Garry Monk's header in injury time spared Swansea's blushes after Crawley had threatened a shock in the Capital One Cup third round.

Miguel Michu's opener, curling home Wayne Routledge's cross, suggested an easy night for Premier League Swansea.

But their League One hosts hit back with Josh Simpson's deflected shot and led when Hope Akpan scored on the turn.

Swans levelled when Danny Graham nodded in Dwight Tiendalli's cross before Monk rose at a corner to end Crawley's hope.

It was a welcome return to action for club captain Monk, who was making his first appearance of the season following a troubling back injury.

The central defender's late winner ensured Swansea did not suffer last season's fate, when they were knocked out of the competition by League Two side Shrewsbury.

A defensive error by Crawley right-back Nathan Byrne, newly arrived on loan from Tottenham, nearly gifted Swansea an easy opener, but Luke Moore's shot whistled past the right post.

Swansea's League Cup record

  • 11/12: Second round (lost 3-1 to Shrewsbury)
  • 10/11: Last 16 (lost 2-0 to Wigan)
  • 09/10: Second Round (lost 2-1 to Scunthorpe aet)
  • 08/09: Last 16 (lost 1-0 to Watford)
  • 07/08: Second round (lost 1-0 to Reading aet)

An almost identical error of judgement saw Byrne cause panic among the home defence for a second time, but this time Moore was hustled off the ball.

Michu nodded a free-kick straight at keeper Paul Jones before Routledge stabbed a glorious chance into the side netting.

But Routledge made amends in the 27th minute by unlocking the Crawley defence with a mazy run that set up the opener for Michu.

Stationed on the edge of the area, Michu steered the ball over the head of Jones with a superb finish to grab his fifth goal since his summer arrival from Rayo Vallecano.

The Spanish attacking midfielder was then booked for fouling Dannie Bulman and later sent a header over the crossbar, but only after Moore had squandered another great opportunity.

The closing moments of the first half saw Swansea come under pressure.

A spectacular overhead kick from Billy Clarke just failed before Crawley made their breakthrough. Simpson gathered a failed clearance from 20 yards out and drilled home, his shot taking a heavy deflection in a crowd of players.

Crawley came out for the second half with their tails up and Jonathan Forte surged through midfield before testing keeper Gerhard Tremmel, with Nicky Adams just failing to capitalise on the follow up.

Forte was also involved as Swansea's worst fears were realised, Akpan taking his incisive pass, turning and slotting home from close range.

Having run half the pitch, Forte should have put Crawley 3-1 up but his shot was easily saved by Tremmel.

The home side were left to rue the missed chance in the 74th minute as Swansea equalised when substitute Graham nodded in Tiendalli's pin-point cross.

And the decisive blow was struck as the match entered injury time as Monk jumped highest to head home Routledge's corner.

Swansea manager Michael Laudrup:

"It's good to get that win. When you lose more than one game it's really important to get back on track and get that feeling of a win.

"To win tonight and do it the way we did, coming back after going 2-1 down, it was good to see that reaction.

"I was worrying that we'd have to go into extra time, which wouldn't have been so good."

Crawley manager Richie Barker:

"I thought at 2-1 the next goal was important. We wanted the daylight and you need that against a Premier League club.

"We have lost out to the odd goal to Manchester United, Stoke and now Swansea. We are getting closer as we are scoring against them.

"The pleasing thing is the performance again."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (4)

Crawley Town

  • 01 Jones
  • 03 Sadler
  • 12 Walsh
  • 19 Byrne Booked
  • 28 Davis
  • 06 Akpan
  • 07 Clarke (Ajose - 85' )
  • 11 Simpson
  • 15 Bulman
  • 16 Adams
  • 10 Forte (Alexander - 85' )

Substitutes

  • 25 Kuipers
  • 04 Connolly
  • 13 Hunt
  • 02 Davies
  • 08 Torres
  • 09 Alexander
  • 14 Ajose

