Report | FC Köln 2 Swansea City 1

Swansea City got more minutes in the bank as they suffered defeat in the first of their two friendlies in Austria as FC Köln claimed a narrow win at the Thermenstadion Bad Waltersdorf.

An early double for Tim Lemperle gave the German side, who were plying their trade in the Bundesliga last season, the advantage in sweltering conditions.

But the Swans got a goal back through a Ben Cabango header, and had chances to level with Harry Darling and Jay Fulton going close.

While head coach Luke Williams will have seen plenty to work on as the start of the Championship season draws ever nearer, he would have been happy with the physical condition of his side, with the majority of the starting XI playing the full 90 minutes.

There was also minutes in the bank for Eom Ji-sung, Goncalo Franco and Lawrence Vigouroux.

Swansea will face Macedonia’s FK Vardar on Saturday in the final game of their training camp.

In stifling heat the Swans had an early let-off as Andy Fisher had to make saves from Sargis Adamyan and Lemperle inside the opening 120 seconds.

But there was nothing the keeper could do when a clever reverse pass found the run of Lemperle, who rifled a rising strike into the roof of the net.

Just two minutes later and Lemperle doubled the German side’s lead, racing clear from a through ball to find the bottom corner.

The Swans looked to hit back, Sam Parker heading an Eom cross into the arms of Marvin Schwabe.

Fisher came off midway through the first half through injury as Vigouroux got his first action in a Swans shirt following his arrival from Burnley, and he made a good stop when Lemperle attempted to chip him from the edge of the area.

Vigouroux also denied Damion Downs at the second attempt before Darling came close to pulling a goal back when he met a corner at the far post, but Schwabe was able to palm away his effort and gather in the rebound.

But the Swans did get on the scoresheet when Cabango arrived to meet a Matt Grimes corner and powered a header into the net.

Swansea had grown into the game during the first period looking noticeably fitter than their opponents, who changed the majority of their team at the interval.

Eom showed good footwork to set up an attack early in the second period with Darling putting in an important challenge as Köln threatened to counter.

The Swans had control of the game although there was little in the way of goalmouth action at either end.

That changed just past the hour mark when a purposeful run down the right by Sam Parker ended with Eom being unable to reach the teenager’s ball to the back post.

Fulton then had an effort blocked at the far post after Josh Key had flicked on an Azeem Abdulai header.

Swansea pressed late on in search of a leveller but they were unable to craft a last-gasp opportunity.

Swansea City: Andy Fisher (Lawrence Vigouroux 23), Josh Key, Jay Fulton, Ben Cabango, Harry Darling, Matt Grimes (captain), Eom Ji-sung, Josh Tymon, Liam Cullen, Ollie Cooper (Goncalo Franco 65), Sam Parker (Azeem Abdulai 65).

Unused Substitutes: Evan Watts, Kristian Pedersen, Nathan Tjoe-A-On, Kyle Naughton, Ronald, Liam Smith, Dan Watts, Josh Thomas, Cameron Congreve, Joel Cotterill, Filip Lissah.