Swansea City Under-23s Aston Villa
24th October
Swansea City Under-23s extended their unbeaten run in Premier League 2 with a 2-1 win over Aston Villa at Bodymoor Heath on Monday.
The young Swans took the lead thanks to a first half goal from Owain Jones to hold a narrow advantage at the break.
Villa equalised from a set piece through Keinan Davis before a Villa own goal in the 74th minute sealed all three points for the Swans.
Swansea City made five changes to the side that beat Fulham in Premier League 2 last week.
Aaron Lewis, Ryan Blair, Joe Rodon, Tom Holland and Owain Jones all came back into the Swans starting XI.
Striker Oli McBurnie continued his role up front after netting both goals in the previous game.
Villa started with Gabby Agbonlahor up front as the side's only over-age player.
ASTON VILLA U23s: Matija Sarkic, Mitchell Clark, Tom Leggett, Rory Hale, Easah Suliman (Capt), Joonas Sundman (Jake Doyle-Hayes, 51), Corey Blackett-Taylor, Callum OHare, Keinan Davis, Andre Green, Gabby Agbonlahor (Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, 60)
SUBS NOT USED: Viktor Johansson, Joseph Linley, Jack Clarke.
SWANS U23s: Gregor Zabret, Tyler Reid, Aaron Lewis, Ryan Blair, Keston Davies (Capt), Joe Rodon, Alex Samuel, Tom Holland (Jack Evans, 85), Oli McBurnie, George Byers, Owain Jones (Daniel James, 63).
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis Thomas, Botti Biabi, Tom Plezier.
Villa attacked from the kick off in front of their home fans as Andre Green cut in from the left to force Gregor Zabret into a superb save, the Slovenian keeper pushed the ball around the post on three minutes.
The Swans keeper was called into action again five minutes later to save from Gabby Agbonlahor before blocking Callum O'Hare's follow-up.
O'Hare flicked a cross from defender Tom Leggett wide minutes later, but the young Swans led on 15 minutes when Owain Jones fired beyond Matija Sarkic from George Byers' corner at close range.
Zabret kept the Swans lead intact minutes later, saving Keinan Davis' low drive from the edge of the area, before Rory Hale's stinging shot from 30 yards rattled the woodwork on the half hour mark.
Sarkic saved Ryan Blair's cross before McBurnie could get his head to the ball just before half time, with the Swans holding a narrow lead at the break.
HALF TIME: Aston Villa U23s 0 - 1 Swans U23s
Swansea had a chance to extend their lead minutes after the restart as Sarkic parried Byers' in-swinging corner before McBurnie headed the looping rebound inches wide.
Zabret comfortably saved Agbonlahor's free-kick ten minutes later before Jones' break down the left flank saw the Swans winger fire wide of goal.
Great link-up play saw Alex Samuel's cross find McBurnie in the box. The striker found Byers only for the midfielder's shot to be blocked.
Villa equalised midway through the second half as striker Keinan Davis rose well to head past Zabret from Corey Blackett-Taylor's free-kick.
But Swansea took the lead again seven minutes later when a cross from Tyler Reid was sent into his own net by the unfortunate Easah Suliman under pressure from Oli McBurnie.
Zabret maintained the Swans lead with two superb saves to deny substitute Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, while Swans defender Aaron Lewis was denied by Sarkic before the full time whistle.
