Swansea City Under-23s West Brom Premier League 2
6th March
Oli McBurnie's ninth PL2 goal of the season helped Swansea City Under-23s beat West Brom and all but mathematically seal the division 2 title.
The Swans dominated the first half as McBurnie, Jordan Garrick, Adam King and Keston Davies all went close to taking the lead.
West Brom rallied in the second half but McBurnie's header in the 71st minute sealed a deserved victory for the young Swans in what was their 15th league win of the season.
Wolves' defeat at Aston Villa means Swansea only need one point to confirm the title, with the Midlands side to play at the Liberty Stadium next week.
Gary Richards and Cameron Toshack made five changes to the side beat Hertha Berlin II 5-1 in the Premier League International Cup.
Defenders Joe Rodon and Connor Roberts were back in the starting XI with Rodon partnering Keston Davies at centre-back, while Roberts made his seventh PL2 start at full-back.
Jordan Garrick, Adnan Maric and George Byers were the three other changes to the side in midfield. Meanwhile, Daniel James and Botti Biabi missed out through injury.
West Brom had not won in the league since October with their last result in PL2 a 2-1 defeat at Middlesbrough with Kyle Edwards on target for the Baggies.
The home side included Everton loanee and England Under-21 international Brendan Galloway in their starting XI. The young defender has first-team experience with MK Dons, Everton and West Brom.
WBA U23s: Jack Rose, Kane Wilson, Kyle Howkins, Jack Fitzwater (capt), Brendan Galloway, Sam Field, Rakeem Harper, Jonathan Leko, Kyle Edwards, Tahvon Campbell, Callum Morton.
SUBS: House, O'Shea, Melbourne, Bradley, Wright.
SWANS U23s: Gregor Zabret, Tyler Reid, Connor Roberts, Ryan Blair, Keston Davies (capt), Joe Rodon, Jordan Garrick, Adnan Marić, Oli McBurnie, Adam King, George Byers.
SUBS: Aaron Lewis, Lewis Thomas, Jack Evans, Tom Dyson, Kieran Evans.
Swansea almost took the lead from the kick-off as Oli McBurnie's ball put Adam King through on goal only for the midfielder to flash a fierce shot inches wide.
The Swans continued to attack as McBurnie weaved his way into the box to force a corner with Joe Rodon heading the resulting ball wide before King fired over the bar from 25 yards.
McBurnie forced Baggies keeper Jack Rose into a crucial save as he punched clear a curling 20-yard free-kick from the striker midway through the half.
Kyle Howkins' run was the only real chance for the home side in a sparse first period for West Brom as the Swans kept up the pressure in the final third.
Jordan Garrick's ball allowed McBurnie to cut inside from the left before he fired a vicious shot inches over the bar.
Garrick's shot from the left wing then tested Rose before superb saves from the Baggies keeper denied a low shot from McBurnie and a pinpoint header from captain Keston Davies seconds later.
Swansea dominated the opening half but could not find breakthrough with the score goalless at half-time.
HALF-TIME: WBA U23s 0-0 SWANS U23s
Both teams battled in midfield as the game became stretched with end-to-end attacks but few clear-cut chances in the final third for large parts of the half.
Tyler Reid saw his cross blocked as the Baggies defence cleared another corner off the line with Swansea continuing to press for the breakthrough.
But the pressure paid off for Swansea as a searching ball into the box from captain Davies found McBurnie, and he headed past the oncoming Rose from eight yards to give the U23s the lead.
Gregor Zabret then kept out a free-kick before West Brom midfielder Tahvon Campbell flashed a shot just wide inside the final ten minutes.
Rose punched a corner from Byers clear of goal as the Swans went in search of another goal to kill the game off.
But, at the other end, the hosts went within inches of clinching a point as they hit the crossbar.
And the Swans had to dig deep to secure their victory as Ryan Blair came to the rescue by heading off the line in stoppage time to ensure the Swans secured their 15th league win of the season to take a step closer to sealing the division 2 title.
But, at the other end, the hosts went within inches of clinching a point as they hit the crossbar.
And the Swans had to dig deep to secure their victory as Ryan Blair came to the rescue by heading off the line in stoppage time to ensure the Swans secured their 15th league win of the season to take a step closer to sealing the division 2 title.
