It’s been a great season when you look at the progress of Swansea City over the eight months that Russell Martin has been at the club. For the more patient supporter they have seen a definite upwards motion in the type of game the manager wants to play, and it augers well for next season. However, tomorrow the pressure isn’t on Swansea, it’s on the home side as Nottingham Forest look to secure a home win and a prime place in the play offs.

And not least keep up the pressure on Bournemouth for that prized second automatic spot. It could easily still happen. A win for Forest tomorrow and it’s all set up for a right old scrap when Bournemouth and Forest meet on Tuesday on the south coast. The cherries may well have the slightly better run in but they are at Blackburn Rovers tomorrow who still have an outside chance of the play offs.

It’s far from over.

Steve Cooper has been here before, last season in what was a strange and somewhat trance like play off final at a reduced capacity Wembley, and the year before in a game that was thrown away at Griffin Park, Brentford. Cooper must now be feeling the pressure. There’s no doubt about his ability to get a team in to the play offs, not least from the almost desperate way Forest were in when he took over the club.

Facing relegation one month to a turn around that could never be expected is an incredible achievement. Not least if Cooper’s style of play was to be compared with his time at Swansea. This season Cooper with the help of Alan Tate who let’s be honest couldn’t see anything in what Russell Martin wanted when he took over at Swansea - things haven’t been as rosey at Forest for years.

Even on their winning runs this season Cooper has been met with some very odd criticisms, not dissimilar to those he faced at Swansea. However there is a difference this season, he has the backing and armoury to achieve what he has failed to do for the last two attempts at the swans. Cooper will see this play off push as an endorsement of his belief he has the knowledge and skills to get a team out of the championship and in to the premier league.

But what about the pressure ?

Russell Martin has none, if the swans went down by four goals tomorrow it wouldn’t be a surprise, and of course if they throw away a huge lead that wouldn’t come as a surprise either. It’s been that sort of season. In Cooper’s case he has inspired his Forest side to such an enthralling end of season he must take advantage of all his hard work. He cannot fail, because to be a third time failure in the play offs would start to prompt discussion surrounding his management, and ability to take that extra step. For us that’s nonsense but we all know how these things can go.

To give Nathan Jones of Luton the manager of the season award even before the season ends was ridiculous. If Cooper gets his Forest side up when you look at where they were, literally hopeless and facing relegation, that’s a manager of the season. These things can only be judged at the end of the campaign when the sweat is hard dried on the shirt and the stock of all can be reviewed.

It’s going to be an exhilarating game in the championship tomorrow. Swansea City with their freestyle passing against a determined home side with one desire - home win by any means necessary. The bank holiday weekend is here again and a sell out City ground we have no doubt will be electric come 3pm tomorrow afternoon.

A few tickets do remain for travelling Swans supporters, by purchasing them online today means you can pick them up from the away ticket office before tomorrow's game at the city ground. Or of you live locally to SA1 from the ticket office.

Photographs licensed from Reuters

vetchonian added 11:21 - Apr 29 Hit the anilon the head in the article with the comments about Martin and freestyle passing and Cooper and desire to win....sums it up
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