Byron Anthony | Let’s take positives forward

29th March
Byron Anthony

Byron Anthony wants Swansea City Under-18s to take the momentum from their previous game into Tuesday’s Professional Development League South clash with Charlton Athletic (11am).

The young Swans travel to East London aiming to record their first win in four matches.

Anthony’s youthful side – predominantly consisting of under-16s players – were swept aside 8-1 by a vastly experienced Charlton when the sides met at Landore earlier this month.

However, they produced a positive response in their most recent outing away at Queens Park Rangers.

The Swans demonstrated tremendous character to come from behind on two occasions, while they were extremely unfortunate to see the Rs snatch the points with the last kick of the game.

Anthony is pleased at the strides made by his players in a short space of time, and has encouraged them to build on that against the Addicks.

“We want to take the positives from the QPR game and carry them into this fixture,” he said. “I thought there were a lot of individual and collective improvements in that game.

“The boys have had a break to take those on board and refresh their minds and bodies ready to go into a busy week.

“The reverse fixture was not so long ago, and some of the players will definitely be looking to turn that around, put in a really good shift and bring those positives to the table.

Byron Anthony

“You don’t like losing, but you focus on the manner in which you do. 

“The players have definitely reacted to that in training and in games, so it’s about carrying those key messages into this game.”

The trip to Charlton marks the start of another hectic period for the young Swans, who also face Middlesbrough in the FA Youth Cup fourth round on Friday.

It will be the first of 12 games they face in the space of 43 days.

Anthony has urged his players to embrace the busy schedule, while ensuring that they stick to their principles at every opportunity.

“We’ve got so many games over the next few weeks; the players are in for a really busy schedule," he added.

“They’re definitely going to get the opportunity to be robust and be put under pressure to play those games in a short period of time.

“We want to always look like a Swansea City team by dominating the ball and be on the front foot without it. 

“We’re a possession-based team, so we want the ball as much as possible to showcase what our players can do.”