Report | Swansea City 3 Northampton Town 0

A Joel Piroe brace and a stunning Josh Ginnelly effort sealed a place in the Carabao Cup second round for Swansea City with victory over Northampton Town.

They were Piroe’s 45th and 46th goals for the Swans and it was a case of right-place, right-time for both as he finished off a neat move from close range to open the scoring early in the first half, before stretching the lead early in the second by turning in Liam Cullen’s cross.

And it could have been an even more comfortable night for the Swans who created a raft of chances in each half, while Carl Rushworth was largely untroubled at the other end of the pitch but for a smart stop to deny substitute Sam Hoskins just after the hour mark.

Ginnelly then rounded off a good evening with a superb strike from 30 yards to mark his Swans debut in style.

Head coach Michael Duff handed Azeem Abdulai his first senior start for the Swans as one of five changes to the side that lined up against Birmingham City on the opening day of the Championship season. Joe Allen was also brought into the starting XI alongside Kyle Naughton, Ollie Cooper and Cullen.

The Swans had already fashioned a series of good chances before Piroe tapped in right-footed from close range to open the scoring in the 10th minute.

Cooper had shot wide after latching onto a loose ball from a blocked Piroe shot, Naughton had volleyed over from a corner clearance and Nathan Wood had ended his driving run with a shot which was deflected around the post.

The goal itself was born out of excellent work by Cullen – who made the most of a long ball by Rushworth - and Cooper, who was found by the striker’s smart lay-off and was able to drive to the by-line and cut the ball across for the Dutchman to finish at the back post.

Despite the relentless start from the Swans, the visiting Cobblers probably should have been level when Kieron Bowie picked off a loose pass from the Swans’ defence. He only had Rushworth to beat, but dragged his effort wide of the far post in a let off for the home side.

And Bowie was the next to forge a chance when he picked up the ball out wide, drove into the centre and shot wide from the edge of the box.

But the Swans were quickly back on top with Allen and Piroe shooting over the bar from distance, while tireless running from Cooper and Cullen was causing the Cobblers defence all sorts of problems as the home side dominated the ball.

Northampton keeper Max Thompson made two good saves to deny first Matt Grimes and then Allen while Harrison Ashby had a shot blocked after good work down the left between Cooper and Abdulai.

The Swans had two more chances to extend their lead shortly before half-time with Cooper and Cullen at the heart of things again. Cooper pinched the ball back high up the pitch and found Piroe. It was unselfish from the Swans’ number 17 whose lay-off found Cullen, but the attempt to return the ball was cut out.

And Cooper once again found a pocket of space and was able to pick out Cullen’s well-timed run with a clever through ball, but Cullen’s effort smashed against the side netting.

The Swans started the second half as they’d started the first and had forged a number chances before Piroe got his second of the evening just eight minutes after the break.

Cooper was inches from extending the Swans lead almost straight after kick-off after Grimes’ lifted a fantastic ball over the Northampton defence and into the feet of the midfielder. His first touch was a little heavy and, despite launching himself after the ball, it crept the wrong side of the post.

Piroe then went close twice in quick succession before Cooper’s attempt to touch the ball in from close range was somehow cleared off the line.

But the Swans were getting a lot of joy down the right and that was where the second goal came from. Cullen’s ball into the box was deflected up into the chest of Piroe who bundled it in from close range.

Abdulai was next to go close when Piroe slid in the academy product but his low effort was saved.

Wholesale changes followed on the hour and Northampton fashioned their most dangerous chance of the game shortly after.

In the end, it was decisive keeping from Rushworth which denied substitute Hoskins from close range after Northampton hit the Swans on the break from a corner.

Abdulai did well to recover and make the initial block from Louie Appere, while Rushworth was quick off his line to take the bouncing ball away from Hoskins before he could steer it goalward.

And Hoskins was quickly in the action again, shooting over from distance.

The Swans were in control of proceedings for the rest of the half, before Ginnelly put the icing on the cake with a stunning strike from 30 yards to ensure the Swans' place in Wednesday evening’s Carabao Cup second-round draw.

Swansea City: Carl Rushworth; Harry Darling, Kyle Naughton (Mykola Kuharevich 82), Nathan Wood; Azeem Abdulai, Joe Allen (Jay Fulton 61), Matt Grimes (captain) (Jamie Paterson 61), Ollie Cooper, Harrison Ashby (Josh Key 61); Liam Cullen, Joel Piroe (Josh Ginnelly 61’.

Unused substitutes: Andy Fisher, Jerry Yates, Brandon Cooper, Filip Lissah.

Northampton Town: Max Thompson, Aaron McGowan, Sam Sherring (Akin Odimayo 63), Louie Appere, Mitch Pinnock (Jack Sowerby 63), Manny Monthe, Ali Koiki (Patrick Brough 63), Kieron Bowie (Sam Hoskins 63), Marc Leonard (Peter Abimbola 72), Will Hondermarck, Max Dyche.

Unused substitutes: James Dadge, Jacob Scott.