26/12/2015 15:00 v West Bromwich Albion

19th June

A first goal of the season from Ki Sung-Yueng saw Swansea City claim a first league win since October and move out of the bottom three of the Premier League.

The South Korean struck early on for the home side as he tapped in after goalkeeper Boaz Myhill couldn't deal with Angel Rangel's low strike.

West Brom put pressure on the hosts in the second period as Rickie Lambert and James Morrison saw efforts saved by Lukasz Fabianski, but the Swans held firm to claim a vital victory in front of a noisy Liberty Stadium crowd.

The Swans came into this fixture searching for a first home win since August and they made the best possible start by taking the lead after just nine minutes.

After precise build-up play deep in Albion’s half, Wayne Routledge played lovely ball into the path of Rangel and after his effort came back off the post it was spilled by Myhill and Ki was on hand to slam home from close range for his first goal of the season.

Despite that bright start, the visitors slowly grew into the contest as the half wore on, with Chris Brunt seeing a powerful free-kick deflect wide from 20 yards out and defender Gareth McAuley was inches away from getting on the end of a fine inswinging corner from Craig Gardner.

Brunt also tried his luck with his right foot, cutting in from the left hand side but his effort was well wide of the right-hand upright.

The home side made a change at the break as Jack Cork was introduced in place of Jefferson Montero, but it was West Brom who started the better as James Morrison's left-foot volley was well held by Fabianski after a neat knock down from Lambert.

Lambert himself was involved again on 51 minutes as he got up highest to meet a Chris Brunt cross from the left, but his header was well saved by Fabianski low to his left.

Shortly after, Albion made a double change as Saido Berahino and Stephane Sessegnon replaced Craig Gardner and Jonas Olsson as the visitors increased their attacking options with half an hour to play.

It wasn't until the 73rd minute that West Brom created an opening as Sessegnon worked a yard of space in the box and his low cross was stabbed towards goal by Lambert but it was a couple of yards wide of the right-hand post.

Albion kept pressing and with just under ten minutes to go Sessegnon saw a shot deflected wide of the post before Tony Pulis made his third and final change with Claudio Yacob making way for Callum McManaman.

And with four minutes to play the midfielder thought he'd won his side a penalty as he weaved into the box and went down under a challenge from Leon Britton, but referee Roger East waved away the protests.

Britton was taken off in stoppage time and replaced by Jonjo Shelvey, with the midfielder receiving a deserved standing ovation from the raucous home crowd. Modou Barrow was also introduced in place of the tireless Wayne Routledge as the home side looked to preserve a precious three points.

And that's exactly how it stayed as the Swans celebrated a first home win since August and first Premier League victory since October 24.

 

SWANS: Lukasz Fabianski, Angel Rangel, Federico Fernandez, Ashley Williams (capt), Neil Taylor, Leon Britton (Jonjo Shelvey, 90), Ki Sung-Yueng, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Jefferson Montero (Jack Cork, ht), Wayne Rutledge (Modou Barrow, 90), Andre Ayew.
SUBS: Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Kyle Naughton, Kyle Bartley, Bafe Gomis.

WEST BROM: Boaz Myhill, Craig Dawson, Gareth McAuley, Jonas Olsson (Said Berahino, 59), Jonny Evans, James Morrison, Darren Fletcher (capt), Claudio Jacob (Callum McManaman, 79), Chris Brunt, Craig Gardner (Stephane Sessegnon, 59), Rickie Lambert.
SUBS: Anders Lindegaard, James Chester, Victor Anichebe, Cristian Gamboa.