Good evening and a very warm welcome back to the Swansea.com Stadium for our Carabao Cup tie against Nottingham Forest.
This promises to be an exciting test for us as we face Premier League opposition who are gearing up for European football having finished seventh in the top-flight last season. We had a large amount of dealings with them over the summer regarding the purchase of Marko Stamenic and we are incredibly grateful to Mr Marinakis and the team for all of their cooperation in getting the deal done.
Forest are under new stewardship in the form of Ange Postecoglou, and a look at his track record of winning silverware â including last seasonâs Europa League â underlines the calibre of opposition we are up against.
They also possess a tremendously talented player in Elliot Anderson, who recently made his England debut. I know Elliot (affectionately known to us as âBill') from his time on loan at Bristol Rovers, where he helped us secure promotion from League Two in the most dramatic of fashions with a 7-0 final-day victory over Scunthorpe United.
He scored the last of our goals on that unforgettable afternoon three years ago, and I am delighted to see how his career has progressed since then, although I hope he doesnât have too many reasons to cheer tonight!
We head into this game six games unbeaten and having not lost on home turf since mid-March, although we were of course very disappointed to emerge with one point instead of three against Hull City at the weekend.
To have led twice and to have conceded in the final moments of each half was deeply frustrating for players, staff and fans alike, but I think it is clear to see we are heading in a positive direction as a club and, as Alan himself said, there have been periods in a number of games this season where we have looked a very good side. Moving forward consistency will be the key to ensure that we can continue to progress.
We also got to see a first glimpse of Adam Idah in a Swansea shirt, and in his time on the field he showed glimpses of what he will bring to the team following his arrival from Celtic.
The nature of football means there are ups and downs to deal with, but we have an exciting week ahead with tonightâs game and a trip to take on Birmingham in the league lying ahead.
Off the pitch, we have continued to see some really strong progress in all areas. However, I wanted to draw particular attention to retail. Our sales for the first two months of the new financial year were up by 43 per cent compared with the same period in the previous financial year.
Furthermore; following the restructure of the department towards the end of last season, we are able to deliver these sales more efficiently this season. The profitability of the retail department in these two months has more than doubled compared with prior years. This will ultimately help us be more competitive on the pitch. There are lots more plans in this area but I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the team, particularly Ashleigh and Deeza for all of their hard work.
Off the pitch, it was sad to see the passing this week of Ricky Hatton. I have always been a big fan of his and shared some time with him at the recent PFA Awards in Manchester. Despite his achievements in the ring, he was a humble, down-to-earth guy and it is a big loss to us all. Our thoughts and best wishes go out to his family.
Personally, I have also had some difficult news over the past couple of weeks as it has been confirmed that my Mum has sadly been diagnosed with cancer. It goes without saying that I wouldnât be where I am today without her. She has always been hugely supportive of everything I have done in life and now is a time where that support must be repaid as she takes on this challenge with the positivity and warmth that she is known for.
Over time, she has become a big football fan and will be watching today at home so I hope we can put on a positive performance and that in time she will be well enough to join us here in person at the Swansea.com Stadium.
Thank you for all of your support today, we know you will provide us with tremendous backing as always, and letâs hope we can continue our good unbeaten run.
Enjoy the game YJBs.
Tom Gorringe
CEO, Swansea City
Good evening all and welcome back to the Swansea.com Stadium as we take on Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup.
Tonightâs game is a great opportunity and a great test for us as we take on Premier League opposition on home turf.
We face a Forest side who finished seventh in the top-flight last season and have a new manager at the helm with a track record of winning silverware, so we are in no doubt about how difficult a challenge this is.
But these are the sort of tests we need to embrace and look forward to as we look to continue to build momentum after a good start to the season, and having lost just two of our last 15 games in all competitions.
We will be the underdogs tonight, but we have to look at this as an opportunity and make sure we approach the game with the right mindset, which I know the players will.
We have been strong at home over recent months, helped by the connection between the team and the supporters and I hope we can have more of the same this evening.
Of course, we would have loved to be returning to action on the back of three points having twice had the lead against Hull on Saturday.
We were incredibly disappointed to concede in the manner we did right at the death. I felt like we controlled most of the first half, but we did not have that same level of control in the second half.
The game became a bit end-to-end and our defensive distances got a bit stretched, we dropped deeper and in the end we got punished for it.
Itâs something for us to learn from and work on, but we have debriefed that game and our focus is firmly on tonight and embracing an exciting challenge.
Enjoy the game,
Alan Sheehan,
First Team Head Coach
Welcome back to the Swansea.com Stadium for our third-round Carabao Cup tie with Premier League Nottingham Forest.
