Report | Fleetwood Town U21s 0 Swansea City U21s 1

Swansea City Under-21s sealed a Professional Development League play-off place with a 1-0 victory over Fleetwood Town at Highbury.

A first-half goal from Morgan Bates - his 24th of the season - proved decisive as Swansea claimed all three points away from home.

The Swans still have the opportunity to finish higher in the table given they have two games in hand on many of the teams around them, but this win means a top-eight finish is secured. 

The age-grade will go on to play a side from Premier League 2 in the coming weeks with details to be confirmed in due course.

It was a slow burner of a contest at the home of the Cods, but it was the visitors that dominated possession early on.

Fleetwood's skipper Owen Davenport had a big opportunity to break the deadlock after 30 minutes with a powerful strike inside the area, but it proved to be a simple save for Joe Collins in the Swans goal.

And moments later, Bates made no mistake to finish into an open net after an initial Josh Pescatore effort was parried by Fleetwood stopper Luke Hewitson.

Hewitson was called into action again almost immediately, but prevented the hosts from going two goals down as a diving save denied a Pescatore strike.

There was little goalmouth action in the second period, but the hosts pressed relentlessly in hope of bringing themselves level in their final game of the 2025-26 campaign.

Collins and a strong Swansea backline defended well to deny chances from Sean Costelloe and Jonah Walker, and a last-gasp headed clearance in added time from Carter Heywood ensured the Swans held on to their 1-0 lead.

Swansea City Under-21s: Joe Collins, Carter Heywood, Harlan Perry, Dan Watts (captain), Blair McKenzie, Iestyn Jones, Josh Pescatore, Yori Griffith, Morgan Bates, Milo Robinson, Aimar Govea.

Substitutes: Caleb Demery, Jakub Nowak, Thomas Woodward, Thomas Searle, Josiah Kallicharan.