FULL-TIME: Swans 3 Hull City 1

4th April


A Bafe Gomis brace helped the Swans secure back-to-back Premier League victories with a convincing 3-1 victory over ten-man Hull City at the Liberty Stadium.

The French striker scored two superb goals either side of half-time after Ki Sung-Yueng opened the scoring for the Swans, while Paul McShane hit home the visitors' only goal.

After a cagey opening to proceedings, Ki scored his seventh goal of the campaign, finding the net from close range after Jonjo Shelvey's initial effort was parried into the path of the South Korea captain.

Gomis then doubled Swansea's lead with a spectacular volley before McShane clawed one back for the visitors after the break.

David Meyler then received his marching orders for a dangerous challenge on Kyle Naughton, before Gomis wrapped up all three points for Garry Monk's men with a deft chip beyond Hull goalkeeper Allan McGregory.

Saturday afternoon's victory in SA1 takes the Swans to 46 points in the top flight, just a point away from equalling their best ever finish in the Premier League.


The Swans remain unchanged for this afternoon's Barclays Premier League encounter with Hull City at the Liberty (3pm).

Garry Monk keeps faith with the same starting XI from the 1-0 win at Aston Villa last time out, with the only squad change seeing Matt Grimes come in for the injured Jefferson Montero (muscle strain) on the bench. Loanee Tom Carroll is sidelined with an ankle problem he sustained while on international duty with England Under-21s.

Monk's men target a fourth double of the campaign as they face a Hull side they beat 1-0 last December thanks to Ki Sung-Yueng's goal.

 

SWANS: Lukasz Fabianski, Kyle Naughton (Angel Rangel, 56), Federico Fernandez, Ashley Williams (capt), Neil Taylor, Jack Cork (Nathan Dyer, 65), Ki Sung-Yueng, Jonjo Shelvey (Matt Grimes, 90), Gylfi Sigurdsson, Wayne Routledge, Bafe Gomis.

SUBS: Gerhard Tremmel, Jordi Amat, Marvin Emnes, Nelson Oliveira.


HULL: Allan McGregor, Alex Bruce (Mohamed Diame, 70), David Meyler, Abel Hernandez (Sone Aluko, 81), Robbie Brady, Jake Livermore, Paul McShane, Michael Dawson (capt), Gaston Ramirez (Stephen Quinn, 30), Ahmed Elmohamady, Dame N'Doye.

SUBS: Steve Harper, Liam Rosenior, James Chester, Yannick Sagbo.


It took until the 18th minute for the game to see its first shot on goal, but it proved a crucial one as Jonjo Shelvey's long-range effort was parried by Hull stopper Allan McGregor into the path of Ki Sung-Yueng, who converted the rebound from close range - his seventh goal of the campaign.

Buoyed by his late winner at Aston Villa last time out, Bafe Gomis continued to look a menacing threat this afternoon, and after neat play by the Swans, the French striker nearly threaded through for Wayne Routledge, who was just unable to latch onto the frontman's clever pass.

But shortly before the midway point, Gomis doubled Swansea's lead in spectacular style. Michael Dawson's wayward header dropped for the 29-year-old forward, who sensationally volleyed past McGregor from inside the box.


HALF-TIME: Swans 2 Hull City 0


Five minutes into the restart, the visitors pulled one back when Paul McShane tapped home from close range following Ahmed Elmohamady's deep delivery into the box.

But shortly after snatching a lifeline, Steve Bruce's side were reduced to ten men when David Meyler received his marching orders for a dangerous challenge on Kyle Naughton, who was forced off through injury and replaced by Angel Rangel.

Jonjo Shelvey twice went close to restoring the Swans' two-goal advantage with efforts from distance, before the English midfielder made way for England Under-20 international Matt Grimes to make his Swansea City debut.

Despite a late rally from the visitors, Gomis put the result beyond doubt with a deft chip beyond McGregor after the Swans caught Hull on the counter. Sent straight through on goal from a lofted Sigurdsson pass, Gomis showed composure to dink the ball over the helpless Hull keeper.