Opening days: How the Swans have kicked off their campaigns
With the 2017-18 Premier League fixtures set to be announced at 9am on Wednesday, Swansea City’s seventh term in the top-flight is already on the horizon. The Swans go into the new campaign having finished 15th in 2016-17, with manager Paul Clement set to take charge of his first pre-season at the Liberty after taking over in January. And to whet your appetite for the highly-anticipated fixtures announcement, we look back at some of the Swans’ best opening-day matches.
Premier League: Manchester United 1 Swans 2
August 16, 2014
The Swans made a dream start to what proved to be a record-breaking season in Garry Monk's first full campaign in charge.
Ki Sung-Yueng gave Garry Monk's side a shock 28th-minute lead as his left-footed shot nestled into the bottom corner in what was his first goal for the club.
The hosts, led by Louis van Gaal for the first time, were level after the break as captain Wayne Rooney fired in from close range.
But Monk's men rallied again, and they stunned Old Trafford as summer signing Gylfi Sigurdsson saw his effort just manage to cross the line despite the efforts of David De Gea.
After an historic FA Cup victory at this ground last season, Monk's men then celebrated a first ever league win as the final whistle blew.
A dream result for the Swans, with Monk off to the perfect start.
Swans: Lukasz Fabianski, Angel Rangel, Ashley Williams (capt), Jordi Amat, Neil Taylor (Dwight Tiendalli, 54), Ki Sung-Yueng, Jonjo Shelvey, Wayne Routledge, Nathan Dyer (Jefferson Montero, 66), Gylfi Sigurdsson, Wilfried Bony (Bafetimbi Gomis, 78).
Subs not used: Gerhard Tremmel, Kyle Bartley, Jazz Richards, Josh Sheehan.
Attendance: 75,339
Premier League: QPR 0 Swans 5
August 18, 2012
A sensational start by the Swans saw them kick off their second Premier League campaign with a stunning 5-0 demolition of Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.
Michu made a dream start to life at his new club, with the Spaniard opening the scoring after just eight minutes.
He doubled the lead in the second half with a superb curling effort before a Nathan Dyer brace and substitute Scott Sinclair’s late strike rounded off a convincing win for the Swans in Michael Laudrup’s first game in charge.
Swans: Michel Vorm, Angel Rangel, Chico Flores, Ashley Williams (capt), Neil Taylor, Leon Britton, Jonathan de Guzman (Kemy Agustien, 70), Michu (Mark Gower, 84), Nathan Dyer (Scott Sinclair, 77), Wayne Routledge, Danny Graham.
Subs not used: Gerhard Tremmel, Jazz Richards, Alan Tate, Luke Moore.
Attendance: 18,072
League One: Swans 1 Tranmere Rovers 0
August 6, 2005
Adebayo Akinfenwa wrote himself into the Swans’ history books as he scored the first competitive goal at the Liberty.
The big striker ensured the Swans got life at their new home off on a winning note thanks to his first-half strike.
At the end of a busy first half, Jason McAteer saw his penalty saved by Willy Gueret before Lee Trundle was denied from the spot by John Achterberg, but the Swans ran out 1-0 victors.
Later that season, the Swans would reach the League One Play-Off final, only to be beaten by Barnsley following a dramatic penalty shootout.
Swans: Willy Gueret, Sam Ricketts, Izzy Iriekpen, Kevin Austin, Garry Monk (Alan Tate, 45), Adrian Forbes, Marc Goodfellow, Roberto Martinez, Kristian O'Leary, Adebayo Akinfenwa, Lee Trundle (Owain Tudur Jones, 89).
Subs not used: Leon Britton, Kevin McLeod, Paul Connor.
Attendance: 16,733
Third Division: Swans 4 Bury 2
August 9, 2003
Lee Trundle scored his first Swansea City goal while Brad Maylett bagged a hat-trick as Bury were brushed aside at the Vetch.
Maylett took just five minutes to open the scoring as he fired a powerful volley inside the far post following a neat cross from the left.
Bury were level by the break after Andy Preece headed home after beating keeper Brian Murphy to a cross.
But a frantic finish to the game saw four goals in the last 11 minutes.
Maylett made it 2-1 thanks to a deflect strike before Trundle headed home from sub Kevin Nugent’s flick-on.
Lee Connell ensured there would be a tense finish as he netted with five minutes to go, but Trundle set up Maylett in added-on time to seal the winger’s hat-trick and victory for the Swans.
Swans: Brian Murphy, Stuart Jones, Kristian O'Leary, Lenny Johnrose, Leon Hylton, Roberto Martinez, Leon Britton, Bradley Maylett, Karl Connolly, James Thomas (Kevin Nugent, 73), Lee Trundle.
Subs not used: Roger Freestone, Michael Howard, Jonathan Coates, Kieron Durkan.
Attendance: 8,826
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