Swansea City

  • 25 Tremmel
  • 16 Monk
  • 21 Tiendalli
  • 33 Davies
  • 07 Britton
  • 09 Michu Booked (Donnelly - 58' )
  • 15 Routledge
  • 24 Ki Sung-Yeung
  • 27 Gower
  • 29 Richards (Graham - 67' )
  • 19 Moore

Substitutes

  • 13 Cornell
  • 05 Tate
  • 23 Situ
  • 35 Alfei
  • 31 Lucas
  • 10 Graham
  • 41 Donnelly
Ref: Robert Madley
Att: 3,963

Match Stats

Shots

18 17

On target

9 10

Corners

7 10

Fouls

9 8

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:13 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +3:58

Corner taken by Nicky Adams, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Claude Davis misses to the left of the goal.

90:00 +2:49

Effort on goal by Mat Sadler from outside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.

90:00 +1:05

Assist by Wayne Routledge.

90:00 +1:05 Goal scored

Goal - Garry Monk - Crawley 2 - 3 Swansea Garry Monk finds the back of the net with a headed goal from inside the box. Crawley Town 2-3 Swansea.

89:48

Corner taken right-footed by Wayne Routledge,

89:00

Corner taken right-footed by Mark Gower from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Mat Sadler.

87:04

Sung-Yeung Ki takes a shot from a long way out clearing the crossbar.

85:57

Josh Simpson concedes a free kick for a foul on Leon Britton. Strike comes in from Sung-Yeung Ki from the free kick.

84:40 Substitution

Substitution Gary Alexander joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jonathan Forte.

84:40 Substitution

Substitution Billy Clarke goes off and Nick Ajose comes on.

84:04

Jonathan Forte takes a shot. Save by Gerhard Tremmel.

81:07

Corner taken by Mark Gower, Rory Donnelly takes a shot. Save by Paul Jones.

78:30

Unfair challenge on Joe Walsh by Rory Donnelly results in a free kick. Joe Walsh takes the direct free kick.

77:32

The referee blows for offside. Sung-Yeung Ki takes the indirect free kick.

73:29

Dwight Tiendalli provided the assist for the goal.

73:29 Goal scored

Goal - Danny Graham - Crawley 2 - 2 Swansea Danny Graham scores a headed goal from close in. Crawley Town 2-2 Swansea.

71:57

The referee blows for offside against Billy Clarke. Indirect free kick taken by Gerhard Tremmel.

71:32

Corner taken by Nicky Adams, Gerhard Tremmel makes a save.

71:09

Jonathan Forte takes a shot. Save by Gerhard Tremmel.

70:34

Corner taken by Mark Gower from the left by-line, clearance made by Billy Clarke.

69:53

Josh Simpson challenges Mark Gower unfairly and gives away a free kick. Mark Gower takes the free kick.

66:09

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Mark Gower, clearance made by Claude Davis.

66:09 Substitution

Substitution Ashley Richards leaves the field to be replaced by Danny Graham.

65:19

Inswinging corner taken by Mark Gower from the left by-line, Joe Walsh makes a clearance.

64:34

Joe Walsh takes a shot. Save by Gerhard Tremmel.

64:12

Corner taken right-footed by Nicky Adams.

63:38

Jonathan Forte takes a shot. Blocked by Garry Monk.

61:04

Jonathan Forte provided the assist for the goal.

61:04 Goal scored

Goal - Hope Akpan - Crawley 2 - 1 Swansea Hope Akpan fires in a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Crawley Town 2-1 Swansea.

60:02

Short corner worked by Nicky Adams.

59:51

Unfair challenge on Nathan Byrne by Ben Davies results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Nathan Byrne.

58:18

Shot from outside the box by Joe Walsh misses to the left of the goal.

57:40 Substitution

Substitution (Swansea) makes a substitution, with Rory Donnelly coming on for Miguel Michu.

57:10

Claude Davis fouled by Luke Moore, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Paul Jones.

56:22

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Mark Gower.

55:36

Corner taken by Mark Gower from the right by-line, clearance made by Claude Davis.

54:51

Luke Moore takes a shot. Blocked by Dannie Bulman.

