selection is going to be for him moving forward.

“It is encouraging. We are disappointed because we do not want to lose football matches, but the greater good shows the strength in depth in the squad,” he said.

“I have picked a similar team in the league but it will not always be like that. I really believe anyone training with the first team is capable of playing for us in any game.

“Tonight showed that. That was no second team out there, we put out a team we thought could win and we should have.

“We were the better team facing an established Premier League team with some really good players and we made them look second best.”