Swansea City 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Fernando Llorente’s controversial first half goal against his former club and Dele Alli’s late strike earned Spurs a two-goal victory over rock bottom Swansea City at a rain swept Liberty Stadium on Tuesday night.

Llorente’s early opener had more than a hint of offside, which the match officials missed, then right at the death Alli added a second to kill off the game.

Swansea City trailed 1-0 at half time, but Carlos Carvalhal’s men showed plenty of fighting spirit in the second half against a slick looking Spurs outfit.

This was Carvalhal’s second game in charge of Swansea, but his first at the Liberty Stadium, following his debut win at Watford on Saturday.

Spurs started the game without the services of the Premier League’s top scorer Harry Kane, the 24 year old on the bench suffering from a heavy cold, and this gave former Swans’ striker Llorente his opportunity and he took it.

Angel Rangel captained the Swans, the veteran replacing the suspended Kyle Naughton who is serving a three match ban.

Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs outfit started the game confidently, comfortably controlling possession in difficult wet conditions, when they didn’t have the ball they pressed the Swans strongly.

Swans’ left back Martin Olsson received the first yellow card of the evening for a clumsy tackle on Spurs’ Kieran Trippier.

The visitors broke the deadlock in the 12th minute when Llorente headed home Christian Eriksen’s free-kick from the left touchline. The replay suggests the striker was a good yard offside and it was harsh on the struggling Swans.

Spurs’ clever movement and passing was causing the home outfit problems, as the hosts struggled to put the visitors under any pressure.

Eriksen was pulling the strings in midfield for runners Dele Alli, Erik Lamela and Son Heung-Min who worked so hard to get beyond the Swansea defence.

Spurs centre back Davinson Sanchez was booked for taking out Olsson on the edge of the 18 yard area in the 32nd minute, from the resulting free-kick Renato Sanches curled his effort around the wall and just over the crossbar. That was the Swans first real sight at goal.

From another dangerous indirect Erikson free-kick Llorente volleyed over the bar from eight yards, which should have put the visitors’ two-up.

A minute before half time Alfie Mawson headed Tom Carroll’s corner which Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris palmed clear as it arrowed towards the top corner.

The Swans started the second period with intent, Sanches dispossessed Alli, he fed Carroll, and the latter spread the ball wide to Dyer who ran hard and drilled a low shot wide from the edge of the box.

Rangel left the pitch in the 52nd minute with a pulled muscle in his leg, he was replaced by Luciano Narsingh. Federico Fernandez has handed the captain’s armband.

Spurs’ Sanchez clattered Olsson, the centre back already on a yellow was lucky to escape another card as referee Robert Madley gave him a talking to. Minutes later and Pochettino sensibly replaced Sanchez with Victor Wanyama.

Fabianski pulled off a stunning save to deny Eriksen scoring with a direct free-kick as the visitors pushed for a second goal.

As the intensity  was raised Lamela was issued a yellow for taking out Tom Carroll.

Narsingh latched onto a Ronato Sanches through ball, and the substitute menacingly cut inside the box and drilled his shot straight at Lloris.

Harry Kane replaced goal scorer Llorente up front in the 67th minute as Spurs showed their intent.

But the Swans were desperately unlucky not to equalise when Ayew rounded Lloris but lost his footing at the vital moment. Carroll’s corner was met by a firm Mike van der Hoorn header which crashed against the woodwork!

The visitors nearly added a second when Son Heung-Min flashed a right footed volley just wide of the target.

In the 89th minute the visitors put the game to bed, Kane’s brilliant crossfield pass found Alli, his first attempt struck Fabianski, but he made no mistake with the second bite of the cherry.

Swansea City: Lukasz Fabianski, Mike van der Hoorn, Federico Fernandez, Alfie Mawson, Angel Rangel (Captain) (52 Liciano Narsingh), Renato Sanches, Tom Carroll (76 Wayne Routledge), Sam Clucas, Martin Olsson, Nathan Dyer (70 Oli McBurnie), Jordan Ayew.

Substitutes not used: Leroy Fer, Kyle Bartley, Roque Mesa, Kristoffer Nordfeldt (GK).

Manager: Carlos Carvalhal.

Tottenham Hotspur: Hugo Lloris (Captain), Kieran Trippier, Davinson Sanchez (59 Victor Wanyama), Jan Vertonghen, Ben Davies, Eric Dier, Erik Lamela (76 Moussa Sissoko), Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli, Fernando Llorente (67 Harry Kane), Son Heung-Min.

Substitutes not used: Serge Aurier, Harry Winks, Kyle Walker-Peters, Michel Vorm (GK).

Manager: Mauricio Pochettino.

Referee: Robert Madley.

Assistants: M. Perry & S. Child.

Fourth Official: L Probert.

Attendance: 20,615.