U21s: Aston Villa 1-1 Swansea City

Aston Villa concluded the Premier League Cup group stage with a draw against Swansea City at Bodymoor Heath.

The hosts were on top in the early stages but fell behind when Cameron Congreve buried the Welsh side’s only shot of the first half.

Kobei Moore responded from the penalty spot to pull Villa level before the break after Omari Kellyman was felled in the box.

Both teams saw chances come and go in an end-to-end second half, but there were no further goals as the Young Lions topped Group A with 14 points from six games.

Villa wrapped up top spot with a win in their last outing in the competition, beating Hull City 3-2, and they started brightly with the pressure of qualifying for the knockout rounds alleviated.

Omari Kellyman bent an effort narrowly wide and Jamal-Jimoh Aloba was denied by a last-ditch block as the hosts bossed the opening 20 minutes.

But moments after Moore saw a close range shot smothered, the visitors hit them with a sucker punch when Congreve buried a first-time effort from the edge of the box.

It didn’t take Villa long to respond, and they had the chance to equalise from the penalty spot when Kellyman raced into the box and was sent tumbling.

Moore grabbed the ball and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to pull his side level after 31 minutes.

The striker forced a fine one-handed save from Kit Margetson and Fin Munroe sent a fierce strike goalwards as the home team pushed unsuccessfully for a second before half-time.

Lander Emery had seen little action in the first half but he made a superb save to deny Maliq Cadogan at the start of the second after the striker went through one-on-one.

Villa were soon on the attack once again and at the end of a mazy dribble through the centre, Kellyman saw his curling shot clawed out of the top corner by Margetson.

Cadogan’s pace took him clear of the defence as Swansea threatened shortly after, with the striker rattling a post from a tight angle.

City knew a draw would be enough for them to join Villa in the knockout stages, and they began to sink deeper into their own half as the match ticked into the final 15 minutes.

Congreve sent a rasping shot well over and it proved to be the closest either side would come to a winning goal.

Aston Villa: Emery, Ealing (Rowe), Munroe, Katsukunya, Bogarde, Borland, Alcock, Pierre (Hart), Aloba, Moore (Wilson), Kellyman (Young).

Unused subs: Proctor.