Report | Swansea City U23s 2 Watford U23s 0

A Swansea Under-23s side comprising a number of first-team players defeated Watford Under-23s 2-0 in the Professional Development League.

Senior figures Steven Benda, Liverpool loanee Rhys Williams, Brandon Cooper, Jay Fulton, Liam Walsh, Yan Dhanda, Morgan Whittaker and Liam Cullen all featured for 90 minutes as they picked up some valuable game-time for Kris O'Leary's side, who were watched on by first-team boss Russell Martin in Landore.

Much like Martin’s side, Swansea controlled possession for long periods of the game with patient passing eventually creating opportunities.

Goals from Dhanda and Cullen in the first half proved enough for the Swans, who host Coventry in Landore on Thursday in their next encounter.

The Swans took the lead early through Dhanda. Swansea won the ball back high up the field and fed the ball into the midfielder, who fired it past the goalkeeper from close range.

Cullen doubled the lead just three minutes later as he got onto the end of a low cross from Tivonge Rushesha before burying a shot into the bottom left corner.

Swansea continued to dominate possession and went close to extending their lead a number of times, with Morgan Whittaker and Cullen both going close.

Watford created their first real chance of the game though Jimiel Chikukwa. He cut in from the left and fired a low effort but Steven Benda got down well to push the effort away.

Cullen thought he had his second of the afternoon 67 minutes in, reacting first after Liam Walsh’s long-range shot was parried, but his goal was ruled out for offside.

Jacob Jones came close to making it three, but his header from Dhanda’s cross bounced over the crossbar.

Despite Swansea controlling the game for the majority of the second half, the Hornets defence held strong through the second half to keep the contest at 2-0.

Swansea City U23s: Steven Benda, Tivonge Rushesha (Jacob Jones, 45), Rhys Williams, Brandon Cooper (capt), Jay Fulton, Lincoln McFayden (Azeem Abdulai, 60), Dan Williams, Liam Walsh, Yan Dhanda, Morgan Whittaker, Liam Cullen.

Unused subs: Nico Hansen, Tarelle Whittaker, Ben Erickson.

Watford U23s: Vincent Angelini, Ryan Andrews, James Morris, Kamil Conteh (Adian Manning, 65), Andi Janjeva (capt), Josh O’Brien, Maurizio Pochettino, Henry Wise, Jimiel Chikukwa, JJ McKiernan (Shaq Forde, 78), Kane Chrichlow (Seokjae Lee, 65).

Unused subs: Alfie Marriott, Adrian Blake.