SEASON REVIEW: Part two

Following on from the opening installment of our review of the season, here we look at the Swans' fortunes through the festive period.



NOVEMBER
The Swans endured consecutive defeats as they slipped to 14th in the table following a 1-0 loss at Norwich City.
A first win in seven for the hosts was secured by Jonny Howson's second-half header in a game in which the Swans never really got going.
It looked like things were going to get even worse when Bournemouth visited SA1, with the newly-promoted Cherries storming into a 2-0 lead after just 26 minutes.
But the Swans were level by the break, with Andre Ayew playing a part in both goals. After his backheel pulled one back, he was then fouled in the box allowing Jonjo Shelvey to claim a share of the spoils.
The month ended in a frustrating defeat at Anfield, with the Swans narrowly beaten 1-0 by Liverpool.
James Milner's contentious penalty, awarded after Jordan Ibe's cross struck Neil Taylor's arm, proved the difference in Merseyside.




DECEMBER
December proved to be a significant month in Swansea's season.
A disappointing 3-0 home defeat by eventual champions Leicester City proved to be Garry Monk's last game in charge, with the club opting to part company with its former skipper as the Swans slipped to within a point of the relegation zone.
With Alan Curtis in temporary charge, a much-improved performance saw the Swans go close to claiming a point at leaders Manchester City.
A 90th-minute equaliser from sub Bafe Gomis seemed to have been enough to see the Swans pick up their first Premier League point at the Etihad, but a cruel deflected strike in added-on time broke the visitors hearts as they went down 2-1.



A point was picked up, however, during a 0-0 home draw with West Ham as the Swans dropped into the relegation zone in the final game before Christmas.
But they were not in the dropzone for long as Ki Sung-Yueng's early goal moved the Swans up the table thanks to a 1-0 win over West Brom - the club's first victory since beating Aston Villa in October.
And another 0-0 draw - this time at high-flying Crystal Palace - made it three unbeaten under Curtis, who made eight changes for this game, as the Swans ended the year in 17th with 19 points from as many games.


JANUARY
The new year got off to a losing start for the Swans, despite an encouraging performance at Old Trafford.
Gylfi Sigurdsson levelled with a rare header before Wayne Rooney struck the winner with 13 minutes remaining.
The drama didn't stop there, though, with keeper Lukasz Fabianski almost heading in a late equaliser from a corner, only to see his effort bounce the wrong side of the near post.



Interest in the FA Cup ended at the first attempt at the Swans were shocked by Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium, with the League Two side running out 3-2 victors.
Back-to-back home matches followed in the league, starting with a dramatic clash with Sunderland which yielded six goals, a red card and a hat-trick.
Unfortunately for the Swans, things didn't go their way.
Despite coming back from a goal down to lead 2-1, Kyle Naughton's controversial dismissal - which would later be rescinded - led to the Swans' downfall.
England international Jermain Defoe bagged a hat-trick for the visitors, who moved to within a point of the fourth-bottom Swans courtesy of this win.
After three straight defeats in league and cup, the month was about to take a turn for the better.



Newly appointed Head Coach Francesco Guidolin was in the stands as the Swans bounced back to see off Watford 1-0 at the Liberty.
Captain Ashley Williams scored his first goal since March 2014 to move the Swans back out of the relegation zone having dropped in following the weekend's action.
The good work continued as Guidolin made a dream start to his time in charge as the Swans claimed a first Premier League victory at Everton.
Sigurdsson struck his third goal in his last four appearances from the penalty spot after Ayew had been tumbled over, while the Ghanaian fired home the winner after Jack Cork's own goal had levelled matters.
The victory eased the pressure slightly, with the Swans moving up to 15th - four points off third-bottom Newcastle United.

See the website tomorrow for the final installment of our season review.