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Birmingham Humble League Cup Holders Swansea 3-1 (PICTURES)

Birmingham Humble League Cup Holders Swansea 3-1 (PICTURES)
The Huffington Post UK/PA

Swansea boss Michael Laudrup rejected the suggestion that elimination from the Capital One Cup provides his side with some welcome respite amid an already congested campaign.

The holders saw their defence of the trophy fizzle out at the first hurdle as they fell to a 3-1 defeat at Birmingham - a far cry from the glory of a Wembley victory over Bradford just seven months and one day ago.

The Swans had entered the competition in the third round due to their Europa League commitments, with this their third game in just six days after a memorable success at Valencia and a Barclays Premier League victory over Crystal Palace.

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Matt Green celebrates after scoring his side's second during the tie

Laudrup made 10 changes from last weekend, with midfielder Jonjo Shelvey the only survivor, but the Dane maintained his pre-match stance that he was targeting back-to-back League Cup triumphs.

"I want to go as far as possible in all competitions," Laudrup said. "We lost the possibility to go far in the competition.

"I have no regrets (about making 10 changes). You could say 10 changes from the last game but five of the players who played here were in the starting XI against Valencia."

Birmingham 3-1 Swansea
Soccer - Capital One Cup - Third Round - Birmingham City v Swansea City - St Andrews(01 of18)
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Swansea City Manager Michael Laudrup (centre) looks dejected during the Capital One Cup, Third round match at St Andrews, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Capital One Cup - Third Round - Birmingham City v Swansea City - St Andrews(02 of18)
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Swansea City's Jordi Amat during the Capital One Cup, Third round match at St Andrews, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Capital One Cup - Third Round - Birmingham City v Swansea City - St Andrews(03 of18)
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Birmingham City's Matt Green (left) and Swansea City's Garry Monk (right) battle for the ball during the Capital One Cup, Third round match at St Andrews, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Capital One Cup - Third Round - Birmingham City v Swansea City - St Andrews(04 of18)
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Swansea City's Jonjo Shelvey protests with a team mate during the Capital One Cup, Third round match at St Andrews, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Capital One Cup - Third Round - Birmingham City v Swansea City - St Andrews(05 of18)
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Birmingham City's Dan Burn (centre) celebrates with Matt Green (left) and Tom Adeyemi (right) after scoring the opening goal of the game against Swansea City during the Capital One Cup, Third round match at St Andrews, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Capital One Cup - Third Round - Birmingham City v Swansea City - St Andrews(06 of18)
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Birmingham City's Dan Burn (second left) facing) celebrates with his team mates after scoring the opening goal of the game against Swansea City during the Capital One Cup, Third round match at St Andrews, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Capital One Cup - Third Round - Birmingham City v Swansea City - St Andrews(07 of18)
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Swansea City Manager Michael Laudrup (right) looks dejected during the Capital One Cup, Third round match at St Andrews, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Capital One Cup - Third Round - Birmingham City v Swansea City - St Andrews(08 of18)
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Birmingham City's Tom Adeyemi (left) and Dan Burn (right) celebrate after the final whistle during the Capital One Cup, Third round match at St Andrews, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Capital One Cup - Third Round - Birmingham City v Swansea City - St Andrews(09 of18)
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Birmingham City's Manager Lee Clark during the Capital One Cup, Third round match at St Andrews, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Capital One Cup - Third Round - Birmingham City v Swansea City - St Andrews(10 of18)
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Birmingham City's Dan Burn (left) celebrates with Paul Robinson after the final whistle during the Capital One Cup, Third round match at St Andrews, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Capital One Cup - Third Round - Birmingham City v Swansea City - St Andrews(11 of18)
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Birmingham City's Matt Green celebrates after scoring his sides second goal of the game during against Swansea City during the Capital One Cup, Third round match at St Andrews, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Capital One Cup - Third Round - Birmingham City v Swansea City - St Andrews(12 of18)
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Birmingham City Captain, Paul Robinson celebrates after the final whistle during the Capital One Cup, Third round match at St Andrews, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Capital One Cup - Third Round - Birmingham City v Swansea City - St Andrews(13 of18)
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Birmingham City's Matt Green (right) celebrates with teammate Callum Reilly (right) after scoring his sides second goal during during the Capital One Cup, Third round match at St Andrews, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Capital One Cup - Third Round - Birmingham City v Swansea City - St Andrews(14 of18)
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Birmingham City's Tom Adeyemi (right) celebrates after scoring his sides third goal during the Capital One Cup, Third round match at St Andrews, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Capital One Cup - Third Round - Birmingham City v Swansea City - St Andrews(15 of18)
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Birmingham City's Dan Burn (facing right) celebrates with Callum Reilly (left) and Paul Caddis (No31) after scoring the opening goal of the game against Swansea City during the Capital One Cup, Third round match at St Andrews, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Capital One Cup - Third Round - Birmingham City v Swansea City - St Andrews(16 of18)
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Birmingham City's Matt Green celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the Capital One Cup, Third round match at St Andrews, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Capital One Cup - Third Round - Birmingham City v Swansea City - St Andrews(17 of18)
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Birmingham City's Matt Green celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the Capital One Cup, Third round match at St Andrews, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Capital One Cup - Third Round - Birmingham City v Swansea City - St Andrews(18 of18)
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Birmingham City's Matt Green celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the Capital One Cup, Third round match at St Andrews, Birmingham. (credit:PA)

Hosts Birmingham were a shadow of the reticent side of the first half, as goals from Dan Burn, Matt Green and Tom Adeyemi recorded the upset in front of a sparse 7,470 at St. Andrew's.

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