2013-14 Season Review: Part One

Following on from the historic and record-breaking 2012-13 campaign, expectations were high heading into the new season.

On the back of a ninth-placed finish last year, and victory in the Capital One Cup, Swansea City would compete on four fronts that included European competition for the first time in 22 years.

The club smashed their transfer record to bring in Wilfried Bony from Vitesse Arnhem, while Jonjo Shelvey arrived from Liverpool to bolster the midfield.

Meanwhile, Swansea took their Spanish contingent up to eight with the arrivals of Jordi Amat, Alejandro Pozuelo, Alvaro Vazquez and Jose Canas - while Jonathan de Guzman returned to the Liberty for a second season-long loan from Villarreal.

It was all set up to be an intriguing season, and we bring you our Season Review in three parts, starting with August to October...

The season began on August 1 with a Europa League third qualifying round tie against Swedish side Malmo.

After a 4-0 win at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea earned a 0-0 draw in Sweden to seal their place in the play-off round, where they would face Petrolul Ploiesti of Romania.

The beginning of the Premier League season saw Manchester United - and new boss David Moyes - visit the Liberty, with the visitors running out 4-1 winners.

Back-to-back defeats followed against Tottenham and Ploiesti, but the damage had been done in South Wales as the Swans went through 6-3 on aggregate to book their place in the group stages of the Europa League.

The month began on a high as Swansea picked up their first league win of the season - a 2-0 success away at West Bromwich Albion.

Goals from Ben Davies and Pablo Hernandez sealed victory at the Hawthorns, and began a four-game unbeaten run that offered supporters hope that another memorable season could await.

That first league win was followed up with an entertaining 2-2 draw against Liverpool under the Liberty floodlights, before a quite spectacular trip to Spain.

The Swans faced European giants Valencia at the Mestalla Stadium - an iconic continental venue steeped in history. But the Welsh side rose to the occasion to produce one of the finest British performances in Europe as goals from Wilfried Bony, Michu and a superb Jonathan de Guzman free kick handed the visitors a 3-0 win.

Just three days later and they were back in action - this time in the Premier League - as Crystal Palace were swept aside 2-0 at Selhurst Park before the Swans' defence of the Capital One Cup was ended with a disappointing defeat away to Championship side Birmingham.

And the month ended in defeat as Arsenal continued their impressive start to the season with a 2-1 win at the Liberty Stadium.

Another busy month began with a European night at the Liberty Stadium as Swansea hosted Swiss side St Gallen. In a closely fought encounter, Wayne Routledge grabbed the only goal of the game to seal a 1-0 win and maintain the club's perfect start to life in Group A.

A 2-0 defeat followed away at Southampton before a first home league win duly arrived in emphatic fashion. Struggling Sunderland were beaten 4-0 at the Liberty, before Russian side Kuban Krasnodar secured a late draw in the Europa League and West Ham battled to a 0-0 draw - all prior to the first South Wales derby of the season.