18/03/2017 17:30 v Bournemouth

Swansea City’s poor Premier League record against Bournemouth continued as Paul Clement’s side suffered a 2-0 defeat at the Vitality Stadium.

Alfie Mawson’s first-half own goal and a 71st-minute Benik Afobe strike handed the Cherries their third victory in four top-flight meetings with the Swans.

It was a frustrating evening on the South Coast for Clement’s players, who had hoped to bounce back following their 2-1 reverse at Hull City last weekend.

Instead they were left licking their wounds having suffered back-to-back league losses for the first time since Clement took charge.

It has been a costly week for the Swans, who have slipped back to 17th in the table with a tally of 27 points from 29 league games.

The Swans made three changes to their starting XI. Jordan Ayew was handed his first start for the club as he was named on the wing, while Stephen Kingsley made a first start since late January as Martin Olsson missed out due to the injury sustained in the 2-1 defeat at Hull City last time out.

The final change saw Ki Sung-Yueng recalled in midfield, with Leroy Fer switching to right-back in the absence of Kyle Naughton and Angel Rangel.
The Swans began a little nervously, as they took a little while to settle thanks in part to a couple of enforced changes at the back.

Yet it was the visitors who had the first half chance of the game when Gylfi Sigurdsson’s free-kick reached Alfie Mawson, but the centre-back could only glance a header wide.

Bournemouth responded, with winger Ryan Fraser lashing a 20-yard shot wide of the target.

The first genuine sight of goal came from a throw-in which was launched into the box by makeshift full-back Fer.

Fernando Llorente flicked the ball on to Sigurdsson, but his volley sailed over the crossbar.

Back came Bournemouth, with Afobe nodding wide from Fraser’s sweet centre, before the Swans threatened once more from a Sigurdsson set-piece.

This time Josh King met Sigurdsson’s centre, but his attempt at a clearing header ended with the ball bouncing a foot wide of Artur Boruc’s post.

The Swans then saw appeals for a penalty turned down as Tom Carroll’s volley struck the arm of Marc Pugh.

Clement’s side were growing in confidence, yet it was Bournemouth who snatched the lead just after the half hour when Federico Fernandez came racing out of the back four but was beaten to a loose ball by King.

Bournemouth worked the ball to Afobe, whose low shot hit Mawson and squirted past a helpless Lukasz Fabianski.

The Swans needed to find a response in the second period and, though he opted not to make any changes at the break, Clement soon sent on Luciano Narsingh in a bid to pep up his frontline.

But it was Bournemouth who threatened first in the second period after the Swans played themselves into trouble.

Dan Gosling’s 25-yard drive might have been sneaking inside the post until Fabianski pushed the ball to safety.

The Swans were struggling to trouble Bournemouth, with Eddie Howe’s team happy to sit deep and soak up what the men in white could throw at them.

A Sigurdsson free-kick had the travelling fans interested until crashed back off the wall, then Ki Sung-Yueng took aim from distance but saw his effort deflect wide.

Clement sent on Wayne Routledge to play on the flank, with Sigurdsson switching to a more central role in the hope that he could provide some inspiration.

Still the Swans struggled to create a clear opportunity.

Llorente’s knockdown almost fell for Mawson but Bournemouth cleared, then two more last-ditch tackles denied Narsingh and Routledge.

Carroll volleyed harmlessly over from range, before Jack Cork followed suit a couple of minutes later.

But just as the Swans were applying some pressure to the home goal, Bournemouth broke away to double their advantage.

King was involved again, slipping the ball through for Afobe.

He took his chance well, rolling a shot across Fabianski and into the far corner.

In truth, Bournemouth never looked like dropping points after their second goal went in.

The Swans only avoided a heavier defeat thanks to Fabianski, who made a brilliant save to deny King and then gathered substitute Jack Wilshere's shot.

 

BOURNEMOUTH: Artur Boruc, Simon Francis (capt), Steve Cook, Dan Gosling, Andrew Surman, Marc Pugh (Jordon Ibe 90 +4), Benik Afobe, Charlie Daniels, Adam Smith, Josh King (Max Gradel 90 +2), Ryan Fraser (Jack Wilshere 75).
SUBS: Ryan Allsop, Brad Smith, Lewis Cook, Baily Cargill.

SWANS: Lukasz Fabianski, Federico Fernandez, Alfie Mawson, Stephen Kingsley, Jack Cork (capt), Ki Sung-Yueng (Wayne Routledge 67), Tom Carroll, Leroy Fer, Jordan Ayew (Luciano Narsingh 56), Gylfi Sigurdsson, Fernando Llorente (Borja 83).
SUBS: Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Connor Roberts, Jordi Amat, Leon Britton.