Richard Faakye | Clean sheets and performances building confidence

Defender Richard Faakye feels Swansea City Under-21s are growing in confidence game by game after keeping a second consecutive clean sheet against Ipswich Town on Tuesday.

The Swans had control of the Professional Development League encounter from the off and led when Kyrell Wilson coolly claimed his 12th goal of the season.

The forward then turned provider to allow Fletcher to net for an 11th time in Swansea colours, and the American forward brought up his dozen by stepping inside two defenders to smash an unstoppable strike in off the far post late on.But he was not done there, sending a low shot into the net to round off an excellent Swansea move in the closing stages.

And it was a fine all-round team performance from the development side with a number of players - including the centre-half Faakye - turning in accomplished showings with the Swans able to keep the Tractor Boys at arm’s length for much of the afternoon as they secured a clean sheet.

And it sets them up nicely for Friday's meeting with Colchester in Landore.

"It was great to win at home again. We were disappointed after the Aston Villa result (where the Swans lost 4-3), especially with being 3-1 up," said Faakye.

"To get two consecutive wins and clean sheets is always a great feeling.

"I came off that pitch and I was happy with what I put in, I think the win over Bristol City gave me and the boys some confidence going into Ipswich.

"We showed that confidence, and now we can take that into Friday, which is a quick turnaround.

"Ipswich did make it difficult for us at times, they made us run a lot. In the first 15 minutes of the second half, they really came at us because we were only 2-0 up at that point.

"They came out with high intensity, and we did well to match that as the game went on. They boys played some great football and we then topped it off with two more goals."

And on a personal note, Faakye is relishing the step up into under-21s' football, with the 18-year-old penning his first professional contract in July 2023.

He made his under-21s' debut against Exeter City in the Premier League Cup in September 2021 at the age of 16, and is now loving regular game time with the upper-age group.

"It was difficult at the beginning of the season, with fitness and then not getting regular starts," he added.

"Now, I'm feeling good week-in, week-out, loving training and the step-up is great, it really suits me."