Forest arrive with a new-look side and a new manager, Ange Postecoglou â a coach renowned for encouraging attacking football, which could be an omen for an entertaining contest this evening.
Thatâs definitely been the case in the past, with 11 goals in the past two fixtures between the sides alone. Given the Swans were on the wrong side of both of those results, perhaps letâs leave them for the history books.
But there are others we remember more fondly, such as the 5-1 FA Cup win here in 2021 or the 3-1 Championship play-off semi-final victory in 2011, capped off with Darren Pratleyâs stunning goal from the halfway line.
Both sides come into tonightâs match looking to bounce back. On the weekend, Forest slipped to a 3-0 defeat away at Arsenal â never an easy place to go, especially with the Gunners likely to be in the title race once again this season. For the Swans, Hullâs last-minute equaliser on Saturday made a 2-2 draw feel more like a defeat. We started brightly, created chances and looked the more dominant team early on, but allowed them back into the contest after the break.
Naturally, reactions on social media were mixed. It was frustrating to concede so late. But, while the result stung, there were positives to take from the game. Lawrence Vigouroux produced two or three outstanding saves, Žan Vipotnik continued his fine goalscoring run and Ethan Galbraith again showed that he is more than comfortable at this level.
The substitutions inevitably changed the flow of the game, and some supporters questioned those decisions online after the game. Thatâs part and parcel of football â we all see things differently from the stands. What we donât always see are the fitness considerations or tactical reasons behind those calls. And with strong options such as Adam Idah available from the bench, you could see the thinking behind the changes, even if they didnât pay off on the day.
Disappointing as Saturday was, it was just one game. Itâs important to keep the bigger picture in mind. Weâre only five league games into the season and have welcomed 12 new players over the summer. It will take time for the team to gel. Despite that, weâre currently in seventh spot in the table, just outside the play-offs. Most fans would have taken that at the start of the season.
There will be bumps along the way, but we have more depth and the squad feels more balanced than it has for some time. That will help in the second half of the season.
Away from the pitch, Saturday brought another proud moment for the Trust as we unveiled our latest heritage mural, this time celebrating the âSandfields Boysâ, Cliff Jones and Terry Medwin. We were honoured to welcome Cliff and his family, along with Terryâs widow Joyce and family to Western Street for the unveiling. More details and pictures can be seen on our website HERE.
Preserving and celebrating the heritage of our club is central to the Trustâs work. From restoring the old Vetch playersâ entrance to commissioning street artwork such as this, these projects remind us of the roots and traditions that bind us together as supporters. And there are more initiatives in the pipeline, which we look forward to sharing with you soon.
Finally, if you havenât already, you can still join the Trust online at swanstrust.co.uk/join-the-trust/. Or, alternatively, come see us at the kiosk (next to the club shop) on a game day. Every member strengthens our voice and ensures that supportersâ views continue to be heard in the boardroom.
Enjoy the game, and letâs hope weâre celebrating a result that takes us into the next round later this evening.
Paul Thomas
As part of a ongoing feature in our digital matchday programme for the 2025-26 campaign, we are calling on all Swans fans to share their memories and experiences of supporting the club this season by submitting your stories and pictures. We will publish a selection over the course of the season, and you can share your stories with us through the link below.
Nottingham Forest are currently contesting their fourth-straight season in the Premier League, after spending the previous 14 campaigns in the Championship.
The club has a rich history, winning the First Division title in 1977-78 under manager Brian Clough, who also led Forest to memorable European Cup triumphs in successive seasons.
The club had not featured in the Premier League since relegation in 1999 before ex-Swans boss Steve Cooper led them back to the top-flight via the play-offs in 2022 and they secured a seventh-placed Premier League finish last term.
They have a stacked trophy cabinet, with four League Cups and two FA Cups to their name in addition to those famous league and European triumphs.
THE CITY GROUND
Built: 1898
Location: West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, NG2 5FJ
Capacity: 30,404
Australian Ange Postecoglou is taking charge of Forest for just the second time having taken the reins following Nuno Espirito Santoâs departure over the international break.
Postecoglou had previously been at Tottenham, spending two years with Spurs and leading them to Europa League success at the end of last season when they beat Manchester United in the final in Bilbao.
Born in Greece, Postecoglouâs family moved to Melbourne when he was a youngster, and he went on to play his football for South Melbourne, helping them win the league title in 1984 and 1991, where he was coached by Hungaryâs former Honved and Real Madrid great Ferenc Puskas.
He also won four caps for Australia but a knee injury curtailed his playing career at the age of just 27.
