Rhian Brewster intends for his opening goal for Swansea City to be the sign of much more to come.
Manager Steve Cooper hailed Brewster’s finishing after the Liverpool loanee claimed his first goal in senior football.
The England Under-17 World Cup winner was on target as Swansea climbed to fifth in the Sky Bet Championship standings with a 2-1 home victory over Wigan.
“It was a great time to get it with us being 1-0 down at the time,” said Brewster. “It was good to get my first goal for Swansea. Hopefully, it is the first of many.
“We just kept believing and kept going until Andre got the second goal. I thought the lads worked very, very hard and it was a great game for us.
“We know there are no easy games in the Championship. Wigan were very good at what they did – scoring their goal and pushing us back towards the end of the game. That’s just football.
“We defended well and managed to get the 2-1 win and I really enjoyed my first game here at the Liberty. The fans were excellent again; you could hear them loud and clear and I love that.”
Brewster fits Swansea like a glove, according to Cooper.
“Strikers love scoring and it was a really good finish,” said Cooper.
“I’ve seen him score hundreds of them during my time with Liverpool and with the national team. That little power run in behind and the quick finish.
“It will not do him any harm, it will build his confidence and he will realise he will have to make those runs and make those opportunities for players to make those passes.
“He is a young boy who is loving life in Swansea. The fans have been great with him and he wants to give a bit back. He knows that’s important.”
Rhian Brewster off the mark for Swansea! pic.twitter.com/fw8PSMPzpK
— Couch Nish (@CouchNish) January 18, 2020
Swansea won back-to-back home games for the first time since August and have now lost only once in eight. They are fifth in the table and with Leeds United losing at QPR, the Swans are now just seven points from the automatic promotion places.
Andre Ayew struck the second-half winner as Chelsea teenager Conor Gallagher, who joined on loan in midweek, impressed on his Swansea debut.
“Both goals were how we want to play, getting in between the lines, playing wide and creating proper chances,” Cooper said.
“Not hopeful crosses, snapshots or things like that. Half-time was important. We got some messages to the players. We felt we were not quite at the level we want be at, but we looked a threat when we moved the ball.”
Wigan remain deep in relegation trouble after a ninth defeat in 16 league games, a sequence that has brought only one win.
The Latics remain two points from safety, having played one more game than 21st-placed Stoke.
“Of course we’ve still got the fight, you have to,” said manager Paul Cook. “It’s same old, same old. We’ve been there before.
“We managed to take the lead and then we gave a goal away which you couldn’t make up. But it’s the way our season’s gone. We gave away another cheap goal.
“The lads don’t lie down, but we lacked quality.”
Wigan at least had the satisfaction of welcoming back striker Kieffer Moore from injury.
The Wales striker had been out since early December and has been the subject of interest from Championship rivals Cardiff in the January transfer window.
“It’s well publicised Cardiff made a couple of bids for Kieffer and that’s where it’s at,” Cook added.
“But Kieffer’s back in now, fit and playing, and that’s good for the club.”