Swansea manager Steve Cooper praised his side’s mentality after Tuesday’s 2-0 Championship win at Sheffield Wednesday which lifted them to third in the table, seven points behind second-placed Watford. Jamal Lowe scored his third goal in two games as he broke the deadlock in the 31st minute, turning in a pass from André Ayew. Cooper brought on Connor Roberts in the 73rd minute and less than a minute later he crossed for Jay Fulton to power in the Swans’ second goal.
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Cooper said: “The blip isn’t over yet. It was a good positive response on Saturday and again tonight. The challenge for the boys tonight was to win again after Millwall and it was a real sign of the mentality that I want … These are important games and points matter more than ever at this stage of the season. To play like that over two games is really good. We are certainly chasing Watford now and when there’s a chance, it gives you hope. When you have hope you keep going.”
Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore said: “It was a game of really small margins in terms of the great chance we had to get our noses in front. Once they got the goal, they seemed to then get a foothold in the game and dominated possession of the ball. It was always going to be a tough task then.”
Rotherham manager Paul Warne believes his side have been given a massive boost in their bid for Championship survival after a 3-1 victory over QPR. The Millers came from behind to earn a valuable win and are now just three points behind Thursday evening’s opponents Coventry, who are 21st.
Lyndon Dykes’ emphatic strike early in the second half had put the visitors in front. Rotherham’s response was swift and clinical, with Freddie Ladapo striking twice in three minutes to put Rotherham in the lead. His first came after he controlled and smashed in from Lewis Wing’s pass. The striker then beat the offside trap to latch on to Wes Harding’s through ball and beat Seny Dieng with a cool finish. Rotherham sealed victory in the 90th minute, with Michael Smith lifting the ball over Dieng.
View image in fullscreenFreddie Ladapo of Rotherham (centre) celebrates his first goal against QPR. Photograph: Ryan Browne/BPI/Shutterstock
The Millers still have three games in hand over most but the Coventry game now seems critical. Warne said: “It’s been a good night. For us to win it gives us a real impetus going into Thursday. To win that game with three more home games to come, is a good start and it gives us a good chance of survival. I think impetus and psychology is a massive thing. It gives the lads a right boost … I am really pleased with Freddie. His performance was good but he’s a goalscorer.”
QPR’s Mark Warburton said: “At half-time we were thinking if we get the first goal, it will force Rotherham to come out and we can exploit the openings at the back. We get the first goal and then, very simply, we did not deserve to win the last half hour. Sometimes you have to roll your sleeves up and do the dirty side of the game.”
Elsewhere in the Championship, first-half goals by Philip Billing and Dominic Solanke took Bournemouth to a 2-1 away win against Huddersfield Town, Jonathan Hogg scoring the hosts’ reply with 14 minutes remaining. The victory takes Bournemouth up to fifth, above Barnsley on goal difference.
In League One, third-placed Sunderland were defeated 2-1 at Wigan Athletic. Charlie Wyke opened the scoring before Will Keane and Callum Lang won it for Wigan. Lincoln climbed to fourth with a 4-0 home victory against MK Dons while Oxford United rose to seventh place thanks to a 4-1 win against Shrewsbury.
In League Two, Lloyd Isgrove scored the only goal for third-placed Bolton Wanderers in a 1-0 success at Salford City. Tranmere, in fifth, were defeated 1-0 away by Walsall, Emmanuel Osadebe scoring the winner 20 minutes from time.
