Report: West Brom 1 Swans 1
Swansea City claimed another point in the scrap for Premier League survival after battling back to secure a 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion.
Carlos Carvalhal’s side failed to hit top gear in a scrappy contest at The Hawthorns.
But they did at least show the character to fight back for a point after falling behind to Jay Rodriguez’s 54th-minute goal.
Tammy Abraham netted his first Premier League goal since October 15 minutes from time to ensure the Swans came away with something.
The first half was a slow burner, with both sides struggling to make any headway going forward.
It was the visitors who had the first effort of the game, when Abraham made some ground before Andre Ayew lifted a 20-yard snapshot over the bar.
But the only save of note in the first half came at the other end of the field after Chris Brunt unleashed a fierce 25-yard drive on the angle.
Lukasz Fabianski stood tall to beat away the West Brom skipper’s effort.
The Swans were a little laboured in possession, with their lack of tempo meaning they struggled to create problems for Albion.
With five minutes to go until half-time, the Swans finally produced a moment of quality – and they really ought to have taken the lead.
Sam Clucas exchanged passes with Abraham 30 yards from goal, then strode towards the box before poking a pass through for Ayew.
The Ghanaian seemed certain to break the deadlock, but his shot rolled agonisingly wide of the post.
The Swans would pay for the miss as they fell behind early in the second period.
Salomon Rondon had already nodded one effort wide by the time he flicked on for Rodriguez to tap home at the far post after the Swans failed to properly clear a corner.
Carvalhal’s side felt the ball was handled by a West Brom player in the lead-up to the goal, but referee Roger East said no.
Now the Swans needed to dig deep. Carvalhal sent on Nathan Dyer to try to spruce up his attack, but still his team struggled to make progress going forward.
Martin Olsson got up the left flank on a couple of occasions, and it was from a free-kick won that Clucas centred for Abraham to nod over at the far post.
A little over 10 minutes later, it was another set-piece which saw the Swans find a way back into the game.
This time Clucas swung in a corner from the right flank, and this time Abraham got up to head home his first Premier League goal since October.
The Swans then pushed for a winner, but Kyle Naughton’s effort flew over the top and they were forced to settle for a point.
West Bromwich Albion: Ben Foster, Allan Nyom, Craig Dawson, Ahmed Hegazi, Kieran Gibbs, Matt Phillips, Jake Livermore, Chris Brunt (capt), James McClean, Jay Rodriguez (Grzegorz Krychowiak 84), Salomon Rondon.
Subs: Boaz Myhill, Claudio Yacob, Oliver Burke, Gareth McAuley, Rekeem Harper, Jonathan Leko.
Swans: Lukasz Fabianski, Kyle Naughton, Mike van der Hoorn (Kyle Bartley ht), Federico Fernandez (capt), Alfie Mawson, Martin Olsson, Andre Ayew (Ki Sung-Yueng 85), Andy King (Nathan Dyer 61), Tom Carroll, Sam Clucas, Tammy Abraham.
Subs: Erwin Mulder, Connor Roberts, Wayne Routledge, Luciano Narsingh.
