Swansea hold on against West Brom

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26 Dec 2015

By Mike Henson BSports

Swansea overcame West Brom to secure their first win in more than two months and climb out of the relegation zone.

Ki Sung-yeung stabbed in the only goal of the game after goalkeeper Boaz Myhill failed to hold a loose ball from Angel Rangel's shot.

West Brom rarely threatened in the first half, but pressed forward more after the interval.

However, headers from Craig Dawson and Rickie Lambert were as close as the visitors came.

Swansea are up to 16th, a point and two places above the crowded Premier League drop zone.

How the action unfolded at the Liberty Stadium
Reaction to Saturday's football

Curtis credentials slowly building

Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins wrote in the matchday programme that the club "must gradually get back to the Swansea way of playing" in the wake of manager Garry Monk's sacking earlier this month.

Swansea channelled much of their play down Rangel and Routledge's right flank in both the first (left) and second halves (right)

Caretaker boss Alan Curtis has filled in impressively and his side's neat passing and clever movement in the first half was reminiscent of the style which secured Swansea 11th place and a host of admirers in their first season back in the top flight in 2011-12.

The hosts' second-half display was more stubborn than stylish, as they failed to record a shot on target.

But their pragmatism was rewarded with a first win since beating Aston Villa away on 24 October and will have increased Curtis' chances of becoming a medium-term managerial option at least.

Too little, too late for Baggies

Tony Pulis' decision to replace the suspended attacking duo of Salomon Rondon and James McClean with lone target-man Lambert and midfield anchorman Claudio Yacob left his side lacking attacking options early on.

West Brom fans react to Tony Pulis starting selection on social media

Lambert toiled hard, but against the imposing Ashley Williams and Federico Fernandez struggled to link play or pose much aerial threat.

The introduction of the substitutes Saido Berahino, Stephane Sessegnon and Callum McManaman after the interval brought an edge and pace to the Baggies, but Swansea - content to sit deep and defend their lead - held strong.

The visitors were left to bemoan referee Roger East's decision to turn down decent, but not clear-cut penalty appeals from Chris Brunt and McManaman.

Man of the match - Angel Rangel

Full-back Rangel set up Ki's winner and had more touches and passes than any other player

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Swansea City

01 Fabianski
22 Rangel Booked
33 Fernandez
06 Williams
03 Taylor
07 Britton (Shelvey - 93' )
04 Ki Sung-yueng
15 Routledge (Barrow - 92' )
23 Sigurdsson
20 Montero (Cork - 45' )
10 Ayew

Substitutes

08 Shelvey
13 Nordfeldt
18 Gomis
24 Cork
26 Naughton
27 Bartley
58 Barrow

West Bromwich Albion

13 Myhill
25 Dawson
23 McAuley
03 Olsson Booked (Berahino - 60' )
11 Brunt
06 Evans
08 Gardner (Sessegnon - 59' )
24 Fletcher
05 Yacob Booked (McManaman - 81' Booked )
07 Morrison
17 Lambert

Substitutes

04 Chester
10 Anichebe
16 Gamboa
18 Berahino
19 McManaman
21 Lindegaard
29 Sessegnon

Ref: Roger East

Att: 20,789

Match Stats

Possession 57 43

Shots

7 9

On target

2 3

Corners

0 7

Fouls

10 13

Live Text Commentary

Full time

Full Time Match ends, Swansea City 1, West Bromwich Albion 0.

90:00 +5:11 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Swansea City 1, West Bromwich Albion 0.

90:00 +4:15

Federico Fernández (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90:00 +4:15

Foul by Rickie Lambert (West Bromwich Albion).

90:00 +2:41 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Swansea City. Jonjo Shelvey replaces Leon Britton.

90:00 +1:07 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Swansea City. Modou Barrow replaces Wayne Routledge.

85:50 Booking

Booking Callum McManaman (West Bromwich Albion) is shown the yellow card.

85:44 Booking

Booking Angel Rangel (Swansea City) is shown the yellow card.

80:52 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Callum McManaman replaces Claudio Yacob.