He moved into coaching with Western Suburbs, before having spells with South Melbourne, Australiaâs under-17 and under-20 sides, Panachaiki, Whittlesea Zebras, Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory.
Postecoglou was then handed the Australia national team job in 2013, and spent four years at the helm. He coached them at the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil and led them to qualification for the 2018 tournament in Russia.
He also guided them to success at the 2015 Asian Cup before moving to Japan to take charge of Yokohama F. Marinos in 2017 and leading them to a first J-League title for 15 years in 2019.
Celtic was his next port of call in 2021 and he won two league titles, two Scottish League Cups and a Scottish Cup during his two years at Parkhead, before that move to the Premier League with Tottenham.
Ryan Yates is Forest's club captain and has been on the books of the club for 20 years having originally joined them as a seven-year-old.
The Lincoln-born midfielder signed his first professional deal in 2016 and had loan spells with Barrow, Shrewsbury Town, Notts County and Scunthorpe United.
He made his first-team breakthrough for Forest at the outset of the 2018-19 season and has made 245 appearances in all competitions since his debut in a Carabao Cup meeting with Bury.
Yates was simply outstanding during their 2021-22 promotion campaign and his influence on and off the field was further highlighted when he was made club captain in 2024 after signing a new contract.
He was the model of consistency last term as Forest secured European qualification.
Midfielder Elliot Anderson has proved an outstanding acquisition since arriving from Newcastle United in the summer of 2024, and he recently made his senior England debut, having played a starring role in the under-21s European Championship triumph.
Born in Whitley Bay, Anderson first emerged at Wallsend Boys Club and was soon picked up by Newcastle at the age of eight.
He came through the ranks to make his senior debut during the 2020-21 season, and was part of the Magpies squad that reached the Carabao Cup final in 2023.
Anderson also had a loan spell with Bristol Rovers in 2022, helping them to secure promotion from League Two on a dramatic final day of the season.
Having made 55 appearances for Newcastle he joined Forest last year, and was a prominent figure as they finished seventh to secure European football.
New Zealand international Chris Wood hit 20 goals in all competitions for Forest last season, and averages better than a goal every two league games since sealing a permanent move from Newcastle in the summer of 2023.
After starting his career in his homeland, Wood moved to English football with West Bromwich Albion in 2009.
During his time with the Baggies he had loan spells with Barnsley, Brighton, Birmingham City, Bristol City, Millwall and Leicester City before joining the Foxes in a permanent move.
Two years later, and following a short loan with Ipswich Town, he went to Leeds United and netted 44 goals in 88 appearances ahead of a switch to Turf Moor with Burnley.
Wood spent five years in Lancashire scoring 53 goals in 165 appearances, he had a season on the books of Newcastle and then made the move to Forest following a loan spell.
He has been a key figure ever since, while at international level he is New Zealand's record scorer and features for the All Whites at the 2010 World Cup. He has also helped them qualify for next year's finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Morgan Gibbs-White is a familiar face to Swans fans having had an injury-hit loan spell with the club during the 2020-21 season.
The attacking midfielder came through the Wolves academy and went on to make nearly a century of senior appearances for the club.
He had loan spells with the Swans and Sheffield United, helping the Blades reach the play-offs but ultimately missing a key penalty in their semi-final shootout loss to Forest.
After the Reds beat Huddersfield Town in the final they moved to sign Gibbs-White that summer and he has been at the City Ground ever since.
In total he has made 122 Forest appearances, scoring 18 goals.
A smile quickly spreads across Cameron Burgessâ face before the question is even halfway finished. When itâs put to the new Swansea City defender that he carries the air of a man who knows his own mind and is happy to share his views, he acknowledges that itâs an impression those close to him would not contest.
âThose are the things my mum and my fiancĂŠe would probably say are the things that annoy them the most,â says the 29-year-old with a grin.
âI am definitely â probably from life experience, I suppose â independent and happy to speak my mind.
âMy mum would probably tell you that when I was young I would always have to have the last word.
âI am very black and white in my approach, I can be quite stubborn and sure of what I want to do.
âI like to think that has carried me a long way, and hopefully not rubbed too many people up the wrong way, but my mum and fiancĂŠe would definitely tell you that annoys them even though they love me to bits!â
But that straight-talking, uncomplicated nature was one of the qualities that made Burgess such an important summer acquisition for the Swans.
This is a man fresh from the experience of going from League One to the Premier League in successive seasons with Ipswich Town, someone who is looking forward to next summerâs World Cup having helped Australia reach the finals shortly before putting pen to paper on his Swansea deal.
He knows what success looks like, and understands all the pieces of the puzzle that are required to fit together for teams to achieve special things.
