Report: Bournemouth 1 Swans 0
Swansea City’s Premier League survival hopes suffered a blow as they were beaten 1-0 at Bournemouth.
Ryan Fraser’s deflected 37th-minute goal proved the difference as Carlos Carvalhal’s team went down to a third straight defeat.
The Swans had some big chances in the first half but, not for the first time in recent weeks, their failure to find a finish cost them dear.
Carvalhal threw on attacking players after the break, but Bournemouth held on with relative comfort in the end.
The result means the pressure remains firmly on the Swans as they head into their final two games of the season, against Southampton and Stoke at the Liberty.
It was the Swans who carved the first big chance of the game on 12 minutes, when Ki Sung-Yueng floated a free-kick to Alfie Mawson at the far post.
He headed the ball back across goal and, after Federico Fernandez’s touch, Mike van der Hoorn poked the ball goalwards from 12 yards only for Asmir Begovic to make a smart save.
Bournemouth responded, with Ryan Fraser whipping an inviting cross to the far post for Callum Wilson, but his shot flew over the top.
Back came the Swans, with Andre Ayew crossing for Martin Olsson for a diving header which sailed too high before Jordan Ayew’s 25-yarder then went the same way.
But it was the home side who snatched the lead eight minutes before the break after a neat set-piece routine.
Mawson was penalised for felling Wilson right on the edge of the box.
With the Swans expecting a shot, Andrew Surman rolled the ball square for Fraser and his 20-yard shot took a deflection off Mawson before flying beyond a helpless Lukasz Fabianski.
The Swans carved a golden chance to level almost immediately as the two Ayews exchanged passes on the edge of the box, but Jordan sliced his shot wide.
It was Jordan Ayew threatening just seconds into the second period when his 20-yard half-volley was shovelled round the post by Begovic.
Steve Cook had an opportunity to double the hosts’ lead just before the hour but headed too high, then Tom Carroll fired over from distance at the other end.
Wilson then headed straight at Fabianski, before the Swans keeper did brilliantly to deny the same player after a swift counter-attack.
Bournemouth: Asmir Begovic, Simon Francis (capt), Steve Cook, Nathan Ake, Charlie Daniels, Ryan Fraser, Andrew Surman, Lewis Cook, Marc Pugh (Dan Gosling 77), Josh King (Lys Mousset 90 +1), Callum Wilson (Tyrone Mings 90+4).
Subs: Artur Boruc, Brad Smith, Jermain Defoe, Jordon Ibe.
Swans: Lukasz Fabianski, Connor Roberts, Mike van der Hoorn (Andy King 72), Federico Fernandez (capt), Alfie Mawson, Martin Olsson, Tom Carroll, Ki Sung-Yueng (Luciano Narsingh 77), Jordan Ayew, Andre Ayew, Nathan Dyer (Tammy Abraham 59).
Subs: Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Angel Rangel, Renato Sanches, Sam Clucas.
