Swansea City Under-21s Aston Villa Premier League
19th October
A fine attacking display helped Swansea City Under-21s fire five past Aston Villa at Landore on Monday afternoon.
The Swans created a number of early chances but did not break the deadlock until 24 minutes when Tom Holland teed up Oliver McBurnie, who beat the defence before slotting home for his seventh goal of the season.
Defender Keston Davies doubled the lead before the break as turned in the area before firing home from Henry Jones' free-kick.
In the second half, Jones added a magical third from a free-kick before a fine solo effort from Daniel James saw the 17-year-old race into the box before tucking past Villa keeper Matijc Sarkic.
Substitute Kyle Copp then bagged his first of the season and the Swans' fifth by firing home from Raheem Hanley's pinpoint cross.
The young Swans made one change to the team that drew at Newcastle.
Winger Daniel James returned to the starting XI after recovering from injury with Kyle Copp dropping to the bench.
Defender Liam Shephard continued as captain while Keston Davies and Tom Holland made their second starts of the season for the development squad.
Aston Villa made six changes to the side that lost 1-0 at home to West Brom.
Serbian goalkeeper Matijc Sarkic made his Villa debut after signing from Anderlecht, while Ben Swift made his first appearance.
SWANS U21s: Josh Vickers, Liam Shephard (capt), Raheem Hanley, Tom Holland, Keston Davies, Alex Gogic, Daniel James, Adnan Maric, Oliver McBurnie, Henry Jones, Ryan Hedges (Daniel Alfei, 58).
SUBS NOT USED: Gregor Zabret, Joe Rodon.
VILLA U21s: Matija Sarkic, Nial Mason, Lewis Kinsella, Jordan Lyden (capt), Joshua Webb, Ben Swift (Andre Green, 45), Tom Leggett, Rory Hale (Blackett-Taylor, 45), Jerremy Sellars, Harry McKirdy (Callum O'Hare, 66), Henry Cowans.
SUBS NOT USED: C. Bannister, C. L. Foster
The Swans showed their early intentions by racing out of the blocks and straight down the flanks at Landore. First, Daniel James probed on the left wing before Oliver McBurnie found Ryan Hedges on the right, but his testing cross was dealt with by Villa's defence.
Villa's first chance came from a Lewis Kinsella free-kick, with the defender's ball meeting Nial Mason at the far post, but he fired over.
From then, Swansea unleashed at attacking onslaught. Raheem Hanley rifled a shot from the left that was spilled by Matija Sarkic before Henry Jones pounced to force a corner.
Hedges followed up minutes later, but the midfielder's powerful effort was beaten away after good link-up play down the right between himself and captain Liam Shephard.
Keston Davies and Adnan Maric also saw chances saved by Villa's keeper before the young Swans broke the deadlock when midfielder Tom Holland played in McBurnie, who turned his defender in the box before slotting home.
The hosts continued to push for more goals with Jones' free-kick palmed away by Sarkic before Swans keeper Josh Vickers held Henry Cowan's free header in the box.
The young Swans doubled their lead five minutes before the break when a Jones free-kick found defender Davies, who turned in the area before firing home.
McBurnie and Hanley could have added more before the half-time whistle in what was a dominant first-half display for the home side.
HALF-TIME: Swans U21s 2 Aston Villa U21s 0
Swansea started the second half in the same vein with Maric racing into the box before seeing his effort saved.
Swansea did, however, extend their lead ten minutes after the restart via Jones, who curled a free-kick into the top corner from the left-hand side.
The visitors desperately tried to get back into the game as frontman Jeremy Sellers shot wide before he was denied by Vickers.
The hosts continued to attack, and they added two goals in quick succession. A fine solo effort from James saw the midfielder race into the box before slotting home, and then sub Kyle Copp bagged his first of the season via a Hanley cross to put the gloss on a fine win.
