With a number of players back from recent international duties, we fielded an attacking line-up for this Development League Cup tie with Millwall. Carter Heywood, fresh from captaining Wales U17s, came into the back four and there was no Arthur Parker this evening, the feeling being that he might be getting called into the first team squad for Saturday’s match at Bristol City. Millwall were managed by former Swan Kevin Nugent.
We set up as 4-3-3: Evan Anderson; Sam Parker, Carter Heywood, Iestyn Jones, Seb Dabrowski; Dan Watts (captain), Tom Woodward, Yori Griffith (s – Thomas Searle 90+2m); Josh Pescatore (s – Ramon Rees-Siso 59m), Morgan Bates (s – Harlan Perry 66m), Caleb Demery (s – Callum Deacon 66m)
Unused sub: Tom Wright (g/k)
We started brightly, Yori Griffith at the heart of prompting work from midfield and Sam Parker and Josh Pescatore seeing a lot of the ball on the right. Griffith had already shot wide in the opening minute before both sides hit the woodwork in first ten minutes, Morgan Bates striking the bar and Kendall hitting a post, although the linesman had already flagged for offside.
We continued to open up Millwall’s rearguard, Woodward heading straight at the keeper from a deep free-kick before another swift break reached Pescatore, whose cross was met and controlled by Caleb Demery to put the Swans one up on 19 minutes.
By way of reply, Baker had a quick snapshot over, but the Swans continued to create opportunities – one fine cross from Dabrowski eluding everybody, then Bates scooping a close range shot into Lindner’s gloves.
The deserved 2nd came on 32 minutes when Millwall skipper Drake clumsily brought down Bates inside the area to concede a penalty, which Bates took himself, the power of the shot beating Lindner. Millwall unexpectedly pulled themselves back into the game within 3 minutes when Howland’s run wasn’t checked and he broke into the area to convert into the far corner.
Woodward and Griffith had further chances before half-time and the risk posed by the slender 2-1 lead was highlighted when Iestyn Jones had to twice clear off the line in the closing seconds of the half.
Griffith and Woodward went close again just after the interval, although the visitors ominously started to get a grip in midfield, sending in a number of crosses that – without being particularly threatening – showed they felt the points were still there to be contested. Mansor wasted a clear shot on goal with a weak shot that did not trouble Anderson.
Coach Anthony Wright made a first change as the hour approached, a straight swop to put Ramon Rees-Siso on for Pescatore on the right side of attack. More fundamental formation changes were applied when Harlan Perry and Callum Deacon formed a new middle pairing, with Dan Watts pushed forward and Tom Woodward leading the attack. Woodward was put through by Dan Watts, but couldn’t round the keeper and, as time slipped away, was denied again with a strike from distance.
Millwall continued to probe: a couple of free kicks came to nothing and Baker flicked a cross over the bar as some vigorous defending, by Jones and Dabrowski in particular, kept the Lions at bay to see the game out.
It was an uneven performance, but the team had to show another side of its game to grid out the result when the first half fluency couldn’t be sustained. Yori Griffith, Iestyn Jones and Seb Dabrowski were prominent, Morgan Bates was a tireless worker in the air and on the ground and Sam Parker had his moments too.
We’ve won both our games to date in this qualifying group featuring Millwall, Wolves and Nottingham Forest.
A few player names got truncated in the published teamsheet: Josh Pescatore for the Swans, Caspar Lindner, Sacha Vieira and Jaiden Celestine-Charles for Millwall.