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Swansea City Under-23s rounded off an excellent maiden campaign in the top-flight of academy football as they beat Sunderland and claimed a fourth-place finish in Premier League 2.

The young Swans had been tipped to struggle following promotion last term, but they had launched an unexpected title challenge which only faltered with defeat to eventual champions Arsenal last time out.

But they finished in fine fashion as George Byers’ second-half header saw them condemn the visitors to relegation, but they missed out on a top-three finish thanks to a late Leicester comeback against Derby.

Swansea dominated throughout and nearly led in the sixth minute as a botched defensive clearance fell into the path of Liam Cullen with only the keeper to beat, but Max Stryjek was equal to the striker’s effort.

Byers had a shot blocked after a nice knockdown from Courtney Baker-Richardson, and the midfielder then rattled the post as his clever low free-kick left Stryjek stranded.

George Byers of Swansea City.

It meant the game remained goalless at the interval, and Sunderland - knowing only a win would give them a chance of survival - created their clearest chance when the ball fell invitingly for Luke Molyneux.

But the striker could only hit his strike weakly into the ground, and it proved a costly miss.

Swansea immediately broke and Byers ran onto an overhead flick into the box to head his ninth goal of the season as Stryjek hesitated when coming off his line.

There were chances for Swansea to get a second and put the game to bed, but they ultimately saw the game out in relative comfort and can look forward to their Premier League Cup semi-final against Sheffield United.

Swansea City U23s 1 Sunderland U23s 0

There goes the full-time whistle, that George Byers header seals their 11th win of their first top-flight campaign. They look set to finish fourth in Premier League 2 after Leicester’s equaliser at Derby.

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Swansea on the front foot, Daniel James bending a strike just wide. The hosts finishing on the front foot.

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Daniel James is on and he makes an instant impact, surging into the box. The ball falls to Adnan Maric but he fires over.

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Into the final 15 minutes here. Sunderland are pressing on knowing only a win will give them any chance of escaping the drop, but they are not really hurting Swansea.

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Swansea make their first change, Botti Biabi comes on for Courtney Baker-Richardson.

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Sunderland survive a goalmouth scramble, before Byers tees up Jack Evans for a low shot that Stryjek gets down to save reasonably comfortably.

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Swansea City U23s 1 Sunderland U23s 0 (Byers)

That miss proves costly, Swansea break upfield, the ball is flicked into the area and Byers nods his ninth goal of the season beyond Max Stryjek after the keeper hesitated coming off his line.

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Sunderland have barely had a sniff all night, but there was a chance for them there as Steven Benda and Matthew Blake had a mix-up, but striker Jack Molyneux scuffs his volley into the ground.

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Liam Cullen goes in the book after pulling back Jack Diamond. The young striker has looked lively, although he will be disappointed not to have taken that first-half chance.

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Back under way

Sunderland kick things off after the interval.

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Swansea City Under-23s 0 Sunderland U23s 0

The whistle goes and the first half ends goalless. The best chances fell to Liam Cullen and George Byers in a half the home side completely dominated.

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Cian Harries has been very impressive at the heart of the Swans defence tonight, any flicker of Sunderland danger is being dealt with in an authoritative manner.

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More than half-an-hour in the books. Swansea are in total control, Sunderland struggling to find a way out of their own half, but they cannot find the opener as yet.

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Hits the post!

A really clever free-kick from George Byers, he strikes low around the wall and has Sunderland keeper Stryjek beaten, but the ball strikes the base of the post and flies away to safety.

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Swansea still having much the better of territory and possession, but Sunderland are coping reasonably well so far.

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Chance

So close for Liam Cullen. A defensive clearance smacks off a Sunderland defender and flies into his path with just the keeper to beat, but Max Stryjek makes the save.

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Plenty of ball for Swansea in the early stages, just probing for a way through a packed Sunderland defence. Aaron Lewis gets down the right flank but his cross is cut out.

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Kick-off

The hosts get the action under way.

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The teams are out

We are nearly set for action, both sides are out on the pitch ahead of kick-off.

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What's happened to the weather?

After a glorious few days it’s fair to say the recent hot spell appears to be over on a wet, miserable and chilly night at the Liberty Stadium.