So, when he says he sees similar foundations at Swansea to those he identified with the Tractor Boys, you pay attention.
âI think I have said before that one of the things that really excited me about this opportunity was that I could see there are a lot of positive elements already in place, and that the club is really ambitious in terms of what it wants to achieve,â said Burgess.
âThe club had such a strong end to last season and I think you can sense that there is a real positivity and good energy around the place.
âThe gaffer brings so much enthusiasm and detail, and that was apparent from the first time I spoke to him, I believe we are making progress and are taking the right steps to keep us heading in the right direction.
âItâs obviously down to us as players to do the job out on the pitch. Itâs about the fine tuning and those additional little bits, but having those traits and foundations are key because I donât think you can do the rest without them.
âOf course, nothing happens overnight, itâs a long process and a long season, but I do believe we have a lot of positive things to build on.
âSo there are definitely things that I can easily identify as being similar to what we had at Ipswich.
âMy time there was one of those experiences you go through and it makes you think that you wish you had learned those lessons and known how those pieces fitted together a lot earlier in your career.
âIt had a big influence, and it was one of the first things I asked before coming here. I had obviously played against a number of the players before, but did not know them personally, but once I knew more about the characters here it was a big factor in me coming. You get to know what things matter to you, and there were plenty of those things present here.
âSo I feel there are similarities, we have owners with ambition, a head coach who gives so much detail, and a group who are humble and want to work hard, so I hope it can be a dĂŠjĂ vu moment for me.â
Whilst to hear an Australian sportsman speak so directly may live up to a stereotype, Burgess speaks with a pronounced Scottish lilt to his voice.
That is the product of spending his formative years in Aberdeen, where he was born and raised until the age of 10.
From a family with considerable football pedigree, Burgess was on the books at the Dons before his family emigrated to the west coast of Australia.
While he represented Scotland at age-grade level, the centre-half admits that it has always been Australia â and Perth, in particular â that he considers to be home.
âWe lived in Scotland until I was 10, my family are all Scottish, and we moved out to Australia for my mumâs work as she worked as a procurement officer in the oil and gas industries,â says Burgess.
âIt was a chance for us to try something new, and off we went. I think thereâs always a little bit of apprehension when youâre moving so far, but once we got to Perth and saw the place it was just the best thing that happened to our family.
âThat is now where I call home and where I try to get back to as much as I can. My family are still based there, theyâve been out there 19 years, itâs a special place and one where me and my family will return to.
âItâs obviously never easy to leave friends behind, but when you are a kid you tend to take things in your stride.
âAs soon as I got there, on the first day of school, I met my best friend and he is still my best friend to this day. We were inseparable and all my friends are from there, theyâve not changed a bit and we see each other as much as we can.
âIt was definitely the best thing that has happened to me and football was as big a part of my life there as it had been in Scotland.
âFootball was always the sport for me. My grandfather Campbell Forsyth played as a goalkeeper for Scotland, and played for Southampton.
Scotland, and played for Southampton.
âMy father also played professionally up in Scotland before he joined the fire brigade, so it runs in the blood and there was nothing else I wanted to do.
âI was with Aberdeen in the junior age groups before we moved. I loved it, we would train Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and then you would play games on Saturday and Sunday and I thought it was the best thing ever.
âI donât think my body would let me do that these days, but as a kit that was just brilliant.
âWhen I got to Australia we looked for a club, and the school I went to a school in Perth called Woodvale that was a football school and I played there with my mates. I donât know how the teacher survived but we loved it.â
It did not take long for Burgessâ talent to be spotted in his new surroundings and, before long, he was taking part in what would prove to be a successful trial with Fulham.
So â at the age of 15 â Burgess was on his way back to the United Kingdom to pursue the next stage of his career with the Cottagers.
Being such a long way from his family at such a young age cannot have been easy, but Burgess soon found plenty of likeminded teammates who helped each other settle in to their new surroundings.
âThe junior club I played for in Perth had a history of producing players who went on to become professionals. A lot of them came across to the UK, there was a lot of ex-pats in the teams there, and I had a couple of different trials. One was at Fulham and I was lucky to get the chance to sign,â says Burgess.
âObviously that meant I was away from family, but there were a number of boys in my intake who were in the same situation. There were a number of different nationalities and none of us wanted to be sat in our digs all day, so we would hang out and go and explore where we were and that was a really big help.
âI had that mentality that I did not want to go home having failed, I was always going to stick it out whatever happened, but I never had any homesickness of anything because we all helped each other. We had a good close-knit group and we had good success as a team which worked really well.
