Toshack: PL Cup win Important

Cameron Toshack believes it was important for Swansea City Under-23s to get back on track in the Premier League Cup following an impressive 5-1 rout of Colchester United at Landore.

The defending champions claimed their first victory in this season’s competition as they bounced back from last week’s 6-3 defeat at Newcastle.

The hosts fielded a side that boasted a blend of youth and experience as the likes of Mael Davies, Brandon Cooper and Matt Blake started alongside the more established names of Jay Fulton and two-goal Oli McBurnie, as well as Federico Fernandez in the heart of defence.

And Toshack was delighted with the performance of his players, who he felt were very much on top for the majority of the contest.

“They delivered the goods for us this evening,” the under-23s coach said. “I was pleased with the way we played on the front foot throughout the whole game. 

“I felt we should have been two or three goals clear at half-time but, in football, you don’t always get what you want and deserve.

“In fairness Colchester kept going and managed to get a goal before half-time, but it gave us a chance to reset and focus on what we’re good at.

“It was important for us to get back to winning ways. We’ve thrown in a few younger boys who don’t play regularly and they’ve performed very well. 

“It was also a good opportunity for one or two experienced players to drop in and help the development of the younger players whilst also getting minutes under their belt, and they performed very well too.”

The fixtures keep coming for the young Swans, who are next in action against Manchester United in Premier League 2 on Monday before taking on Liverpool four days later. They end 2017 with a game against Athletic Bilbao in the International Cup on December 20.

And despite the busy schedule, Toshack is impressed by the healthy competition for places in an ever-growing squad of players.

“We’ve got a big group and the boys are finding out that if you play well, you’ll always get an opportunity,” he added. “The competition for places is rising all the time. 

“Gary and I are really pleased at the way the young men are training in the middle of a very busy schedule. The players have had a very good attitude.

“We now have three fantastic elite fixtures for our young men to push towards Christmas time, when they’ll get a well-deserved break.”