Swansea came from behind to beat West Brom 2-1 in snowy conditions at The Hawthorns and claim only their second away win of the season.
West Brom surrender lead to lose 2-1 at The Hawthorns
Swansea came from behind to beat West Brom 2-1 in snowy conditions at The Hawthorns and claim only their second away win of the season.
The Swans controlled possession for long periods but in the first half it was West Brom who came closest to breaking the deadlock, with Gylfi Sigurdsson heading off the line and Michel Vorm pulling off a fine save to deny Jonas Olsson.
Appeals for a penalty were also waved away when Ashley Williams appeared to raise his arms and get a hand on the ball during an aerial challenge with Gareth McAuley.
The Baggies did finally take the lead after the interval when Marc-Antoine Fortune was given time at the back post from a corner and finished well into the far corner.
Swansea levelled just a minute later, though, with Neil Taylor cutting the ball back for Sigurdsson to fire home with aplomb.
Sigurdsson then turned provider for the game's third goal in the space of five minutes, just before the hour mark, with his cross poked in from close range by Danny Graham.
Graham's strike proved to be the winner as the Baggies battled in vain during the final half hour, with Swansea holding on in worsening weather to consolidate a mid-table position.
Into their stride
Swansea were soon into their stride and created the first opportunity of the game.
Sigurdsson's shot was blocked from a Joe Allen corner and the follow-up attempt from Angel Rangel was deflected just wide.
Baggies midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu was caught in possession and was relieved to see Allen drag his shot past the post.
James Morrison brought Sigurdsson down 25 yards out and the Swansea player took the free-kick himself and sent it just wide.
In a rare West Brom attack McAuley headed wide from a Nicky Shorey cross. Peter Odemwingie's control then let him down when he was found in space by Jerome Thomas.
The threatening Graham missed a good chance to put Swansea ahead after half an hour. Graham shrugged off the challenge of McAuley when challenging for a Leon Britton free-kick. But, from 12 yards out he shot wide when he should have at least tested Ben Foster.
Albion enjoyed their best spell approaching half-time with Sigurdsson blocking a goal-bound flick from Jonas Olsson.
Michel Vorm was alert to hold onto an Olsson flick from a Graham Dorrans free-kick.
Britton was booked for bringing down Thomas and Swansea appealed in vain for a penalty after a challenge by McAuley on Scott Sinclair.
Three-goal blitz
Olsson was looking Albion's most threatening player at set-pieces and his header was blocked from a Dorrans corner.
But it was against the run of play when Fortune put West Brom ahead after 53 minutes.
A Dorrans corner was flicked on by Olsson and at the far post Fortune had time to steady himself before drilling the ball into the corner of the net.
Swansea needed only a minute to draw level through Sigurdsson. Britton's ball released the over-lapping Neil Taylor and his low cross was side-footed past Foster by Sigurdsson.
The game turned around with Graham putting Swansea in front after 59 minutes.
This time Sigurdsson was the creator with a low ball to the near post and Graham made no mistake for his 10th goal of the season.
Odemwingie was guilty of a glaring miss when he shot over with the goal at his mercy after a mis-hit effort from Dorrans had landed in his path.
Then Paul Scharner failed to make proper contact on his shot from 10 yards out after Somen Tchoyi had pulled the ball back into his path.
Morrison was booked for a foul on Britton as Swansea continued to look the more likely to score.
Olsson blocked a shot from the impressive Sigurdsson but in injury-time Vorm denied Fortune to prevent an undeserved Albion equaliser.
| West Bromwich Albion |
Team Statistics |
Swansea City |
| 1 |
Goals |
2 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 7 |
Shots on Target |
2 |
| 11 |
Shots off Target |
7 |
| 3 |
Blocked Shots |
7 |
| 8 |
Corners |
7 |
| 12 |
Fouls |
5 |
| 2 |
Offsides |
2 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 77.4 |
Passing Success |
86.6 |
| 16 |
Tackles |
24 |
| 75 |
Tackles Success |
70.8 |
| 36.6 |
Possession |
63.4 |
| 60.9 |
Territorial Advantage |
39.1 |
| 349 |
Total Passes |
632 |
| 30 |
Total Crosses |
26 |
| 168 |
Lost Balls |
155 |
| 52 |
Recoveries |
47 |
| 26.5 |
1st Half Poss. |
73.5 |
| 44.4 |
2nd Half Poss. |
55.6 |
|