âWe had guys like Marek Rodak, Patrick Roberts, Moussa Dembele, Liam Donnelly and George Williams. In some of the other age groups you had the Sessegnon brothers coming through so there was some talent there.â
To aid his development, Burgess had loan spells with Ross County, Cheltenham Town, Oldham Athletic and Bury, before making a full-time move to Scunthorpe United in 2017.
The change in mindset from playing in an academy to the hustle and bustle of the menâs game was one Burgess enjoyed, and one he believes was an important step in his fledgling career.
âI found those loans to be a great environment. I felt like I could fit in even as a young guy,â says Burgess.
âWhen I went to Ross County I did not play as much as I wanted, but I loved the atmosphere in the dressing room and I felt it suited me.
âJackson Irvine was there and he is now in the Australia team with me, but I just enjoyed it, it was a bit old school but I liked that way of doing things and I think it did me the world of good.
âScunthorpe was also great, we were so close to doing something special before things went a bit pear-shaped for the club and itâs been sad to see where they have fallen to, although I am glad to see they look to be heading back in the right direction.â
There was a spell at Accrington Stanley, and then came that move to Ipswich in 2021.
A club with a proud history, Ipswich had fallen out of the Championship in 2019 and there appeared little prospect of a return when Kieran McKenna was appointed towards the end of 2021.
Within two-and-a-half years, Ipswich were not just back in the Championship, but were preparing for a first top-flight campaign since 2002.
The decision to leave Portman Road after being part of such a successful period was not an easy one, but Burgess is confident that the foundations are in place for Swansea to achieve something eye-catching of their own in time, and he has enjoyed his first impressions of life in SA1.
âItâs been a great experience to move here and get everyone settled. Itâs always a bit of a whirlwind initially trying to sort out schools and places to live but the welcome we have had has been great,â he says.
âThe place is lovely, I think we were pretty lucky with the weather to start with so we got to explore different places and see our new home. Itâs been a great few months to start things off, on and off the pitch.
âIn terms of the team, first and foremost, the foundations of the group are amazing. We have a great bunch of lads with a great humility and desire to work hard.
âI believe we have the capability to do something good, and those are traits I would always associate with teams that have the ability to go on and have success and progress.
âThere are still things we want to develop and evolve, so itâs about putting those pieces together as we move forward.â
Burgess also has the small matter of a World Cup to look forward to at the end of the season, having helped the Socceroos book their spot at the global showpiece in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Itâs another proud achievement but, typically, Burgessâ only has eyes for the here and now.
âItâs huge. I have been lucky to do some things in the last few years of my career that I probably never thought or expected to happen,â he said.
âIt will be a pinch me moment when it happens, but thatâs another special group to be part of. I have been very lucky with the groups I have been involved in over my career.
âIt was a real drive of mine to try and help get Australia to a World Cup, itâs even better to do it automatically which is the first time weâve managed to do it that way for a while.
âThatâs six World Cups in a row we have qualified for, but I donât believe in patting yourself on the back unless youâve finished the job.
âNow itâs on me to make sure I am playing well and fit and I can make sure I get to have that experience.
âThat means being focused on my work every day here with Swansea.â
With that, Burgess is on his way. Heâs had the last word again, and he wouldnât have it any other way.
Swansea City Under-18s suffered their first home defeat of the season after a 3-1 loss to Wigan Athletic at the Joma High Performance Centre.
Goals from Daniel Gelhardt and Charlie Hughes gave the away side a two-goal lead, before Harvey Gray pulled one back for the Swans four minutes before half-time.
However, Erdis Reci added a third for the Latics with a half-volley eight minutes from time to seal victory for the visitors.
The opening exchanges produced few chances for either side, but the game burst into life with three goals in the space of 11 minutes to close out the first half.
Swans captain Harlan Perry forced the first big save of the game, with his strike from distance being parried away by goalkeeper Ewan Dodgson.
The visitors thought they had taken the lead after just 10 minutes when Reci headed past Evan Anderson, but referee Craig Scriven ruled the effort out for offside.
But the Latics did open the scoring 15 minutes later after a quick break from the away side saw Gelhardt released through on goal, and the forward calmy placed the ball past Anderson.
There was almost an instant response from the young Swans; Caio Ifans delivered a ball into Bobby Lewis, who tried to direct his header on target but saw it drift just wide of the post.
Brogan Popham then sent a free header wide of the target from a corner as the Swans pushed for an equaliser, but instead they fell further behind when they were caught on the break.
Gelhardt turned provider by delivering a low ball to Hughes, who finished from close range to double the visitorsâ lead.
