Barclays Premier League:

Swansea City 1–0 West Bromwich Albion

It wasn’t pretty – but Swansea City notched a first home league win since October 24th as Ki Sung-Yeung’s ninth minute goal was enough to see off West Bromwich Albion.

In truth, this was a turgid, nervy affair in which both sides lacked creativity – but the relief in the Liberty Stadium, and in particular, for home caretaker boss Alan Curtis, was plain for all to see as he celebrated passionately at the final whistle.

Curtis made two changes from the side that started the 0-0 draw with West Ham the previous Sunday, as Jefferson Montero returned in place of Jack Cork and Wayne Routledge replaced the struggling Bafetimbi Gomis, with Andre Ayew filling the lone striker role.

His opposite number, Tony Pulis, opted to play Rickie Lambert up front alone, and Albion were happy to lie deep in the opening stages as the Swans pressed.

And unlike the previous two games under Curtis, their early endeavour was rewarded as Routledge put Angel Rangel through on goal, and after his low drive struck the post, Albion keeper Boaz Myhill made a hash of gathering the loose ball and Ki bundled in from close range.

Gylfi Sigurdsson then turned on the edge of the area but failed to properly connect with his left foot shot, before the visitors had their first sight of goal when Ashley Williams brought down Craig Gardener, and Chris Brunt’s subsequent free kick deflected narrowly over off the wall.

The latter then had appeals for a penalty turned down after being barged over by Rangel, with replays suggesting the Spaniard was lucky not to be penalised, before the Baggies went close when Gareth McAuley flicked a Gardener corner right across the face of goal.

But clear chances were few and far between at both ends, with Ayew’s tame 20 yard shot failing to hit the target in the dying moments of the first half.

Albion seemed to come out with renewed purpose after the break and James Morrison volleyed Lambert’s knockdown straight at Swansea keeper Lukasz Fabianksi, before Lambert himself forced the Polish keeper to get down low to gather his header.

Pulis opted to introduce Saido Berahino, Stephane Sessegnon and Calum McManaman during the second half, and with the Swans happy to defend their lead, the trio added some pace and vigour, but the visitors failed to carve another good opening until Lambert stabbed a Sessegnon cross wide of the near post.

McManaman then tumbled in the area under a challenge from the outstanding Leon Britton late on, but referee Roger East was again unmoved, and with the home side clearly thinking the winger had dived, the subsequent fracas saw both the Albion substitute and Rangel booked.

You could sense the tension amongst the home players and fans in a nervy finale, but after six minutes of stoppage time, the final whistle signalled a huge roar in the Liberty as the home fans were able to celebrate a first home win since August 31st.

The three points also lifted Curtis’ side out of the relegation zone and into 16th in the table, ahead of the trip to Crystal Palace on Monday.

Swansea City: Lukasz Fabianski, Angel Rangel, Ashley Williams (captain), Federico Fernandez, Neil Taylor, Jefferson Montero (Jack Cork HT), Gylfi Sigurdsson, Leon Britton (Jonjo Shelvey 93), Andre Ayew, Ki Sung-Yueng, Wayne Routledge (Modou Barrow 91).

Subs not used: Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Bafetimbi Gomis, Kyle Naughton, Kyle Bartley.

West Bromwich Albion: Boaz Myhill, Jonas Olsson, (Stephane Sessegnon 59) , Claudio Yacob (Calum McManaman 81), Jonny Evans, James Morrison, Craig Gardner (Saido Berahino 59), Chris Brunt, Gareth McAuley, Darren Fletcher (captain), Craig Dawson, Rickie Lambert.

Subs not used: Anders Lindegaard, James Chester, Victor Anichebe, Cristian Gamboa.

Referee: Roger East.
Assistant referees: Andy Garratt and Matthew Wilkes.
Fourth official: Darren Handley.

Attendance: 20,789.