Under-21s take on Birmingham City
1st September
Swansea City Under-21s grabbed their first league win of the season with a dominant performance against Birmingham City.
The home side took the lead early on as Alex Samuel headed home following a good stop from Conel Trueman, before new signing Modou Barrow doubled the lead with a cool finish.
Chris Llewellyn's side continued their dominance after the break and netted a third when Liam Shephard's shot flew in off the underside of the crossbar.
Birmingham rallied late on and pulled two goals back through Olly Lee and Will Packwood, but it was too little too late as the hosts claimed a deserved win.
New signing Modou Barrow, who arrived from Swedish side Ostersunds, received international clearance in time to make his debut while Giancarlo Gallifuoco also started after he signed a one-year deal at the club.
SWANS U21s: Gregor Zabret, Liam Shephard, Stephen Kingsley (Raheem Hanley, 70), Jay Fulton (Henry Jones, ht), Giancarlo Gallifuoco, Scott Tancock (capt), Modou Barrow (Ryan Hedges, ht), Adam King, Alex Samuel, Josh Sheehan, Kenji Gorre.
SUBS NOT USED: Oliver Davies, Connor Roberts.
BIRMINGHAM U21s: Conel Trueman, Josh Cogley, Amari Bell, Callum Reilly, Will Packwood (capt), Josh Martin, Charlie Adams (Liam Truelove, 55), Olly Lee, Luke Armstrong (Viv Solomon, ht), Denny Johnstone, Navis Nasseri (George McGee, ht)
SUBS NOT USED: Bobby Moseley, James Fry.
On a fine evening at Landore, the visitors made a bright start and came close to opening the scoring when striker Denny Johnstone's low shot was superbly tipped away by Gregor Zabret.
But despite that left off, it was the home side who broke the deadlock on 11 minutes.
Kenji Gorre did well down the left flank and after cutting inside and seeing his curling shot saved by Conel Trueman, Alex Samuel was on hand to nod the ball into an empty net.
The Swans came close to doubling their lead shortly before the half hour mark as Adam King volleyed wide from six yards, while Gorre's teasing cross from the left narrowly evaded the far post.
But Chris Llewellyn's side didn't have to wait long before they were celebrating again as a second goal duly arrived on 32 minutes.
Again it was Gorre who caused problems down the left, and after a neat one-two with Josh Sheehan his low centre was tucked home by debutant Modou Barrow.
King nearly added a third in the final minute of the first half as he shot wide from Sheehan's pull back, while Zabret had to be on his toes to deny Luke Armstrong.
Half time: Swans U21s 2 Birmingham U21s 0
Both sides made a double change at the break, as Modou Barrow and Jay Fulton made way for Ryan Hedges and Henry Jones, while Viv Solomon and George McGee were introduced in place of Luke Armstrong and Navis Nasseri for the visitors.
And both of Swansea's substitutes were immediately involved as Jones played Hedges in on goal with a fine pass, but the winger's effort just rolled the wrong side of the left-hand post.
The home side continued their early dominance as skipper Scott Tancock met Gorre's deep cross, but the defender saw his header well saved by Trueman.
But on the hour mark the Swans scored their third of the evening as Jones teed up Liam Shephard, who struck a superb shot into the roof of the net.
With 20 minutes to play the impressive Stephen Kingsley was replaced by Raheem Hanley, while Will Packwood's header was kept out by Zabret.
However, Birmingham rallied in the final ten minutes and after Olly Lee pulled one back with a neat finish, skipper Will Packwood headed home in injury time but it was too little too late for the visitors.
