REPORT: Norwich City U21s 0 Swansea City U21s 1
6th December
A second-half header from Oli McBurnie put Swansea City Under-21s into the Checkatrade Trophythird round with a 1-0 win over an experienced Norwich side on Tuesday.
The Canaries were reduced to ten men in a very quiet first half as Ben Godfrey was shown a red card for a professional foul on McBurnie.
The Swans were made to work hard for the result at Carrow Road but the winning goal came from McBurnie in the 74th minute as the striker headed home a cross from George Byers.
Gary Richards and Cameron Toshack made three changes to the side that beat League Two side Plymouth Argyle in the Checkatrade Trophy last month.
Experienced German goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel returned for his second start in the competition as one of the Swans' overage players.
He was joined in defence by 22-year-old defender Alfie Mawson, who helped the young Swans defeat Newport County at Rodney Parade in the group stage.
Academy product Jack Evans was the final change in midfield while striker Oli McBurnie started up front.
Norwich lined up with experience in front of their home fans including six senior pros in their squad.
Winger Matt Jarvis made his long-awaited return from injury, while defenders Steven Whittaker and Timm Klose and midfielders Youssouf Mulumbu, Sergi Canos and Josh Murphy were also included against the Swans.
NORWICH U21s: Ben Killip, Steven Whittaker, Matt Jarvis, Timm Klose (capt), Sergi Canos, Youssouf Mulumbu, Carlton Morris, Josh Murphy (Diallang Jaiyesimi, 77), Ben Godfrey, Raymond Grant, Louis Ramsay.
SUBS: Jack Hallett, Conor McGrandles, Michee Efete, Joe Crowe, Glenn Middleton, Louis McIntosh.
SWANS U21s: Gerhard Tremmel, Joe Rodon, Tyler Reid, Ryan Blair, Keston Davies (capt), Alfie Mawson, Daniel James, Jack Evans (Tom Holland, 66), Oli McBurnie, George Byers, Alex Samuel (Alex Bray, 59).
SUBS: Aaron Lewis, Lewis Thomas, Botti Biabi, Jordan Garrick, Tom Plezier.
A quiet first half saw both sides create few chances at Carrow Road.
Striker Carlton Morris fired wide for Norwich inside the opening ten minutes before Swans midfielder Ryan Blair was called on to clear a header from the six-yard box.
At the other end, Swansea struggled to create many clear cut chances. A cross from Alex Samuel on the right wing looked dangerous but failed to find target man Oli McBurnie, then the winger fired wide of Ben Killip's goal minutes later.
Norwich were reduced to ten men after 25 minutes as Ben Godfrey was shown a red card for a professional foul on McBurnie as the Swans striker raced towards goal.
The Swans' best chance came from Daniel James as the winger cut inside from the left before firing a low shot at goal, but that was saved comfortably by Killip.
Swansea could not make the man advantage count in the opening period, however, with the scores goalless at half-time.
HALF-TIME: Norwich City U21s 0 Swansea City U21s 0
Swansea made a promising start to the second half and they had the ball in the back of the net ten minutes after the restart as James rifled home from close range only for the goal to be disallowed for a foul on the keeper.
Minutes later James turned provider as the winger's cross from the left found McBurnie in the area, but the striker headed his effort just over the bar.
Despite being down to ten men Norwich looked to hit back and they also found the net. Youssouf Mulumbu found Morris in the area and he beat Gerhard Tremmel, but the striker's goal was ruled offside.
Tremmel was then alert to save from Steven Whittaker's long-range shot after 70 minutes before a counter attack from the Swans saw James cut inside with a rifled shot that was denied by Killip.
But Swansea broke the deadlock minutes later as George Byers' cross from a blocked corner found McBurnie, and he headed into the roof of the net from three yards.
Swansea had to focus to keep their lead intact in the closing stages as Morris and Murphy went close to netting equalisers for the Canaries.
The Swans went close to adding a second late on as a well-worked free-kick found saw substitute Alex Bray, but he was denied by the Norwich defence.
