Cooper hails Swansea City "legend" Wayne Routledge

Steve Cooper hailed Swansea City “legend” Wayne Routledge after the winger’s brace from the bench helped his side secure a Championship play-off spot.

With Swansea chasing goals late on, it was Routledge who headed home at the far post to put them into the top six in stoppage time against Reading.

It put the seal on a 4-1 win for the Swans, while Stoke would go on to score a fourth to win by the same scoreline against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

It ensured Cooper’s team leapfrogged the Reds to finish sixth and set-up a play-off semi-final against Brentford.

Routledge had earlier restored Swansea’s lead after a George Puscas penalty had cancelled out Rhian Brewster’s stunning strike, while Liam Cullen showed great composure to net the third and score his first senior goal for the club.

It was a night of incredible drama, but Cooper reserved special praise for Routledge, who has made over 280 appearances for the club since joining in 2011.

“His first goal was just typical Wayne,” said Cooper.

“There is not a training day goes by where he does not do something that makes you go, ‘whoa, that was good’.

“He is a Swansea legend, he is still very focused and he stills loves playing.

“He is a great help to the younger boys, and he has only ever given me 100 per cent respect and support over my time here.

“But he can still play, and for him to do that tonight is just brilliant really.”

Cooper also praised Cullen, as the academy graduate swept home his first senior goal. A strike which suddenly put the Swans within touching distance of their target.

“I also have to mention Liam Cullen,” said Cooper.

“He is an academy graduate, he has scored a load of goals coming through the ranks, he is a local boy and it’s great for him to get his first goal in a game like that, because that was a good finish.”