The two sides are just going through their final preparations with less than 15 minutes until kick-off.

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Behind the scenes

Swansea City’s Under-23s kindly granted our man Andrew Gwilym behind-the-scenes access to their set-up. If you want to see how the age-grade side have enjoyed such an excellent season, which could yet end with Premier League Cup glory, you can read that piece here.

The players are put through their paces by coaches Gary Richards and Cameron Toshack
The players are put through their paces by coaches Gary Richards and Cameron Toshack (Image: Jonathan Myers)
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A fine season

Swansea City’s first season in the top-flight of Premier League 2 has been a great success. Cameron Toshack and Gary Richards have seen their side challenge for the title, and only defeat to eventual champions Arsenal last time out ended their hopes of lifting the trophy.

They will want to finish on a high, against a Sunderland side who are fighting to avoid relegation. The Black Cats must win and hope Derby lost at Leicester.

Gary Richards and Cameron Toshack oversee an analysis session
Gary Richards and Cameron Toshack oversee an analysis session (Image: Jonathan Myers)
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How the young Swans line-up, four changes for the hosts

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Podcast

The latest Swansea City podcast is available here.

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Under-23s

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Reaction to Stoke's draw with Burnley

Swansea’s rivals Stoke City gained just a point over the weekend after a 1-1 draw with Burnley on Sunday.

It leaves The Potters in 19th place in the Premier League table - two below the Swans - on 29 points.

Stoke take on Liverpool at Anfield this weekend, where they will face a tough task.

Stoke City manager Paul Lambert
Stoke City manager Paul Lambert

The Telegraph reports that Stoke City manager Paul Lambert said:

“Until somebody tells us that mathematically we can’t do it then we never give up and that’s important for the football club. As a team and as supporters we never give in. We have to go and win at Liverpool, it’s as simple as that.

“Scoring goals has been an issue and the conceding goals column doesn’t make great reading either. When you have those two at either end it makes things difficult.”

It could all come down to the final game in Swansea’s race for Premier League survival, and Swansea take on Stoke at home on Sunday, May 13.

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Fans have their say on Bartley at Swansea

Fans have their say on Kyle Bartley at Swansea, who came on in the second half against Manchester City on Sunday.

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'We know exactly what we can do' - Carvalhal looks ahead to remaining games

Swansea City manager Carlos Carvalhal
Swansea City manager Carlos Carvalhal (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

Carvalhal says his side are “ready” to secure their Premier League status with four games to go.

The Swans boss said:

The result (against Manchester City) helps us zero, but this is an unusual game.

Wh we arrived, we were five points adrift of safety, and now we are four points ahead of our rivals.

In three months, we have made up nine points on other teams. It’s amazing.

If you asked me when I arrived, nobody would believe that we could achieve that.

We have only lost games against Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham and Brighton. In other games we are winning points.

Now we have four games to play - some clubs near us have three. We haven’t got easy games, but it is all in our hands.

The Swans have three home fixtures out of their four remaining games.

At the Liberty, we have a different face - this is the reality.

We know where we are, we know what we have done so far and we know exactly what we can do. We will continue on our path and do what we are doing.

We will be ready.

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Swansea City boss Carlos Carvalhal's biggest job this week

Carlos Carvalhal looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Swansea City
Carlos Carvalhal looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Swansea City (Image: Getty Images Europe)

The only tangible positive to take from this meek, yet rather predictable display was that Swansea continue to hold a four-point advantage over the sides in the bottom three after Stoke’s draw with Burnley.

Indeed, it may turn out to be the failings of others that keeps Swansea City in the top-flight.

The task for Carlos Carvalhal is to make sure this sobering result and performance - which he insists will have no impact on the final four-game run-in - does not serve up collateral damage to morale and belief at a time when Swansea cannot afford to be without those commodities.

It should be put into context that they were facing the champions in their own backyard, a side who have dispatched teams at the foot and summit of the top-flight table with similar levels of disdain - WalesOnline football writer Andrew Gwilym

You can read the full piece here .

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Overhaul needed?

It was a pretty woeful afternoon for the Swans in Manchester yesterday.

Here are the key talking points from the defeat to Pep Guardiola’s men.

Swansea City goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski
Swansea City goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski (Image: Getty Images Europe)
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