Swansea City 2-1 Derby County: Swans fight back to leave Rams in relegation trouble

Morgan Whittaker celebrates scoring a first league goal since joining Swansea from Derby for around £700,000 in February

Derby County's fight to stay in the Championship will go to the final day of the season after they were beaten 2-1 at Swansea City.

Wayne Rooney's side suffered a sixth straight defeat, despite going in front through a Tom Lawrence header.

Former Derby youngster Morgan Whittaker headed Swansea level before Connor Roberts volleyed in a fine winner.

Derby are three points above the relegation zone in 21st, while Swansea climb to fourth.

The Rams host 22nd-place Sheffield Wednesday next Saturday, while Rotherham United are level on points with the Owls and still have two games to play.

Wycombe Wanderers are also alongside Wednesday on 40 points, but their vastly inferior goal difference means they are all but down.

There was little pressure on Swansea coming into the contest after they sealed a play-off place last weekend, but tension reigned for Derby.

Rooney had brought his squad to Wales on Tuesday in the hope of inspiring an upturn in fortunes, but they almost made a desperate start as Swansea broke from a long throw into their box.

Jamal Lowe led the counter and fed Whittaker, but his touch was heavy and the chance was gone.

There was just one more genuine opportunity in a first period that was short on attacking quality, with Kamil Jozwiak centring for Colin Kazim-Richards only for Ben Cabango to save Swansea with a diving block which made life easy for Freddie Woodman.

The breakthrough Derby craved came early in the second half, when Nathan Byrne whipped in a crossed from the right and Wales international Lawrence got between defenders to head past Woodman from point-blank range.

Swansea had looked short of attacking inspiration, yet found their way back into the game through a short corner.

Wayne Rooney's team have not won since 2 April

Yan Dhanda eventually crossed to the far post for Cabango, who nodded back across goal for Whittaker, whose flicked header just crossed the line before Kelle Roos could intervene.

Whittaker's first league goal since joining Swansea from Derby in February lifted the home side, who swiftly went in front as Matt Grimes spotted the run of Roberts and he flashed a sweet volley inside the near post.

Lowe then stroked the ball into the net only for his effort to be ruled out for offside, before Kazim-Richards' firm header drew a smart save from Woodman as Swansea held on for a first home win in five attempts.

Swansea head coach Steve Cooper:

"Recently we've dropped too many points here. We've conceded some late goals of late and it was good to see out the win.

"We have got 80 points in a really tough season, with the circumstances that we have to work and play in. The lads deserve so much credit for that and I am really proud of them that they have done that.

"If we can get to 83 points, that's impressive. What we wanted to do before today was get as many points as we can. If we finish third, fourth, fifth or sixth, we take that as it comes.

"We are not sitting here saying we want to play this team or that team, because when you qualify for the play-offs, you are a good team. Whoever we play, they are going to be difficult ties."

Derby manager Wayne Rooney:

"We can't keep giving goals away. We are shooting ourselves in the foot by conceding two goals in three minutes. You can't afford to do that.

"We're in a position now where we know we have to win on Saturday. Rotherham have to win two games and we have to win our game to give ourselves a chance of staying up.

"The players are fighting for each other. There is no lack of fight or character. The players will be ready for next week. We know what we have to do - we know we have to stay in this league.

"The preparation will good this week and it will be on the players to go and get the three points."