53:53

Handball by Nicky Adams. Sung-Yeung Ki has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.

50:56

Shot by Nicky Adams from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.

50:41

Jonathan Forte takes a shot. Save by Gerhard Tremmel.

48:45

Ben Davies takes the inswinging corner, Dannie Bulman makes a clearance.

48:26

Luke Moore takes a shot. Save by Paul Jones.

47:47

Jonathan Forte gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Sung-Yeung Ki. Sung-Yeung Ki takes the direct free kick.

45:54

Close range header by Claude Davis misses to the right of the goal.

45:35

Billy Clarke decides to take a short corner.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

45:00 +2:07

Nicky Adams takes a shot. Gerhard Tremmel makes a save.

45:00 +1:46 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

45:00 +0:59 Goal scored

Goal - Josh Simpson - Crawley 1 - 1 Swansea A goal is scored by Josh Simpson from outside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Crawley Town 1-1 Swansea.

44:56

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Hope Akpan by Mark Gower. Free kick crossed by Nicky Adams.

43:47

Billy Clarke has a overhead kick shot. Garry Monk gets a block in.

41:07

Jonathan Forte is caught offside. Gerhard Tremmel takes the indirect free kick.

37:09

Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Miguel Michu goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

36:52

Luke Moore takes a shot. Save by Paul Jones.

35:22

Inswinging corner taken by Nicky Adams from the left by-line, save by Gerhard Tremmel.

34:12

Sung-Yeung Ki gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Billy Clarke. Free kick crossed by Billy Clarke, clearance made by Dwight Tiendalli.

32:40

Billy Clarke takes a shot. Sung-Yeung Ki gets a block in.

31:46

Direct free kick taken by Claude Davis.

31:46 Booking

Booking Booking for Miguel Michu.

31:34

Miguel Michu concedes a free kick for a foul on Dannie Bulman.

28:58

Shot from just outside the area by Luke Moore misses to the right of the target.

28:13

Leon Britton takes a shot. Hope Akpan gets a block in.

27:36

Nathan Byrne concedes a free kick for a foul on Luke Moore. Direct free kick taken by Mark Gower.

26:13

Wayne Routledge provided the assist for the goal.

26:13 Goal scored

Goal - Miguel Michu - Crawley 0 - 1 Swansea Miguel Michu gets on the score sheet with a goal from just outside the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. Crawley Town 0-1 Swansea.

24:03

Wayne Routledge produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the left-hand post.

22:17

Free kick awarded for a foul by Mark Gower on Dannie Bulman. Nicky Adams restarts play with the free kick.

21:10

Ashley Richards fouled by Claude Davis, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Mark Gower.

19:18

Effort from outside the penalty box by Nicky Adams goes wide right of the goal.

18:05

The ball is crossed by Mark Gower, Miguel Michu takes a shot. Save made by Paul Jones.

18:05 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Nathan Byrne for dissent.

17:54

Free kick awarded for a foul by Nathan Byrne on Wayne Routledge.

16:48

Josh Simpson has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide left of the goal.

16:22

Inswinging corner taken by Nicky Adams, Garry Monk makes a clearance.

15:36

Ashley Richards takes a shot. Blocked by Dannie Bulman.

14:13

Joe Walsh challenges Luke Moore unfairly and gives away a free kick. Leon Britton takes the direct free kick.

13:43

Billy Clarke produces a left-footed effort from long distance that goes harmlessly over the bar.

12:47

Shot from outside the box by Luke Moore goes wide right of the target.

11:35

Dwight Tiendalli concedes a free kick for a foul on Nicky Adams. Free kick taken by Nicky Adams.

6:34

Corner taken by Ben Davies played to the near post, clearance made by Mat Sadler.

4:12

Nicky Adams challenges Ashley Richards unfairly and gives away a free kick. Dwight Tiendalli takes the free kick.

3:14

Foul by Jonathan Forte on Dwight Tiendalli, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Dwight Tiendalli.

1:09

The referee penalises Jonathan Forte for handball. Free kick taken by Garry Monk.

0:00

The referee starts the match.

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