The Swans pulled one back four minutes before half-time when Perryâs corner to the near post was diverted past Dodgson by Gray, who managed to turn the ball in as he went to ground, halving the deficit.
The momentum was beginning to swing in the Swansâ favour, and a whipped ball into the box was met by Evansâ header, but his effort drifted wide of the post.
The final chance of the half fell to the visitors. Liam Edwards drove into the box from the left before unleashing a low effort towards the corner, which Anderson held.
The Swans started the second half brightly and almost equalised five minutes after the restart. Perry raced onto a through ball from defender Wahab Ojetoro and drove into the box, only for his chipped effort to be denied at close range by Dodgson.
The tempo slowed through the mid-point of the second half but substitute Ioan Johnston was close to getting Swanse back on terms after a ball was played across goal by Gray, but the arriving winger was unable to find the touch needed to poke an effort on target.
Heading into the final 15 minutes, the Swans continued to look for an equaliser with Lewis delivering a dangerous ball into Gray which the forward was unable to divert goalward.
Instead, the away side secured all three points with eight minutes to play when a ball fell kindly in the area for Reci to smash the ball past Anderson to add the Latics' third goal.
Swansea City Under-18s: Evan Anderson, Carter Heywood, Caio Ifans, Harlan Perry, Brogan Popham, Wahab Ojetoro (Jack May 66), Billy Clarke, Alex Godfrey (Alffi Hughes 85), Harvey Gray, Bobby Lewis, Elis Thomas (Ioan Johnston 66).
Unused Substitutes: Dempsey Singer.
Wigan Athletic Under-18s: Ewan Dodgson, Zachariah Edwards (Herbie Cairns 88), Erdis Reci, Sebastian Spelman, Mason Goulding, Henry Miller, Liam Edwards (Charlie Wesseldine 70), Joseph Gilbertson, Charlie Hughes (James Pugh 78), Joshua Clague (George Sumner 78), Daniel Gelhardt.
Unused Substitutes: Lucas Hagan.
Swansea City Under-21s bowed out of the Nathaniel MG Cup after a 4-1 defeat against Haverfordwest at the Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium.
Owain Jones headed home the opener for the hosts with fewer than 20 minutes played, before Greg Walters made it 2-0 in the second half with a close-range finish.
Thomas Woodward pulled a goal back for the Swans to halve the deficit, but a red card for Ramon Rees-Siso gave the hosts a numerical advantage they took full advantage of by netting further goals through Luc Owen and Ben Ahmun.
The young Swans had started with Evan Anderson back between the sticks following a brief injury absence, whilst Josh Pescatore also returned to the starting XI after a spell on the sidelines.
The hosts had the first real chance of the evening from a corner kick after they started on the front foot, but Alaric Jones blasted the ball over the bar from the delivery.
Down the other end, Pescatore weaved his way into space before firing a shot goalward, only for it to go high and wide of the target.
Dan Hawkins went agonisingly close to opening the scoring in the 15th minute, seeing his sliding effort fly over the woodwork.
But the Bluebirds did break the deadlock moments later as an unmarked Jones headed home from a Ahmun cross just inside the penalty area.
Swansea looked for a way back into the game, and there was a chance for Rees-Siso from distance, but his effort flew wide of the target.
Approaching half-time, a well-timed cross into the box from Pescatore found the head of Morgan Bates, but he directed his effort over before Zac Jeanes tried his luck from 30 yards as the Swans finished the opening period strongly.
It was also a quick start to the second period for the visitors. A nice team move involving Bates and Yori Griffith set Woodward on his way, he made no mistake to find the back of the net but the linesman raised the flag for offside and the goal was ruled out.
At the other end, Anderson denied a close-range shot from Hawkins before the Swans stopper was called into action again, pushing away Ahmun's effort from a tight angle.
However, despite the better showing from the Swans in the second half, Haverfordwest doubled their lead in the 68th minute. Walters got on to a pass from Ben Fawcett which evaded Anderson, and he diverted the ball into the net.
The Swans were dealt with a blow with 15 minutes to go when Rees-Siso was dismissed after being shown a second yellow card.
And the hosts capitalised by adding two quick-fire goals to their tally through Owen and Ahmun.
Swansea City Under-21s: Evan Anderson, Thomas Searle (Brogan Popham 45), Zac Jeanes, Dan Watts (captain, Callum Deacon 84)), Blair Mckenzie (Carter Heywood 84), Sebastian Dabrowski (Caio Ifans 84), Josh Pescatore (Billy Clarke 84), Thomas Woodward, Morgan Bates, Yori Griffith, Ramon Rees-Siso.
