Byron Anthony | We were beaten by the better team

Byron Anthony admits Swansea City Under-18s were beaten by the better team as they went down 3-0 against Birmingham City.

Anthony’s side came unstuck against the in-form Blues in their final game of the Professional Development League season at Landore.

First-half goals from Kieran Wakefield and Jordan James put Birmingham well in control as they stretched their unbeaten run to six games.

Rico Patterson was then on target from the penalty spot after the break; inflicting a first defeat in three for the young Swans.

Anthony admitted he was slightly disappointed at the manner in which his players concluded the season.

But the under-18s coach was left with no complaints at the result.

“When you look back immediately after the game, you do so with disappointment,” he said.

“It was a typical end-of-season game, but not one that we wanted to end on.

“We’ve been beaten by the better team today. The players have come up against a really good Birmingham side that pass and move the ball very well.

“I thought we were a little bit flat in the first half and large parts of the second half without the ball. That allowed them to dictate parts of the game that we normally take control of.

“When they beat our initial press, they got in behind us and caused us a few problems.

“We did have a few chances to get back into the game, but then gave a silly penalty away. That put the game to bed and meant we were chasing shadows for the next 30 or 40 minutes.”