Report | Swansea City 0 Birmingham City 1
Swansea City exited the Carabao Cup as August Priske’s late first-half goal saw Birmingham City progress to the second round.
The Blues forward netted the only goal of the game when he converted a volleyed cross from close-range in the final minute of normal time in the opening period.
That opening period had been one the hosts had enjoyed the better of, with Adam Idah and Elijah Just having their best chances.
Marko Stamenic was denied by a stunning James Beadle save in the second half as the Swans suffered frustration.
Nevertheless, there were positive signs of a growing understanding as new signings Just, Moussa Yeo and Joseph Opoku all enjoyed eye-catching moments and there were numerous bright passages of play where final passes that went astray will surely start to stick in the weeks ahead, while Filip Lissah was once again assured on his first start for the club.
The Swans had shown one change from the friendly win over Leganes, with skipper Ben Cabango returning from illness in place of Josh Key as Lissah moved across to right-back.
Just, Yeo and Opoku made their competitive debuts following their respective summer arrivals.
The Swansea settled the quicker of the two teams, Cameron Burgess sending a free header over the bar from a corner, while Yeo and Opoku both enjoyed early forays down the flanks.
Slick build-up then allowed Just to pick out Idah’s run, but the striker’s cutback for Melker Widell was cleared by covering blue shirts.
Idah was soon involved again, Opoku advancing into space to feed the forward, whose low shot was straight at James Beadle in the visiting goal.
The best chance yet arrived just before the half-hour mark. Swansea played out from the back for Josh Tymon to break forward and feed Opoku.
The winger attracted three defenders and then squared for Just, who guided a low left-foot strike just wide of the target.
Opoku then blasted wide from a quickfire Swansea counter a few moments later.
Birmingham had barely threatened, but they registered a first attempt on goal just before the interval when Lawrence Vigouroux needed to tip a Jay Stansfield header over the bar.
And they then took the lead when Priske turned in a volleyed cross inside the six-yard box in the final minute of the opening 45.
It was harsh on the hosts, who had enjoyed the better of the contest, but they had to endure some uncomfortable moments early in the second half as Birmingham, spurred on by breaking the deadlock, showed more positive intent.
Two separate Carlos Vicente deliveries needed Lissah to be alert with blue shirts around him at the back post, but around the hour mark the Swans began to build momentum once again.
Matos made a quartet of changes as Fulton, Zan Vipotnik, Josh Key and Leo Walta were all introduced as Widell, Idah, Lissah and Yeo made way respectively.
Cabango made an outstanding tackle as Birmingham sub Demarai Gray threatened to bear down on the Swans goal from a counter, and Swansea nearly took full advantage of the captain’s good work when Fulton sent a low shot goalward from a corner, only for Beadle to make a brilliant save low to his left.
Marko Stamenic then sent a volley bobbling wide from a Tymon cross as the contest entered its final 15 minutes, before the New Zealander’s appeals for a penalty fell on deaf ears as he went down while holding off his marker in the area.
Cabango headed wide from Walta’s free-kick as the Swans efforts to find a leveller to send the tie to penalties fell short.
Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux; Filip Lissah (Josh Key 63), Ben Cabango (captain), Cameron Burgess, Josh Tymon; Marko Stamenic (Jisung Eom 81), Melker Widell (Jay Fulton 63), Elijah Just; Moussa Yeo (Leo Walta 63), Joseph Opoku; Adam Idah (Zan Vipotnik 63).
Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Tiago Parente, Stephen Welsh, Ronald.
Birmingham City: James Beadle, Christoph Klarer (captain), Phil Neumann, Carlos Vicente (Scott Wright 95), Paik Seung-ho (Demarai Gray 63), August Priske (Luis Vazquez 72), Jhon Solis, Alex Cochrane (Lee Buchanan 46), Tomoki Iwata, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Jay Stansfield (Ethan Laird 72).
Unused Substitutes: Ryan Allsop, Patrick Roberts, Dael Fry, Kristoffer Lund.
Referee: Ruebyn Ricardo
Attendance: 11,283