Report | Sheffield United U21s 4 Swansea City 2

Swansea City Under-21s fell to defeat at Sheffield United as three first-half goals set the Blades on the way to victory in the Professional Development League encounter.

Antwoine Hackford opened the scoring within the first 10 minutes, with Fernando Macedo grabbing a brace for the hosts.

Sam Parker pulled a goal back for the Swans after the break - netting for the second straight game - before Hackford added his second of the afternoon with 20 minutes to go.

Parker struck again for the visitors but it was too late to salvage a result for the Swans.

It meant the Blades remain unbeaten so far this season, whilst the Swans still search for their first away win.

There were eight changes to the Swansea side that beat Crewe Alexandra at the Swansea.com Stadium last time out. Evan Watts came in for Ben Hughes between the sticks, whilst Kian Jenkins, Mitchell Bates, Liam Smith, Maliq Cadogan, Kyrell Wilson, Harry Jones and Dan Watts all came into the starting XI. 

Both sides got off to an energetic start. Wilson saw a shot blocked by Levis Pitan early on, before Watts’ palmed away a Josh Smith strike.

It wasn’t long until the PDL North champions did find the net, with Sai Sachdev heading home from a Blades’ corner, but the referee adjudged there had been a foul in the build-up and it was chalked off.

However, the breakthrough did come less than two minutes later. 

Hackford was picked out by an incisive, sharp attack from the hosts, and calmly finished into the bottom corner of the net. 

Swansea needed a response, and despite some good work from Smith and Parker on either flank, they could not find an equaliser.

Instead the hosts doubled their advantage after Macedo got on the end of a Smith delivery to slot home at the back post. 

Watts then produced an excellent stop to deny Sachdev following a Blades corner, with the Swansea defence then scrambling the ball clear.

Just before the break, the home side found their third. Macedo completed his brace, heading home from close range to put the Blades in a dominant position.

The Swans did make a bright start to the second half. There was a big chance for Cadogan after he was played through on goal, but his effort rolled just wide at the far post.

But the Swans did pull a goal back just beyond the hour mark. A short corner was played to Parker, who curled the ball in from the edge of the area.

But the home side would restore their three-goal advantage, Hackford netting from close range.

The Swans would have the last word, Parker scoring his second of the contest in the final minutes as his half-shot, half-cross found its way into the top corner of the net.

Swansea City Under-21s: Evan Watts, Sam Parker, Ben Blythe, Dan Watts, Harry Jones, Kai Ludvigsen, Liam Smith, Mitchell Bates, Kyrell Wilson, Maliq Cadogan, Kian Jenkins.

Substitutes: Josh Carey, Remy Mitchell, Zane Myers, Richard Faakye, Thomas Woodward.