The FA Cup - Replay
SwanseaSwansea City2WolvesWolverhampton Wanderers1

Swansea City 2-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers

By Dafydd PritchardBBC Sport Wales at the Liberty Stadium

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

Jordan Ayew scores for Swansea
Jordan Ayew made the breakthrough for Swansea in the first half

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

Diogo Jota scored for Wolves
Diogo Jota scored for Wolves in the second half having only just been brought off the bench

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

Home TeamSwanseaAway TeamWolves
Possession
Home55%
Away45%
Shots
Home8
Away9
Shots on Target
Home3
Away3
Corners
Home3
Away3
Fouls
Home9
Away18

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Swansea City 2, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Swansea City 2, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.

  3. 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.

  4. Post update

    Hand ball by Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

  5. Booking

    Romain Saiss (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card.

  6. Post update

    Nathan Dyer (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  7. Post update

    Foul by Romain Saiss (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

  8. Post update

    Sam Clucas (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  9. Post update

    Foul by Romain Saiss (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

  10. Post update

    Attempt missed. Leroy Fer (Swansea City) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Nathan Dyer.

  11. Post update

    Leroy Fer (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  12. Post update

    Foul by Romain Saiss (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

  13. Post update

    Attempt saved. Léo Bonatini (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

  14. Post update

    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.

  15. Substitution

    Substitution, Swansea City. Sam Clucas replaces Wilfried Bony.

  16. Post update

    Foul by Jordan Ayew (Swansea City).

  17. Post update

    Morgan Gibbs-White (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  18. Post update

    Offside, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Léo Bonatini tries a through ball, but Matt Doherty is caught offside.

  19. Post update

    Offside, Swansea City. Kristoffer Nordfeldt tries a through ball, but Wilfried Bony is caught offside.

  20. Substitution

    Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Romain Saiss replaces Hélder Costa.

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