30/08/2014 14:00 v West Bromwich Albion

20th June

Two goals from Nathan Dyer helped the Swans continue their perfect start to the season with a comfortable victory over West Brom at the Liberty.

Dyer finished well from a tight angle inside two minutes as the home side got off to the perfect start, before Wayne Routledge doubled the lead with a superb half volley.

It nearly got worse for Albion as Jonas Olsson headed against his own crossbar in a torrid opening period for the visitors.

But Dyer was on hand to put the gloss on a fine afternoon for Garry Monk's side with a fine finish from Gylfi Sigurdsson's pass.

The result means Swansea claimed maximum points from their first three games heading into the international break.

With a great atmosphere inside the Liberty, the home side made the perfect start.

After a mazy run from Dyer down the right, the ball found its way to Sigurdsson who produced a neat backheel that found Dyer inside the box and he rounded goalkeeper Ben Foster before slotting home from a tight angle.

The Swans continued their fine start as Wilfried Bony headed over a Jonjo Shelvey cross after 14 minutes, and the Ivorian striker nearly got himself in on goal shortly after but was denied by Craig Dawson.

And the hosts were rewarded for their early dominance as they doubled their lead after just 23 minutes.

After Sigurdsson's cross from the right was met with a poor headed clearance from Dawson, Routledge hit a superb half-volley into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

And it nearly got worse for the visitors eight minutes later as Routledge's in-swinging cross from the left was headed against the bar by Olsson.

West Brom, meanwhile, took until the 40th minute to register their first shot on target as Brown Ideye turned well on the edge of the box before firing off a low shot that was well held by Lukasz Fabianski.

And on the stroke of half-time, Swansea nearly grabbed a third as Routledge flashed another fine volley just inches over the crossbar.

After a disappointing first half, the visitors made a change at the break as Stephane Sessegnon replaced Graham Dorrans.

But it was the home side who came close to extending their lead further as Routledge broke from his own half to attack the Baggies defence, before his deft chip was clawed away by Foster.

And after Foster saved well from Ki on the hour mark, the England goalkeeper produced a fine double stop from Bony as the striker's indirect free-kick was parried away before he again denied the Ivorian.

On 66 minutes the Swans then made their first change of the game as Routledge was replaced by Jefferson Montero.

And the Ecuadorian was involved immediately as he raced on to Sigurdsson's pass down the left before cutting the ball back to Bony who saw his effort fly a fraction over the crossbar.

But the Swans didn't have to wait long to celebrate again as they grabbed their third of the afternoon on 71 minutes.

After Sigurdsson found acres of space midway inside the Albion half, the midfielder slipped a wonderful ball through for Dyer and the winger coolly slotted past Foster for his second of the game.

Bafetimbi Gomis then came on for Bony as the home side looked to consolidate their advantage.

But the hosts survived a scare five minutes later as Sessegnon's powerful shot cannoned back off the crossbar before Craig Gardner saw his effort deflect wide.

And substitute James Morrison stung the palms of Fabianski late on with a 25-yard effort that was superbly tipped away by the Polish international.

Monk then made his third and final change of the afternoon as Shelvey was replaced by Tom Carroll, and the Swans held on to claim their third win in a row at the start of the campaign.


SWANS: Lukasz Fabianski, Angel Rangel, Jordi Amat, Ashley Williams (capt), Neil Taylor, Ki Sung-Yueng, Jonjo Shelvey (Tom Carroll 84), Nathan Dyer, Wayne Routledge, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Wilfried Bony (Bafetimbi Gomis 76).
SUBS: Gerhard Tremmel, Federico Fernandez, Jazz Richards, Dwight Tiendalli.

WEST BROM: Ben Foster, Andre Wisdom, Jonas Olsson, Craig Gardner, Brown Ideye, Chris Brunt (capt), Jason Davidson (James Morrison 72), Graham Dorrans (Stephane Sessegnon ht), Saido Berahino, Youssouf Mulumbu, Craig Dawson.
SUBS: Boaz Myhill, Chris Baird, Claudio Yacob, Cristian Gamboa, Gareth McAuley.