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‘It’s personal’ – Swansea boss furious with referee, contacting the FA over the appointment

‘It’s personal’ – that is the Swansea boss summed up being furious with referee Andy Woolmer, contacting the FA over the appointment.

The head coach Steve Cooper says he got in touch with the Football Association over the official prior to his side’s 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday, leaving the Swans 4th in the Championship table and their opponents 23rd.

There was controversy in the dying minutes of the second half when the Welsh side’s head coach felt his team should have been given a penalty or seen a potential winner from Kasey Palmer stand after his volley hit the back of the net within a couple of seconds left.

Northamptonshire official Woolmer instead chose to give the Owls a free-kick following the goalmouth scramble, leaving the Swansea bench furious at the decision.

Steve Cooper was also left unhappy with a challenge made on Korey Smith which left him with a “terrible gash” on the back of his calf but went unpunished.

“Apparently it was a foul on the goalkeeper that he blew the whistle for. Good luck in writing about that one, whatever it was,” said Cooper.

“But it was a performance I predicted from the official and one that I spoke to the governing body about a few days ago. My prediction was right.

“One thing was for sure, that, whatever the decision was, it was not going to us. It’s personal unfortunately.

“I spoke on the phone to the FA [before the game].

“There were a few warning signs with the appointment, and maybe my gripe isn’t just with the performance on the pitch, maybe it’s with how he came to be here.

“I don’t want to say too much, because we know who loses in these situations, and it’s me and the club with a fine.

“I thought I knew where things were going to go tonight, and sometimes I don’t get things right, but I did with this one.”

Swansea were not at the races in the opening half in south Wales and fell behind in the 27th minute as Reach struck beyond Freddie Woodman from a corner.

However, they were much improved in the second half, and substitute Ayew got the hosts level on the hour mark.

They had numerous chances to win it before being denied in agonising fashion deep into injury time.

But Cooper admits he was pleased with his side’s second half performance after a lacklustre first half showing.

“We didn’t play well enough first half, that’s for sure, and I am not going to lose sight of that when I analyse the game back with the players,” he added.

“We fell into the trap of having loads of the ball, not being quick enough and creative enough with it and getting done on a set-piece or a counter-attack.

“But fair play, a couple of changes second half, an improvement in intensity and we were good for getting back in the game.

“There are some good positives from the second half and Andre ended up giving us a defining moment for the game, a great finish as we have come to expect from him.”

Fans reacted after seeing the Swansea boss furious with the referee, and even contacting the FA over the appointment…

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