By Hull City

Hull City Under-21s suffered defeat in the group stages of the Premier League Cup.

Despite Jim Simms netting for the Tigers, Swansea City secured all three points at the MKM Stadium. 

Conor Sellars made four changes to his starting XI to the one that faced Sheffield Wednesday last time out. Ajay Weston, Raj Palit, Rocco Coyle and Joseph Johnson all came into the side, replacing Matty Jacob, Jaedyn Chibanga, Vaughn Covil and Tyrell Sellars-Fleming respectively. 

The visitors had the lead within three minutes as Liam Smith drilled a low left-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area into the bottom corner. Ten minutes later and Swansea had their second as Smith netted from close range to secure his brace. 

Kristian Fletcher was next to take aim after he was quickest to react to Weston’s defensive header, but the striker fired wide before seeing a second effort held by Owen Foster. 

The City shot-stopper then produced a stunning save at his near post to deny Nathanael Ogbeta before the visitors had a third as Kyle Fanning diverted into his own net from Smith’s corner. 

In first-half injury time, clever play down the left wing between Jake Brown and Nathan Tinsdale saw the latter try and play in Simms, but a vital sliding challenge from Swansea’s Harry Jones denied the advance, before Cameron Congreve shot narrowly wide at the other end. 

In the second half, Foster denied Fletcher before Nathan Tjoe-A-On netted a fourth when converting from a set-piece delivery. A minute later, Fletcher added a fifth with a drilled shot before Remy Mitchell stopped Jones from converting into his own net after he connected with Bora Aydınlık’s low cross. 

From the next attack, Aydınlık again fired a delivery into the six-year area, with Simms converting from close range to score in back-to-back fixtures. Aydınlık continued to cause problems as he thundered a finish off the crossbar while Mitchell acrobatically saved to keep out Alfie Taylor, after the defender was picked out by Coyle’s corner. 

In the other goal, Foster saved twice in quick succession to deny both Zane Myers and Fletcher before the Hull-born shot-stopper parried away Smith’s curler. 

Late in the fixture, substitute Ruben Davies netted a sixth after rounding Foster and finishing from a tight angle. 

 

Hull City U21s: Foster; Fanning, Mills (C) (Aydınlık 46’), Taylor, Weston; Coyle, Palit (Sandat 46’); Johnson, Simms, Tinsdale, Brown (Hall 65’). 

Subs Not Used: Wilson, Covil.

Swansea City U21s: Mitchell; Thomas (C), Jones (Stafford 85’), Tjoe-A-On, Ogbeta (Myers 62’); Bates, Smith, Watts; Congreve (Cadogan 74’), Fletcher (Davies 62’), Wilson. 

Subs Not Used: Matthews, Stafford.