"The win was the cherry on the cake"

Leroy Fer savoured a birthday to remember as he captained Swansea City to an emphatic 3-0 win over Aston Villa on the day he turned 29.

The Dutch midfielder ended the Emirates FA Cup third-round tie with two assists to his name as part of an excellent individual and collective display.

He laid on the second Swans goal with a fantastic pass for Nathan Dyer, before his driving midfield play paved the way for Jay Fulton to clinch victory late on.

Manager Graham Potter hailed it as Fer’s best outing of the campaign to date, and it was the ideal way to celebrate his birthday.

“It’s one of those games where everything went in our favour and we played well. We converted our chances and we want to build on this result,” he said.

“We showed what we are about in possession, we had a clean sheet so it is happy days.

“It’s a special day when you win on your birthday and coming away from home against Villa, who had beaten us twice in the league, we had to prove something so it has been a good day.

“Two assists and a 3-0 win – of course, you have to remember it is a team game - was the cherry on the cake to celebrate my birthday.”