Report | Swansea City U21s 0 Sheffield United U21s 2
Swansea City Under-21s kicked off their Professional Development League campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Sheffield United at the Swansea.com Stadium.
Goals from Ehije Ukaki and Sam Curtis were enough to condemn the Swans to their first defeat of the season following Friday’s win over Birmingham City in the Premier League Cup.
Having named an unchanged starting XI, it was Anthony Wright’s side who made the more assertive start in SA1. Florian Bianchini’s sweeping cross from the left nearly picked out the run of Joe Davies at the far post, but the forward’s header drifted just wide.
Swansea continued to enjoy plenty of possession, but it was the Blades who threatened midway through the half. Christopher Eadie broke the line well, forcing Evans Watts into a strong diving save before Ukaki fired the rebound over the crossbar.
The Swans then had two good chances to take the lead. Joel Cotterill’s cross found Milo Robinson, who rose highest but saw his header blocked, before Bianchini continued to cause problems down the left and curled an effort from distance just wide of Tommy Bett’s goal.
Despite Swansea enjoying the better of the play, the Blades took the lead in the 35th minute. The hosts failed to clear their lines from a corner, allowing Ukaki to fire a low effort through a crowded penalty area and beyond Watts.
On the stroke of half-time, Cotterill looked to draw his side level with a free-kick from distance, but his effort lacked the accuracy required as the visitors took a narrow lead into the break.
Cotterill teed up Robinson with a well-worked free-kick shortly after the restart, but Betts stood up well in the Blades goal to preserve his side’s advantage.
Thomas Woodward then connected with Billy Clarke’s cross, but Betts was again equal to the effort, making a routine save.
Despite those Swansea chances, it was the Blades who extended their lead midway through the second half, with Curtis rising highest from a swinging corner to power a header beyond the reach of Watts.
Wright responded with a double change, with Sebastian Dabrowski making his return from injury and Kai Rhodes introduced. Rhodes made an immediate impact seconds after coming on, cutting inside from the left before curling an effort just wide of the target.
The Swans continued their search for a way back into the contest late on, but could not find a breakthrough as the Blades held on to secure victory in SA1.
Swansea City Under-21s: Watts, Clarke, Fanning (Dabrowski 70), Cotterill, Parker, Jones, Davies, Robinson (Rhodes 70), Woodward, Griffith (C), Bianchini (Cook 60).
Unused substitutes: Collins, Perry.