Report | West Ham United U23s 1 Swansea City U23s 0

Swansea City Under-23s saw their Premier League Cup campaign end in defeat as West Ham first-team star Andriy Yarmolenko’s goal proved the difference.

The 32-year-old started for the young Hammers, who currently sit second in Premier League 2, with David Moyes, Mark Noble and former Swans goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski all watching from the stands.

But it was another creditable display from the Swans' development side, who have enjoyed an encouraging start to 2022.

Swansea were able to create a number of chances down their left-hand side in the early stages, Lincoln Mcfayden forcing a good save from Krisztian Hegyi which led to a corner.

Mcfayden then turned provider, finding Ben Lloyd on the edge of the box, but the midfielder's low effort was turned past the post.

Whittaker thought he had put the Swans ahead, tapping home a great through ball from Lloyd, but he was adjudged to be offside.

Azeem Abdulai was forced off the field before half time, a clash of heads leaving him covered in blood and being replaced by a trialist.

A couple of moments later, the hosts took the lead through Yarmolenko, with the Ukraine international powering a corner into the back of the net to make it 1-0 just before the break.

The Swans came straight out of the blocks in the second half, Mcfayden again breaking down the left before firing just wide.

Yarmolneko went from hero to zero for the home side, receiving a red card for an elbow on Ben Erickson, with the incident coming just moments after the forward had the Swans player in a headlock.

The Swans dominated possession following the red card, Tarrelle Whittaker coming closest to an equaliser, with Joe Thomas’ excellent delivery being headed just wide by the striker.

The visitors continued to pull the strings throughout the game, but couldn’t find a breakthrough as they ended their Premier League Cup campaign in defeat.

West Ham United Under-23s: Krisztian Hegyi, Junior Robinson (Jayden Fevrier 78’), Regan Clayton, Archie Woods (Ossama Ashley 59’), Levi Laing, Ajibola Alese (captain) (Jamal Baptiste 59’), Andriy Yarmolenko, Kamari Swyer, Sonny Perkins (Divin Mubama 78’), Dan Chesters, Armstrong Okoflex.

Unused subs: Brian Kinnear.

Swansea City U23s: Nico Hansen, Tivonge Rushesha, Jacob Jones (Joe Thomas 65’), Azeem Abdulai (Trialist 44’), Scott Butler, Ben Erickson (captain) (Jack Stafford 69’), Ben Lloyd, Joel Cotterill, Tarrelle Whittaker, Rio Campbell (Cameron Congreve 82’), Lincoln Mcfayden.

Unused subs: Tyler Evans.