Report | Swansea City 0 Wycombe Wanderers 1
Swansea City exited the Carabao Cup as Richard Kone’s first-half strike sent Wycombe Wanderers through to the third round at the Swansea.com Stadium.
The forward finished off a neat move from a throw-in to give the visitors an interval lead they would not relinquish despite heavy Swansea pressure throughout much of the second period.
Head coach Luke Williams was visibly frustrated by a first-half showing lacking in energy and intensity and, while the hosts were improved after the break, they were unable to carve out an equaliser, with new signing Florian Bianchini and captain Matt Grimes having their best chances.
The Swans had shown eight changes from the weekend draw against Cardiff City as Bianchini and birthday boy Nelson Abbey made their debuts.
Kyle Naughton, Kristian Pedersen, Nathan Tjoe-A-On, Jay Fulton, Azeem Abdulai and Žan Vipotnik also came into the Swansea line-up.
Swansea made a sloppy start, with Wycombe skipper Josh Scowen forcing Lawrence Vigouroux into an early save after swooping on a loose ball.
Gideon Kodua then got the better of Nathan Tjoe-A-On and pulled the ball back, only for Richard Kone to fire an effort against his own player.
At the other end, Bianchini whipped in a deep cross that Abdulai misjudged at the far post, while Vipotnik had the ball pinched off his toes as he attempted to get on to a Grimes pass after the skipper had won the ball high up the pitch.
Bianchini then produced a neat lay-off intended for Jisung Eom, but Vipotnik took the ball off the Korean’s boot as he prepared to shoot.
Kieran Sadlier volleyed wide for the Chairboys after a ball had ricocheted into his path just outside the Swansea area.
Fulton and Abbey had efforts blocked after the visitors failed to clear a Grimes corner, but it was Wycombe who took the lead.
A move from a throw in on the right-hand side allowed Kone to link with Matt Butcher before dispatching the ball to Vigouroux’s left and into the net.
Swansea almost replied immediately, Bianchini bursting into the box and lofting a ball to the far stick. Eom nodded down but no white shirt could get there.
The hosts trailed at the break but started to show signs of a greater intensity with one slick move that ended with Wycombe keeper Franco Ravizzoli holding a Grimes delivery as Vipotnik waited to turn home.
The Slovenian was then unable to convert a Bianchini cross, and Grimes sent a Fulton pass wide from close range.
Williams turned to his bench and Ronald’s inviting cross should have been turned in at the far post by Bianchini, but his header ended up nowhere near the target.
Swansea penned the visitors deep in their own half but could not find a leveller as the contest entered its final 20 minutes.
Abdulai surged down the right but saw his cross blocked by a covering defender, and it then took a terrific defensive header from Jasper Pattenden to deny Ronald from Joe Allen’s inviting delivery, but there was no way back for the hosts.
Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux, Kyle Naughton (Liam Cullen 73), Kristian Pedersen, Nelson Abbey (Ben Cabango 58), Nathan Tjoe-A-On (Josh Tymon 58); Matt Grimes (captain), Jay Fulton (Joe Allen 73), Jisung Eom (Ronald 58); Azeem Abdulai, Žan Vipotnik, Florian Bianchini.
Unused Substitutes: Nathan Broome, Harry Darling, Gonçalo Franco, Ollie Cooper.
Wycombe Wanderers: Franco Ravizzoli, Josh Scowen (captain) (Cameron Humphreys 58), Alex Hartridge, Matt Butcher, Tyreeq Bakinson, Joe Low, Gideon Kodua (Garath McCleary 57), Kieran Sadlier (Dan Harvie 57), Richard Kone (Dan Udoh 58), Declan Skura, Jasper Pattenden.
Unused Substitutes: Laurie Shala, Jason McCarthy, Jaiden Bartolo, Christie Ward, Jahiem Dotse.
Referee: Ben Toner
Attendance: 6,000