Report | Bristol City U23s 1 Swansea City U23s 0
Swansea City Under-23s suffered a narrow defeat in a tight contest away at Bristol City in the Professional Development League.
The Robins, who currently sit second in the Professional Development League south group, scored the only goal of the contest through Josh Owers just after the half-time break.
The Swans did more than enough to deserve an equaliser, but the resolute defence of the title hopefuls held strong to claim three points.
The Swans dominated possession throughout the first half but couldn’t create a clear cut chance in the final third.
The first real chance of the game fell to the Robins, but Barney Soady’s tame effort was easily held by the trialist goalkeeper.
Joel Cotterill tried his luck with a powerful effort from distance at the end of the first half, but his effort was deflected behind by a Robins defender.
Despite a tentative first 45 minutes, both teams came flying out of the blocks for the second half, Lincoln Mcfayden twice almost unlocking the Robins defence down the flank.
But it would be the Robins who broke the deadlock early in the second half. The Swans were caught on the counter from a corner with Prince Henry breaking, before sliding across to Owers for a simple finish.
The Swans continued to push, finding continual joy down the left flank through Mcfayden and Ben Lloyd, only for a number of last-ditch Robins' clearances preventing low crosses finding Swansea forwards in the box from the left-hand side.
Dylan Morgan came closest to finding an equaliser for the visitors, breaking into the box after some good passing play between himself and Rio Campbell, but his low effort saw Harvey Wiles-Richards produce a good low save.
Swansea felt they should have had a penalty late on when Mcfayden was brought down around the edge of the area. The Swans appealed for a penalty but were awarded a free-kick which was fired over the bar by Cotterill.
Despite the dominance of the Swans in the second half, the Robins defence couldn’t be unpicked as they held on for three points.
Bristol City: Harvey Wiles-Richards, Jamie Knight-Lebel, Omar Taylor-Clarke, Josh Owers (captain), Callum Wood, Duncan Idehen, Zak Bell, Dylan Kadji, Prince Henry, Seb Palmer-Houlden (Callum Hutton 70), Barney Soady (Olly Thomas 63).
Unused subs: Mac Boyd, Jaden Brown, Isaac Richards.
Swansea City: Trialist, Tivonge Rushesha, Trialist (Jacob Jones 46), Azeem Abdulai, Cameron Evans, Ben Erickson (captain), Ben Lloyd, Joel Cotterill, Dylan Morgan (Reuben Davies 75), Rio Campbell, Lincoln Mcfayden.
Unused subs: Scott Butler, Nico Hansen, Sam Leverett.
