Aston Villa v Swansea
Swansea winger Nathan Dyer celebrates his goal against Aston Villa
Swansea claimed their first away win in the Premier League thanks to Nathan Dyer's swashbuckling performance.
Dyer pounced on Stephen Warnock's weak pass to give Swansea an early lead and continued to harass Aston Villa.
Wayne Routledge doubled Swansea's lead moments after half-time, following up to blast home the rebound when Danny Graham's shot came off the post.
Charles N'Zogbia almost grabbed a last-minute consolation but the Villa winger's shot cannoned off the bar.
The last time Swansea tasted victory away from home in the top flight was in 1982, when Robbie James's double saw the Welsh side win at Nottingham Forest.
A happy new year for Swansea - Rodgers
It took just four minutes for Swansea to open the scoring at Villa Park, though, as Dyer punished a terrible mistake by Warnock.
The winger pounced on a weak back-pass to Richard Dunne, intercepting the loose ball before charging forward and firing low across Bradley Guzan into the far corner.
Andrea Orlandi, making his first Premier League start, nearly doubled Swansea's lead soon afterwards as the Spaniard was allowed to advance on the Villa goal before whistling a left-foot shot just wide.
Villa were not lacking in threat themselves, with Gabriel Agbonlahor making hay on the right to help the home side force a series of corners.
But Swansea were still carving out the better chances and Dyer saw his cross-shot from wide on the right drift just over the junction of post and crossbar.
Villa's best opportunities continued to come via set pieces and from another corner James Collins rose highest, but his header lacked sufficient power to trouble Michel Vorm in the Swansea goal.
Wayne Routledge lets fly to double Swansea's lead at Aston Villa
Dyer continued to torment Villa, leaving Warnock sprawling in his wake before teeing up Graham - although his low shot was well saved by Guzan.
The Swansea chances continued to flow, this time Orlandi breaking into the box before cutting the ball back for Graham, only for the off-balance striker to spoon his shot across goal from eight yards out.
Whatever plans Alex McLeish may have hatched at half-time to improve Villa were in tatters within two minutes of the restart, as Routledge doubled Swansea's lead against his former club.
Graham hassled Guzan into a hurried clearance and Routledge picked up possession on the left before advancing and squaring to Graham, who had done well to get himself back onside.
McLeish understands Villa fans' frustrations
The striker should really have hit the target but instead his shot bounced invitingly off the post for Routledge to complete things, blasting low into the far corner for his first Premier League goal.
Villa did respond and it needed a good block to send Stephen Ireland's shot spiralling away from goal, while Dunne looped his header over the crossbar from the resulting corner.
Dyer had also not shirked his defensive duties and with 12 minutes remaining was given a deserved rest, with the no less potent Scott Sinclair replacing him.
While Villa were at last exerting some sustained pressure, Swansea stayed firm in the final third and remained dangerous on the counter.
Graham nearly sealed things at Villa Park, after Routledge sent the former Watford man away through the middle, and it needed a fine lunging tackle from Dunne to take the sting out of the Swansea striker's shot.
Guzan needed treatment after taking a boot to the face as he saved bravely at the feet of Joe Allen, who had come on for Orlandi early in the second half.
It took until the last minute of injury time for Villa to produce their only really threatening attack on the Swansea goal, but N'Zogbia's thunderous shot instead found the woodwork with Vorm beaten.
The long-awaited win on the road saw Swansea join Villa on 23 points, but claim 11th place just ahead of their hosts on goal difference.
Lineup, Bookings (6) & Substitutions (5)
Aston Villa
- 22 Guzan
- 03 Warnock
- 05 Dunne Booked
- 06 Collins Booked
- 21 Clark (Bannan - 85' )
- 24 Cuellar (Hutton - 55' )
- 07 Ireland (Albrighton - 68' )
- 10 N'Zogbia
- 19 Petrov
- 09 Bent
- 11 Agbonlahor
Substitutes
- 33 Marshall
- 02 Hutton
- 12 Albrighton
- 25 Bannan
- 38 Gardner
- 18 Heskey
- 26 Weimann
Swansea City
- 01 Vorm Booked
- 02 Williams
- 03 Taylor
- 04 Caulker Booked
- 22 Rangel
- 07 Britton
- 08 Orlandi Booked (Allen - 58' )
- 12 Dyer (Sinclair - 78' )
- 15 Routledge
- 26 Agustien Booked
- 10 Graham
Substitutes
- 25 Tremmel
- 16 Monk
- 11 Sinclair
- 24 Allen
- 29 Richards
- 18 Lita
- 19 Moore
Live Text Commentary
Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.
