Match ends, Swansea City 2, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.
Jordan Ayew and Wilfried Bony scored in either half as Premier League strugglers Swansea beat Championship leaders Wolves in their FA Cup third-round replay.
Ayew opened the scoring with a dazzling individual goal, dribbling past five defenders and finishing neatly to put the hosts ahead at half-time.
Wolves controlled the tie after the interval and responded with a fine solo effort of their own as Diogo Jota twisted and turned his way to an equaliser two minutes after coming on as a substitute.
But that parity lasted only three minutes as Bony pounced on a loose ball to restore Swansea's lead.
Carlos Carvalhal's side now face a trip to League Two side Notts County in the fourth round, with the game to be played on Saturday, 27 January.
Ayew inspires makeshift Swans
Bottom of the Premier League and four points adrift of safety, Swansea's priority is trying to secure their top-flight survival.
It was no surprise, therefore, to see Carvalhal make eight changes from Saturday's draw at Newcastle.
But there was still ample Premier League quality in the form of their opening goal, scored by one of the three players to retain their place from the previous outing.
Picking up possession outside the penalty area, Ayew surged clear of two Wolves defenders, turned and then danced his way past another three before clipping the ball delicately over goalkeeper Will Norris to score one of the best goals of the third round.
Swansea seemed to ease off a little from that point, allowing Wolves to keep the ball for long periods and wrestle control of the tie, particularly when Jota drew them level.
But the home side were given a reprieve when Wolves failed to clear a cross from Tom Carroll, with the ball falling invitingly for Bony, who prodded it instinctively beyond Norris to give Swansea only their third home win in all competitions this season.
Rested Wolves target promotion
Despite being a division lower than their opponents, Wolves were made favourites for the original tie by the bookies and they justified the billing with an authoritative display at Molineux which arguably warranted more than a goalless draw.
They are 10 points clear at the top of the Championship and a summer of lavish spending meant they had the strength in depth to make eight changes for this replay, with Ruben Neves - signed from Porto for nearly £16m - among those left on the bench.
Jota, on loan from Atletico Madrid, was another used as a substitute and, when he did emerge, his impact was immediate.
Latching on to a long ball, the Portuguese turned sharply inside the Swansea penalty area to leave Federico Fernandez on his backside before firing into the bottom corner, despite a touch from Kristoffer Nordfeldt.
Their lead lasted only three minutes and, although head coach Nuno Espirito Santo may view this as a missed opportunity to claim a Premier League scalp, he and his players will be consoled by the fact they are in such a strong position to earn promotion to the top flight.
Line-ups
Swansea
Formation 3-4-3
- 13Nordfeldt
- 26Naughton
- 33Fernandez
- 6Mawson
- 52Roberts
- 8FerBooked at 47mins
- 51MesaSubstituted forKi Sung-yuengat 73'minutes
- 14Carroll
- 11NarsinghSubstituted forDyerat 73'minutes
- 2BonySubstituted forClucasat 79'minutes
- 18J Ayew
Substitutes
- 4Ki Sung-yueng
- 7Britton
- 12Dyer
- 17Clucas
- 25Mulder
- 27Bartley
- 62McBurnie
Wolves
Formation 3-4-3
- 31Norris
- 6Batth
- 25Miranda
- 30Hause
- 2Doherty
- 24Gibbs-White
- 4A N'DiayeBooked at 34mins
- 3DouglasBooked at 72mins
- 17Hélder CostaSubstituted forSaissat 73'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 9MirSubstituted forBonatiniat 64'minutes
- 26EnobakhareSubstituted forJotaat 64'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Bennett
- 8Neves
- 13Burgoyne
- 16Coady
- 18Jota
- 27Saiss
- 33Bonatini
- Referee:
- Chris Kavanagh
- Attendance:
- 8,294
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away3
- Corners
- Home3
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away18
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Swansea City 2, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ki Sung-yueng (Swansea City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Nathan Dyer.
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Hand ball by Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Booking
Romain Saiss (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card.
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Nathan Dyer (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Romain Saiss (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Sam Clucas (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Romain Saiss (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Attempt missed. Leroy Fer (Swansea City) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Nathan Dyer.
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Leroy Fer (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Romain Saiss (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Attempt saved. Léo Bonatini (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Attempt saved. Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Romain Saiss.
Substitution
Substitution, Swansea City. Sam Clucas replaces Wilfried Bony.
Post update
Foul by Jordan Ayew (Swansea City).
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Morgan Gibbs-White (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Offside, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Léo Bonatini tries a through ball, but Matt Doherty is caught offside.
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Offside, Swansea City. Kristoffer Nordfeldt tries a through ball, but Wilfried Bony is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Romain Saiss replaces Hélder Costa.
Comments
Join the conversation
Long way to go dingles...
You clearly have a problem with Swansea. What happened ? Did a Swansea boy steal your girlfriend ?
Not that it matters to me, but clearly it does to you, Swansea made numerous changes, 8, I believe , from their last game, so nowhere near a full strength side, as you state. Wolves don't have enough players to even consider playing a second string side.Swans' won the game. Wolves', for all their bravado, failed to beat the poorest team in the PL, over two matches. Suck it up, rich.
"I don't think ". Well, therein lies your problem. All the Welsh Clubs' are fully entitled to participate in the FA Cup. Cardiff, actually won it, albeit a long time ago. What do you " think " of that ? Sorry, I almost forgot, you don't do thinking .
Try getting over the racist thinking, and man up.
Swansea haven't been relegated yet.
Shoddy writing, yet again.
Wigan automatic to the Prem then ..!!!
Swansea put 2 goals past them.
Hope for the Swans, yet.
Wigan are League 1 .... Premier side Bournemouth couldn't beat them !!!!! Oh yeah and Chelsea just beat Championship Norwich 5 - 4 ... hang on though that was after pens , not 90 mins Oops
What makes you think Wolves would have won it ? They didn't win when playing at home.
I notice that their foul count was very high.