Rodgers

Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers said their Championship playoff win over Nottingham Forest on Monday was inspired by their first-leg heroics.

The Welsh outfit held Forest to a 0-0 draw away from home despite playing much of the first leg a man down after Neil Taylor was sent off in just the second minute.

Swansea then took the advantage in Monday’s second leg when they went 2-0 up inside 33 minutes at Liberty Stadium, before eventually holding on for a 3-1 triumph.

Rodgers said the first leg’s scoreless draw was the reason his side were headed for the richest match in world football – the winner of which is granted the chance to play in the English Premier League.

“They were heroic in that first game, that’s what allows you to have these celebrations tonight,” Rodgers told Sky Sports.

“We could easily have been out of the game but to play the way we did … tactically we were very, very good. You need a big heart and all these guys have hearts the size of bin lids.”

Regardless of the result in May 30’s playoff final at Wembley – where his side will face either Reading or Welsh rivals Cardiff City – Northern Irishman Rodgers was proud of Swansea’s efforts to make it this far.

“I’ve been proud of them all season, no matter what happened in the playoffs. I think we showed everything. We played football and then we had to be resilient,” he said.

“It was a wonderful match, fantastic for the viewers and a great, great win for us.”

“It’s been a fantastic semi-final. Forest are very good side. They pass the ball and have got players that can hurt you.”

“At 2-0, they had chances and hit the bar as well, but I can’t speak highly enough of my players. They’re a wonderful group.”

Forest manager Billy Davies said he was keen to help the club recover from the heartbreak of reaching the playoffs on three occasions since 2003 and failing to make the final each time, let alone progress to the English Premier League.

“There is one year left of a three-and-a-half-year agreement with the Forest board and I have got no doubt that we have already started, as a staff, preparing for next season and what we’ve got to do,” Davies told Sky Sports.

“What we will do is we will certainly go and enjoy a good break along with the players. We will certainly plan and prepare, again, for a start of a new season.”

“And we will look forward to what will be another fantastic year and a fantastic challenge.”