Rodgers: Performance Was Oustanding

Brendan Rodgers said his team’s performance was ‘outstanding’ as they got back to winning ways against Middlesbrough thanks to Scott Sinclair’s late strike.

The Swansea City manager was looking for a response from his side and that’s what he got against an improved Middlesbrough outfit – now managed by Tony Mowbray.

The hosts dominated and played some slick football – especially in the first half – but they were lacking that final quality to score, until Scott Sinclair produced yet another excellent individual strike. He proved to be the difference in the end, as he cut in from the left and found the net with a low shot.

Rodgers said:

“I thought the performance was outstanding.

“We showed great courage and although we had to be patient, we got through with a terrific goal.

“Scott showed great quality for the goal and Joe is showing why I have great belief in him and why he will end this season as one of the top, if not the top, midfield player in this league.”

‘Scott is a talent that I know (from Chelsea) and it is nice that he has come in and done so well.

‘He is a great talent and the goal was a terrific goal, it was a good move.

‘We worked the ball from an Alan Tate throw and within two passes we were in the final third and Scott did what he has been doing all season.

‘He showed great quality to cut inside and finish very well, and it was no more than we deserved.’

‘I said to the players at half-time that they had to keep faith and they did. I thought our performance was outstanding, we showed courage and had to be patient and got the win with a terrific goal,’ he said.

‘We controlled the majority of the game, Middlesbrough have good players and a good manager but we were outstanding in possession, we had chances in the first half which we did not take but then we got the winner in the second half.

‘We were a bit mentally fatigued in the week but we got back on track today against a team that has picked up recently.’