Swansea City Women opened their Genero Adran Premier campaign with a comfortable 4-0 win over Barry Town United at Jenner Park.
A brace from Chloe Chivers, along with goals from Stacey John and Emily Richards, gave the Swans an ideal start to the new campaign.
The Swans dominated the first-half proceedings, and had multiple chances to add to the scoreline after Chiversâ goal opened the scoring in the second minute.
Barry were then reduced to 10 at the 20-minute mark, after goalkeeper Molly Arnesen was sent off following a collision with Aimee Deacon just outside of the area.
The Swans were ruthless during the secondhalf, with three goals in 20 minutes ensuring the victory.
The Swans opened the scoring inside two minutes as Chivers produced a fantastic free-kick from just beyond the halfway line that dipped over Arnesen and under the bar.
The Swans pushed to extend their lead, with Lauren Davies and Deacon combining in the box, but Arnesen denied the latterâs effort.
The hosts were reduced to 10 after Arnesen was sent off for denying a goal-scoring opportunity in a clash with Deacon just outside the area.
Despite being down to 10 players, Barry threatened as Angharad Beman fired just off target from a set-piece.
Five minutes before half-time, Taite Trivett had an opportunity to add a second for the Swansea after she carved out space in the box, but she blazed her effort over the bar.
It proved a quick start to the second half with both sides having chances, Deacon raced through on goal but dragged her effort wide of the post, before Sienna Stone found herself through on goal minutes later for Barry, but was denied by a fantastic save from Amelia May Forkings, who got down well to deny the forward.
Chivers continued to threaten for the Swans, driving forward before setting up Maddy Murray, whose strike from the edge of the area went straight at substitute keeper Emily Blunt.
But Chivers did double her tally just after the hour, latching onto a right-flank delivery from Deacon that John cleverly dummied, before firing into the bottom corner.
With momentum on their side, the Swans added a third 12 minutes later, as John finished smartly past Blunt after some neat build-up play.
The hosts nearly pulled one back as Beman forced Forkings into a superb close-range save from a corner.
But the Swans sealed the points with eight minutes to go, as Richards pounced on a scramble in the box to fire past Blunt.
Barry Town United Women: Molly Arnesen, Lily Dalton (Grace Corne 45), Holly Jenkins, Chelsea Cochrane, Erin Murray (Keira Harris 74), Danielle Broadhurst (Jasmine Turner 74), Emily Freeman, Sienna Stone, Beca Thomas (Ellie Preece 45), Amelia Herbert (Emily Blunt 25), Angharad Beman.
Unused substitutes: India Shanahan, Ellie Gunney.
Swansea City Women: Amelia May Forkings, Lauren Davies, Maddy Murray (Eilish Miller 61), Steph Turner (Caitlin Seaborne 80), Maisie Miller (Caitlin Williams 62), Sammy Wynne, Aimee Deacon (Emily Richards 71), Chloe Chivers, Stacey John, Taite Trivett, Jessica Williams.
Unused substitutes: Opal Rayner.
We are all Jacks is Swansea Cityâs commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion both within the club and throughout the local community.
Working with international and local charities, as well as supporter groups, Swansea City strives to ensure that a visit to the Swansea.com Stadium is a welcoming experience for everyone regardless of sex, sexuality, gender identity, religion, race, disability, or age.
The club takes a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination, harassment, victimisation, bullying and abuse.
REPORT IT â IN THE STADIUM
Supporters are encouraged to report instances of abusive and discriminatory language within the stadium by using the anonymous text and Whatsapp number (07886 276015) providing details of the incident and your location in the stadium.
Messages will be charged at the standard rate for your network provider.
The details from the message will be received at the match control room, where any necessary investigation and/or action will be taken.
The club will also record the mobile number of the individual reporting an incident to aid with any inquiries.
Supporters can also use support@swanseacity.com to report instances of discrimination.
An audio commentary service is available for blind and partially sighted fans â provided by Radio City, the Swansea University Health Board Hospital Radio Service.
Radio City has a long association with the football club dating back to the days when the club was known as Swansea Town.
Since moving to the Swansea.com Stadium, the broadcaster has provided a live descriptive commentary service for free at all Swansea home matches, meaning that blind and partially-sighted supporters in both the home and away ends can follow the action.
In order to book a headset for the match, supporters can contact the accessibility team in advance by emailing accessibility@swanseacity.com, or contacting the ticket office from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm by calling 01792 616629 and selecting option one.
Supporters can also book headsets in person in advance at the ticket office, or on the day by speaking to a Disability Liaison Steward on the day.
To learn more about Radio City, visit www.radiocity1386am.co.uk.
