Report | Swansea City U21s 2 Bristol City U21s 0

23rd September
Academy
Ben Lloyd goal

Swansea City Under-21s extended their winning record at the Swansea.com Stadium as goals from Ben Lloyd and Glory Nzingo saw off their Bristol City counterparts.

The development side have won every game at the home of the Swans since the start of the 2022-23 campaign, and they had led at the break from a fine Lloyd finish after nice build-up play.

They doubled their lead in spectacular fashion after the interval through Nzingo to seal the win, whilst also securing a clean sheet with keeper Evan Watts making a handful of important stops.

The win and the three Professional Development League points were well deserved, with the Swans having by far the better of the second period after an evenly-contested opening 45 minutes in SA1.

The Swans had soaked up an early spell of Bristol City pressure before good play by Aimar Govea down the flank saw the winger pick out Lloyd. 

The midfielder dug out a cross from an acute angle with Nzingo unable to turn the ball home acrobatically.

The Swans got into more promising positions a few minutes later, but Lloyd was twice caught offside as he raced into space.

Swansea then had a let-off after losing possession in their own third. Phillips strode onto the loose ball and hit a rasping, rising drive over the crossbar.

Mitchell Bates

Phillips threatened again after tricking his way past the final defender after good build-up, but Evan Watts was equal to his effort, with the Swansea keeper also blocking Tommy Backwell’s strike a few moments later.

But it was the Swans who broke the deadlock through Lloyd, who fired beyond the onrushing keeper after good build-up work had found his forward run.

The Robins almost replied immediately, Watts saving superbly to keep our a close-range header from Marley Rose, with Sebastian Dabrowski on hand to block Phillips’ follow-up strike on the line.

The Swans held the lead at the break, and Nzingo had a fierce drive blocked early in the second half, before Govea was unable to bring a through ball under control as he raced towards the area.

Lloyd forced Stefan Bajic into a good save from his strike, and the Robins keeper then got out quickly to deny Henia-Kamau 

Glory Nzingo celebration

But there was nothing he could do to prevent Nzingo doubling Swansea’s lead as the forward received the ball, drove to his right and then smashed an unstoppable strike back across goal and into the far corner of the net.

Watts parried a strike from Jack Witchad as the visitors sought a response but the Swansea keeper's opposite number was soon saving from Jacob Cook at the other end as the hosts ultimately eased to victory.

Swansea City Under-21s: Evan Watts, Arthur Parker, Sebastian Dabrowski, Dan Watts (Thomas Woodward 79), Richard Faakye, Iestyn Jones, Glory Nzingo, Mitchell Bates (captain), Sammy Henia-Kamau (Morgan Bates 84), Ben Lloyd (Josh Pescatore 84), Aimar Govea (Jacob Cook 58).

Unused Substitutes: Ben Hughes.

Bristol City Under-21s: Stefan Bajic, Ross McCrorie, Zak Ali, Adam Murphy, Rob Atkinson (Brandon Bak 79), Josh Campbell-Slowey, Marley Rose (Jack Witchad 63), Jed Mearholz, Tommy Backwell (captain), Billy Phillips, Elijah Morrison.

Unused Substitutes: Kai Churchley, Jack Hooper, Joseph James.

Referee: Matthew Jackson