Anthony Wright hails 'top level' performance from under-21s

Anthony Wright hailed a 'top level' showing from a young Swansea City Under-21s side after they claimed a dominant 3-1 victory against Watford on Monday afternoon. 

Morgan Bates opened the scoring with a diving header on the half-hour mark, but the hosts levelled following the restart after Tobi Adeyemo smashed home following a quick counter-attack.

The visitors dug deep and created plenty more chances, and were rewarded with two goals in the final quarter of the game. 

Josh Pescatore struck well from the edge of the box after Ramon Rees-Siso's lovely ball into the area fell to the feet of the youngster.

Entering stoppage time, the Swans had a third. Thomas Woodward was sent through one-on-one on goal, and the attacking midfielder made no mistake to slice the ball down the middle.

The side consisted of mainly first and second-year scholars, and Wright was pleased with the character they had showed against an experienced and physical Watford outfit.

"I thought the performance and application from the players was top-drawer. It was against a much more experienced team than we could have put out, and we've come up here with a bit of backs against the wall mentality if I'm honest," said Wright.

"We had an extremely young side out, we have 21 players unavailable to us through loans and international duty - which is brilliant for them - six of those players who played, started for the under-18s on Saturday, a few of them playing out the 90 minutes.

"And they came up here, and along with the rest of the boys, they showed unbelievable spirit and the togetherness to not lose a game of football, all the credit goes to them.

"We had a lot of control in the game, they score to make it 1-1. Morgan Bates scored his first goal, which was deserved, and he was a man mountain out there for us against a team that were physical, he gave us a real platform to build off.

"We're a club that is trying to give everyone an opportunity and what we saw, we didn't come up here sulking because of the players we haven't got. We told the players that this is their opportunity to go and play and show us what you have got.

"We won't take having a young side, or a tired side as an excuse, we're a non-excuse environment and the players summed that up in their performance. Their work-rate, their togetherness and character was incredibly pleasing to watch."