The inclusion room at the Swansea.com Stadium is open every matchday for supporters who may require a quiet space during games.
Supporters will be able to attend live matches at the Swansea.com Stadium with the comfort of knowing there is a designated area should they need it. The room is available to any supporter that may require a quiet space.
The space will be monitored by a designated disability liaison steward and provides a safe space with a disabled toilet, a projector to watch the live game, and dignity packs for those who need it.
While some supporters who require a time away from the crowds may prefer to use this room as a quiet space, it will also be possible to watch the match live on a screen projected onto the wall meaning supporters who require the space for any reason donât have to miss a moment of the match action.
The room is located in the West Stand and, while supporters who feel they may benefit from the use of the space will be recommended to sit in that stand, it will be accessible for anyone in any part of the stadium.
Any supporter who feels overwhelmed by the matchday environment for any reason can gain access to the room by making themselves known to a steward or disability liaison steward.
Head Coach Alan Sheehan
1 Andy Fisher
2 Josh Key
4 Jay Fulton
5 Ben Cabango (c)
6 Marko Stamenic
7 Melker Widell
8 Malick Yalcouye
9 Žan Vipotnik
10 Jisung Eom
14 Josh Tymon
15 Cameron Burgess
16 Ishe Samuels-Smith
17 Gonçalo Franco
20 Liam Cullen
21 Manuel Benson
22 Lawrence Vigouroux
23 Ricardo Santos
24 Bobby Wales
26 Kaelan Casey
27 Zeidane Inoussa
29 Paul Farman
30 Ethan Galbraith
33 Adam Idah
35 Ronald
40 NUMBER RETIRED IN MEMORY OF BESIAN IDRIZAJ
41 Sam Parker
46 Arthur Parker
47 Sebastian Dabrowski
54 Iestyn Jones
Head Coach Ange Postecoglou
3 Neco Williams
4 Morato
5 Murillo
6 Ibrahim Sangare
7 Callum Hudson-Odoi
8 Elliot Anderson
9 Taiwo Awoniyi
10 Morgan Gibbs-White
11 Chris Wood
12 Douglas Luiz
13 John Victor
14 Dan Ndoye
15 Arnaud Kalimuendo
16 Nicolas Dominguez
18 Angus Gunn
19 Igor Jesus
21 Omari Hutchinson
22 Ryan Yates Š
23 Jair Cunha
24 James McAtee
26 Matz Sels
29 Dilane Bakwa
30 Willy Boly
31 Nikola Milenkovic
34 Ola Aina
35 Oleksandr Zinchenko
37 Nicola Savona
44 Zach Abbott
Referee - Robert Madley
Assistant Referee 1 - Mark Russell
Assistant Referee 2 - Matthew Smith
Fourth Official - Ollie Yates
STAFF LIST
Honorary Club President - Alan Curtis MBE
Directors
Andy Coleman, Brett Cravatt, Jason Cohen, George Popstefanov, Chris Sznewajs, Tyler Morse, Nigel Morris, Todd Marcelle, Keith English, Martin Morgan, Paul Meller.
Chief Executive Officer: Tom Gorringe
Associate Directors: Diane Hughes
Minority Owners: Luka ModriÄ and Snoop Dogg
FIRST-TEAM STAFF
Head Coach - Alan Sheehan
Assistant Head Coach - Darren O'Dea
Head of Goalkeeping â Martyn Margetson
First Team Coach - Kris O'Leary
First Team Coach - Richard Stearman
Head of Medical - Dr Jez McCluskey
Staff: Ailsa Jones, Matt Murray, Thomas Gittoes, Michael Eames, Shaun Baggridge, Jake Dayus, Patrick Orme, Lewis Binns, Chris Watkins, Jack Oliver, Harri Mathias
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM
Tom Gorringe (Chief Executive Officer)
Andrew Davies (Head of Operations and Facilities);
CLUB STAFF
Head of Football Operations and Administration: Ben Greenwood
Football Operations & Administration Manager: Rebecca Gigg
Head of Partnerships: Lee Merrells
Head of Hospitality: Catherine Thomas
Head of Ticketing: Mari Tucker
Head of Safeguarding: Rebeca Storer
HR Manager: Nicola Butt
Head of Facilities: Gordon David
Grounds Manager: Evan Davies
Head of Swansea City AFC Foundation: Paul France
Club Ambassador: Lee Trundle
PROGRAMME PRODUCTION
Contributors: Andrew Gwilym, Rachael Tucker, Cerith White, Jack Otter, Sophie Davis, Mackenzie Squires, Sammy Wynne, Hayley Ford.
Designers: Callum Rothwell, Jac Elsey.