25/08/2013 15:00 v Tottenham Hotspur

The Swans went down to a second consecutive Premier League defeat after a second-half Roberto Soldado penalty earned Tottenham Hotspur victory at White Hart Lane.

Soldado converted his second penalty in as many league games after Andros Townsend was taken down by Jonjo Shelvey in the 58th minute.

Pablo Hernandez and Chico Flores both went close to grabbing an equaliser for the Swans, but the hosts held on to take all three points and maintain their perfect start.

Both sides eased themselves into the game, with Paulinho's low effort the first real effort on goal, which Michel Vorm dived down to gather.

The Swans replied via a one-two by Michu and Jonathan de Guzman, with the former teeing up Wayne Routledge, and when his shot was parried by Hugo Lloris, Michu reacted quickly but fired wide with the linesman's flag already raised.

Nacer Chadli then scooped a 20-yard free-kick over after Ben Davies had picked up a booking for a foul on Townsend, before Vorm pulled off a magnificent save.

After Ashley Williams headed a cross onto his own post, Paulinho followed up with a thunderous effort from 12 yards which Vorm reacted quickly to with a fantastic save.

Shelvey then drew a save from Lloris, who parried the midfielder's deflected shot wide for a corner, and then it was the turn of Vorm to come to the rescue as he pushed Mousa Dembele's powerful strike over for a corner following Kyle Walker's cross.

Spurs continued to probe, and Paulinho went close to breaking the deadlock but his volley from Chadli's cross bounced off the surface and over the crossbar from 15 yards.

Before the break, de Guzman and Flores both tried their luck at goal to no avail, and then Spurs felt they should have had a penalty after Shelvey's challenge on Townsend was adjudged to have been outside the box.

Spurs were the first to threaten after the break, Townsend's rasping drive rising above the crossbar before referee Neil Swarbrick awarded the home side a penalty in the 58th minute after Townsend was adjudged to have been brought down by Shelvey.

Soldado converted from the spot, sending Vorm the wrong way.

Michael Laudrup immediately made a change as Alejandro Pozuelo replaced Routledge, and shortly after, Wilfried Bony came on for Shelvey as the Swans went in search of an equaliser.

They went close to levelling when Hernandez curled his effort just wide as Lloris scrambled across goal while the keeper pulled off a magnificent save to deny Chico's volley from a Hernandez cross to the back post.

Hernandez again went close, this time a clearance cannoned off him and almost bounced over Lloris, but the keeper gathered.

Paulinho had the chance to end the contest in added-on time, but he was thwarted by Vorm.

But it mattered little as the hosts claimed all three points.

 

SPURS: Hugo Lloris, Kyle Walker, Danny Rose, Jan Vertonghen, Paulinho, Roberto Soldado (Jermain Defoe, 80), Etienne Capoue, Andros Townsend (Sandro, 88), Mousa Dembele (Gylfi Sigurdsson, 64), Michael Dawson (capt), Nacer Chadli.
SUBS: Brad Friedel, Younes Kaboul, Kyle Naughton, Tom Carroll.

SWANS: Michel Vorm, Angel Rangel, Chico Flores, Ashley Williams (capt), Ben Davies, Jose Canas, Jonjo Shelvey (Wilfried Bony, 69), Jonathan de Guzman, Wayne Routledge (Alejandro Pozuelo, 59), Pablo Hernandez, Michu.
SUBS: Gerhard Tremmel, Jordi Amat, Jazz Richards, Leon Britton, Roland Lamah.