FULL-TIME: Aston Villa 1 Swans 1

28th December

Roland Lamah scored his first Premier League goal to claim a share of the spoils for the Swans at Aston Villa.
The Belgian international pounced in the 36th minute with a header from Pablo Hernandez's cross after Gabriel Agbonlahor had edged Villa ahead.
The Swans dominated the second half, but they couldn't find a winner as they ended a run of two consecutive defeats.
This draw moved the Swans onto 21 points from 19 games, with Michael Laudrup's side staying in 11th position.


Michael Laudrup made seven changes to his starting XI.
Three changes came in defence as full-backs Dwight Tiendalli and Ben Davies were joined by Chico Flores in the starting XI while Jonathan de Guzman returned to midfield.
Both wingers changed too as Pablo Hernandez and Roland Lamah started while club-record signing Wilfried Bony led the line.

ASTON VILLA: Brad Guzan, Matt Lowton, Ciaran Clark, Nathan Baker, Antonio Luna (Karim El Ahmadi, 70), Ashley Westwood, Leandro Bacuna, Andreas Weimann (Marc Albrighton, 79), Fabian Delph, Gabriel Agbonlahor (capt), Aleksandar Tonev (Libor Kozak, 62).
SUBS: Jed Steer, Nicklas Helenius, Jordan Bowery, Yacouba Sylla.

SWANS: Gerhard Tremmel, Dwight Tiendalli (Angel Rangel, 55), Chico Flores, Ashley Williams (capt), Ben Davies, Jose Canas, Jonathan de Guzman, Jonjo Shelvey, Pablo Hernandez, Roland Lamah (Alejandro Pozuelo, 68), Wilfried Bony (Alvaro Vazquez, 83).
SUBS: Gregor Zabret, Jordi Amat, Leon Britton, Wayne Routledge.


The Swans got off to a disastrous start, with Aston Villa taking the lead after eight minutes.
Andreas Weimann raced on and sucked in the Swans defence before slipping through a pass for Gabriel Agbonlahor, who had time to compose himself before sliding his effort past Gerhard Tremmel.
The Swans looked for an immediate response, and Pablo Hernandez went close as he latched onto Roland Lamah's pass before cutting inside onto his right foot. But his low effort was parried by Brad Guzan before the American keeper recovered the loose ball.
And they went even closer moments later as Jonathan de Guzman's corner was met by Ben Davies, but his header from six yards out bounced off the surface and just over the crossbar.
The Swans were enjoying the better possession and territory as Villa sat back.
And the visitors created another chance through the persistance of Hernandez, who beat Matt Lowton down the left flank, but the Spanaird's low centre was cut out by Guzan.
They continued to probe and de Guzman was the next to go within inches of levelling as he fired Antonio Luna's clearance just wide.
But the goal did come after 36 minutes as Jonjo Shelvey touched left to Hernandez, and his cross to the back post found Lamah, and he headed in via the hand of Guzan.
The Swans went in search of another goal, but the teams went in level at the break.

HALF-TIME: Aston Villa 1 Swans 1

The Swans made a bright start to the half, dictating matters early on.
A de Guzman free-kick was tipped over by Guzan before Wilfried Bony fired high and wide when teed up.
Michael Laudrup then made a change as Angel Rangel came on in place of Dwight Tiendalli after 55 minutes.
The Spaniard got straight into the action, with his shot thundering off a defender and out for a corner.
The Swans kept pushing for the lead, and Shelvey saw another attempt cannon off Ciaran Clark as Guzan looked poised to make a save.
Another change followed for the Swans as Alejandro Pozuelo replaced scorer Lamah.
The visitors continued to press, and Bony was again denied by a block - this time by Nathan Baker.
It proved the striker's final input as he was replaced by Alvaro Vazquez for the last seven minutes.
It was a tense finale, with Fabian Delph driving straight at Tremmel in the first of four minutes of added on time.
But neither side found the winner as they were forced to settle for a share of the spoils.