Swansea City Under-23s Blackburn Premier League Cup

First-half goals from Ryan Blair and Daniel James saw Swansea City Under-23s beat Blackburn Rovers 2-0 at Landore and progress to the quarter-final of the Premier League Cup.

Swansea attacked from the kick-off as an Aaron Lewis cross from the left wing almost found Oli McBurnie in the box.

Minutes later, Daniel James' cross from the right found George Byers inside the area, but the midfielder's volley flew inches wide.

However, the home side led just minutes later as James' cross found Ryan Blair, and the Scot connected to head past keeper Andrew Fisher.

Blackburn looked to get back on level terms with Gregor Zabret having to be alert to deny winger Joseph Rankin-Costello before Joe Rodon cleared a free-kick off the line.

Zabret did well to save Charley Doyle's header from a corner before William Tomlinson fired a shot over the bar.

But it was Swansea who extended their lead on the stroke of half-time as James found space on the edge of the area before chipping Fisher to double the U23s' lead. 

Swansea continued to press in the second half and almost netted a third five minutes into the restart as Blair's ball found James down the right, with his cross finding McBurnie only for a double save from the Rovers keeper to deny the striker.

In what was a quieter second half, Zabret cut out a cross from Rankin-Costello before Byers' low free-kick tested Fisher.

Blackburn continued to build pressure throughout the half and rattled the crossbar just after the hour mark through Lewis Mansell.

Substitute Jordan Garrick then saw his shot tipped round the post before Butterworth's 20-yard shot saved once again by Zabret.

Blair and Garrick were dened in the final minutes of the game before Fisher pulled off an outstanding save to deny young defender Mael Davies as the young Swans progress to the quarter-final of the competition.

SWANS U23s: Gregor Zabret, Tyler Reid, Aaron Lewis, Ryan Blair, Keston Davies (capt, Mael Davies, 75), Joe Rodon, Daniel James, Adam King, Oli McBurnie, George Byers (Adnan Maric, 90), Jefferson Montero (Jordan Garrick, 70).

UNUSED SUBS: Lewis Thomas, Jack Evans.

BLACKBURN U23s: Andrew Fisher, Adam Henley (Lewis Thompson, 61), Lewis Travis, William Tomlinson, Tyler Magloire, Charley Doyle (Callum Hendry, 82), Stefan Mols (Joseph Grayson, 73), Lewis Hardcastle, Lewis Mansell, Daniel Butterworth, Joseph Rankin-Coastello.

UNUSED SUBS: Josh Powell.