90:00 +4:45Charles N'Zogbia has an effort at goal from just inside the box that bounces off the post.
90:00 +4:25Stephen Warnock delivers the ball, clearance made by Angel Rangel.
90:00 +0:30 BookingBooking Michel Vorm receives a yellow card for time wasting.
90:00 +0:18Darren Bent concedes a free kick for a foul on Steven Caulker. Michel Vorm takes the free kick.
89:52Centre by Marc Albrighton, Darren Bent takes a shot. Save by Michel Vorm.
85:34Corner taken by Alan Hutton played to the near post, Danny Graham manages to make a clearance.
85:29A cross is delivered by Alan Hutton.
84:06 SubstitutionSubstitution Barry Bannan on for Ciaran Clark.
83:50Richard Dunne has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide right of the target.
83:15Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Marc Albrighton, clearance by Steven Caulker.
83:06A cross is delivered by Charles N'Zogbia, Neil Taylor makes a clearance.
81:28Danny Graham takes a shot. Save made by Bradley Guzan.
80:12Corner from the right by-line taken by Marc Albrighton, save by Michel Vorm.
78:55Unfair challenge on Alan Hutton by Wayne Routledge results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Bradley Guzan.
77:05Free kick taken by Bradley Guzan.
77:05 SubstitutionSubstitution (Swansea) makes a substitution, with Scott Sinclair coming on for Nathan Dyer.
77:05The referee blows for offside against Wayne Routledge.
75:10Centre by Marc Albrighton, clearance made by Danny Graham.
74:40Short corner taken by Marc Albrighton from the left by-line.
The ball is swung over by Marc Albrighton, clearance by Steven Caulker.
72:46Marc Albrighton concedes a free kick for a foul on Joe Allen. Kemy Agustien takes the free kick.
72:26Centre by Marc Albrighton, Ashley Williams makes a clearance.
71:37Marc Albrighton crosses the ball, Leon Britton manages to make a clearance.
69:23Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kemy Agustien by Marc Albrighton. Steven Caulker restarts play with the free kick.
67:59 SubstitutionSubstitution Stephen Ireland goes off and Marc Albrighton comes on.
67:46Stephen Warnock sends in a cross.
64:02Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Stephen Ireland from the right by-line, Header from deep inside the penalty area by Richard Dunne goes harmlessly over the crossbar. Nathan Dyer concedes a free kick for a foul on Stephen Warnock. Stephen Warnock delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing, clearance by Angel Rangel.
64:34Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nathan Dyer by Ciaran Clark. Steven Caulker restarts play with the free kick.
64:02Corner taken by Stephen Ireland.
63:38Effort from the edge of the box by Stephen Ireland goes wide of the left-hand post.
63:14The ball is sent over by Charles N'Zogbia, clearance made by Kemy Agustien.
62:49Corner taken left-footed by Charles N'Zogbia from the left by-line to the near post, Steven Caulker makes a clearance.
62:05Corner from the left by-line taken by Charles N'Zogbia, Leon Britton makes a clearance.
58:35Kemy Agustien takes the direct free kick.
58:35 BookingBooking Richard Dunne is cautioned.
57:59Foul by Richard Dunne on Nathan Dyer, free kick awarded.
57:23 SubstitutionSubstitution Andrea Orlandi goes off and Joe Allen comes on.
56:56 BookingBooking The referee books Andrea Orlandi for unsporting behaviour.
55:26Corner taken left-footed by Charles N'Zogbia, Steven Caulker manages to make a clearance.
55:22Gabriel Agbonlahor produces a cross.
53:56Free kick taken by Stiliyan Petrov.
