07/01/2017 15:00 v Hull City
Paul Clement’s first game in charge of Swansea City ended in a 2-0 FA Cup defeat at Hull City.
Clement’s men had opportunities to take control of what was a slow-burner of a third-round tie at the KCOM Stadium.
But the Swans ended up exiting the competition thanks to a late goal from Uruguayan international frontman Abel Hernandez and a second in stoppage time from Josh Tymon.
The defeat means Clement and his players now have only their battle for Premier League survival to focus on for the rest of the season.
The quest for top-flight points resumes next weekend when Arsenal visit the Liberty Stadium.
Clement made six changes to the Swans side as he picked the team for the first time.
With the new boss watching on from the edge of his technical area, the Swans played some decent stuff in the opening half hour.
They were in control of the ball for the most part, though in truth Hull keeper Eldin Jakupovic did not see too much action in the first half.
His one big save came after just seven minutes, when Gylfi Sigurdsson curled a free-kick into the box and Borja helped the ball on to Ki Sung-Yueng.
The midfielder’s volley was heading for the back of the net until Jakupovic got across to his right to make a fine one-handed save.
The Swans soon carved out another opportunity, this time when Kyle Naughton’s precise pass picked out Borja in the penalty area.
The Spaniard made enough space to get a shot away, but his low drive rolled the wrong side of the post.
Ki was soon back in the action, the South Korean trying his luck with a 25-yarder which flew narrowly wide of the target.
Hull’s threat was minimal in the opening period, although Marco Silva’s new team did give the Swans a scare just after the half hour.
David Meyler’s cross from the right reached Sam Clucas at the far post, and he unleashed a well-struck drive which was very well saved by Nordfeldt.
The Swans had the first sight of goal in the second half, with Fer taking aim from 25 yards and then holding head in hands as the ball swerved wide of the target.
Hull responded inside a couple of minutes, with Andy Robertson swinging in a cross which Robert Snodgrass headed wastefully over.
Back came the Swans, with Kingsley making excellent progress down the left flank before centring for Dyer.
The winger’s first-time shot was parried by Jakupovic. When the ball came back to him, Dyer sliced a half-volley high and wide.
With that Clement decided to act, sending on Llorente, Routledge and Angel Rangel.
Hull also made changes as both sides tried to find a path to goal.
It was the visitors’ substitutes who came close to inspiring a breakthrough with 12 minutes remaining.
Llorente was involved in a neat move which ended with Rangel crossing the ball back towards his fellow countryman.
Llorente nodded the ball down for Ki, and his acrobatic volley came back off the post and into the arms of Jakupovic.
Three minutes later, it was Hull who found the target.
A neat ball from Meyler sent Shaun Maloney in behind the Swans back four, and the wideman pulled the ball back for fellow substitute Hernandez to steer home from point-blank range.
The Swans tried to muster a response, and were left ruing another smart save from Jakupovic as the Hull keeper pawed out Llorente’s header late on.
And any hope of a comeback was killed off in stoppage time when a Hull counter ended with Tymon drilling in a low shot which bounced in off the far post.
HULL CITY: Eldin Jakupovic, David Meyler, Michael Dawson (capt, Shaun Maloney 70), Jake Livermore, Andy Robertson, Ryan Mason, Sam Clucas, Robert Snodgrass, Tom Huddlestone, Markus Henriksen (Abel Hernandez 63), Adama Diomande (Josh Tymon 89).
SUBS: David Marshall, Jarrod Bowen, James Weir, Josh Clackstone.
SWANS: Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Kyle Naughton, Federico Fernandez, Mike van der Hoorn, Stephen Kingsley (Angel Rangel 67), Jack Cork (capt), Ki Sung-Yueng, Leroy Fer, Nathan Dyer (Wayne Routledge 63), Gylfi Sigurdsson, Borja (Fernando Llorente 63).
SUBS: Lukasz Fabianski, Jordi Amat, Jay Fulton, Leon Britton.