A Review of 2015: Part One
29th December
As 2015 draws to a close, it's time to reflect on another 12 months here at Swansea City. In the first of a three-part special, we look back at a record-breaking second half of the 2014-15 season...
Under the guidance of Garry Monk - who was enjoying his first full season in charge of the club - Swansea sat in the top half of the Barclays Premier League table from the moment the first ball was kicked on August 16.
After a positive first half of the campaign, Swansea sat ninth in the table as they kicked off 2015 with a 1-1 draw against Queens Park Rangers. Despite trailing to Leroy Fer's first-half strike, top scorer Wilfried Bony scored a stunning equaliser in stoppage time to rescue a point in what would be his final appearance in a Swans shirt.
The popular striker - who scored 34 goals in 70 games for the club - completed a club-record move to Manchester City in January as Swansea City prepared for life without the Ivory Coast international.
The Swans went six games without a win at the start of 2015 as injuries and international commitments took their toll, with Monk's side also exiting the FA Cup following a fourth-round defeat against Championship side Blackburn.
But the squad was strengthened with the arrival of Kyle Naughton and Jack Cork, while Portuguese striker Nelson Oliveira joined on loan from Benfica until the end of the season.
The Swans went on to record three wins in February including two hard-fought 1-0 away victories at Southampton and Burnley and a memorable league double over Manchester United at the Liberty Stadium.
As the end of the season gathered pace, Swansea's form improved as the squad sensed a late push for European football.
Victory at Newcastle on April 25 saw the Swans reach 50 points in the Premier League - their best-ever points total since winning promotion to the top-flight in 2011.
That was the start of three straight wins and following a last-gasp 1-0 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in May, Garry Monk's side went into the final two games of the season just two points off sixth-placed Tottenham.
However, a 4-2 home defeat against Manchester City was followed by a final-day defeat against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park as Swansea finished eighth in the table.
It was the club's highest-ever finish in the Premier League and with numerous records broken throughout the course of the campaign, 2014-15 was certainly a season to remember for Swansea City.
You can share your own memories of 2015 on Twitter by using the hashtag #Swans2015