53:56 SubstitutionSubstitution Alan Hutton joins the action as a substitute, replacing Carlos Cuellar.
53:56Foul by Danny Graham on Stiliyan Petrov, free kick awarded.
51:08Darren Bent gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kemy Agustien. Ashley Williams takes the direct free kick.
49:20Effort on goal by Ciaran Clark from deep inside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.
46:37The assist for the goal came from Danny Graham.
46:30Danny Graham takes a shot from close range that strikes the post.
46:37Assist by Danny Graham.
46:37 Goal scoredGoal - Wayne Routledge - A Villa 0 - 2 Swansea Goal scored by Wayne Routledge from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Aston Villa 0-2 Swansea.
46:30Close range shot by Danny Graham hits the post.
45:01The game restarts for the second half.
45:00 +2:07 Half timeHalf Time The referee calls an end to the first half.
45:00 +1:30Charles N'Zogbia concedes a free kick for a foul on Andrea Orlandi. Kemy Agustien restarts play with the free kick.
45:00 +0:36The ball is swung over by Carlos Cuellar.
44:36Charles N'Zogbia crosses the ball.
42:25Centre by Stephen Ireland, clearance by Steven Caulker.
39:07Steven Caulker takes the free kick.
39:07 BookingBooking James Collins goes into the book.
38:58Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Wayne Routledge by James Collins.
38:25Corner taken left-footed by Charles N'Zogbia, clearance by Steven Caulker.
34:44Effort on goal by Danny Graham from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.
33:43Free kick crossed by Stiliyan Petrov, Steven Caulker manages to make a clearance.
33:43 BookingBooking Kemy Agustien booked.
33:34Kemy Agustien challenges Stephen Ireland unfairly and gives away a free kick.
32:11Unfair challenge on Gabriel Agbonlahor by Leon Britton results in a free kick. Charles N'Zogbia produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.
30:57The ball is crossed by Nathan Dyer, clearance made by Ciaran Clark.
30:11Unfair challenge on Danny Graham by Richard Dunne results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Leon Britton.
29:43Carlos Cuellar gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Wayne Routledge. Ashley Williams takes the free kick.
28:18Nathan Dyer sends in a cross, Danny Graham takes a shot. Save by Bradley Guzan.
28:18The ball is swung over by Nathan Dyer, Danny Graham takes a shot. Bradley Guzan makes a save.
27:24The ball is swung over by Angel Rangel, Richard Dunne manages to make a clearance.
25:04Nathan Dyer crosses the ball, James Collins makes a clearance.
23:55Richard Dunne sends in a cross, clearance by Ashley Williams.
21:16Corner taken by Charles N'Zogbia from the left by-line, James Collins takes a shot. Save by Michel Vorm.
18:04Corner taken right-footed by Stephen Ireland to the near post, clearance by Danny Graham.
17:27Free kick crossed left-footed by Charles N'Zogbia, Ashley Williams makes a clearance.
17:27 BookingBooking Steven Caulker receives a caution.
17:21Steven Caulker challenges Stephen Warnock unfairly and gives away a free kick.
0:45The ball is delivered by Gabriel Agbonlahor, Angel Rangel manages to make a clearance.
14:53Gabriel Agbonlahor sends in a cross.
14:09Nathan Dyer produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.
11:32Stephen Ireland has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the goal.
11:07Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Charles N'Zogbia. Inswinging corner taken by Charles N'Zogbia from the right by-line played to the near post.
10:05Corner taken left-footed by Charles N'Zogbia from the right by-line, clearance made by Kemy Agustien.
9:03Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kemy Agustien by Darren Bent. Direct free kick taken by Ashley Williams.
7:21Andrea Orlandi has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box missing to the wide right of the goal.
6:36Charles N'Zogbia sends in a cross, Header by Gabriel Agbonlahor from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.
6:04The ball is swung over by Carlos Cuellar.
4:00 Goal scoredGoal - Nathan Dyer - A Villa 0 - 1 Swansea Nathan Dyer finds the back of the net with a goal from the edge of the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Aston Villa 0-1 Swansea.
0:45Stephen Warnock crosses the ball, clearance by Angel Rangel.
0:00The referee gets the game started.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association
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