Federico Fernandez scored the only goal of the game to help Swansea City to a 1-0 win over Aston Villa at the Liberty Stadium.
The centre-back's opening goal for the club arrived 53 minutes in to settle a poor contest in South Wales devoid of any real chances.
Villa created just one opening in the second half when Joleon Lescott's flicked header was kept out by Lukasz Fabanski, as the Swans saw the game out for three more vital points.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Swansea City and Aston Villa at the Liberty Stadium. The Villans have what appears to be one final chance to restore some late hope following a disastrous campaign to date, requiring three points here to keep their campaign alive.
A run of five-straight defeats has left a real dark cloud hovering above Villa Park heading into the business end of the campaign, though, with supporters long since giving up hope of repeating Leicester City's miraculous recovery - and subsequent title charge - over the past 12 months or so.
Incredibly, the Foxes were still bottom this time last year, though unlike their Midlands rivals the shoots of recovery were clear to see even when results were going against them at the time. The odds on City winning the title may have been sky high, but Villa turning around their campaign at this late stage would be even more incredible based on recent showings.
The Villans, in case you have not looked at the league table over the past five months, are rock bottom and drifting further and further away from safety. The gap now stands at nine points following the most routine of defeats to Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, which saw a half-decent first-half display followed up by a slack second-hand showing on home soil.
Remi Garde, a man who is currently in limbo with regards to his future, was quick to praise and improved showing from his side, having conceded 'just' two goals against title-chasers Tottenham. Performances really do not matter at this stage, though, with three-point hauls desperately required if that nine-point gap is going to close any time soon.
However, should the West Midlands outfit pick up an extremely rare win on their travels today, things will begin to look just a tad brighter come this time tomorrow with Newcastle and Sunderland due to lock horns elsewhere. Something has got to give in that one, with the winner likely to use the momentum to drag themselves clear from the drop.
The picture at the bottom of the division - overlooked largely because of the shock title race this year - has started to become a little clearer over the past few weeks. Bournemouth and, to a lesser extent Swansea, have both done enough to come themselves well afloat. Sunderland, Newcastle and Norwich are now desperately locked in a battle to escape the two remaining relegation spots, with Villa being consigned to the drop by many before 2016 was even ushered in.
Just three wins and seven draws all season has left Garde's men in the bleakest of positions, as they have taken a paltry 16 points in total from 30 games. Only the infamous Derby County side of 2005-06 and Sunderland's class of '08 have taken fewer at this stage; both claiming a shocking 10 points before being inevitably being consigned to the drop.
That defeat to Spurs last weekend made it 20 for the season for the Villans - the third campaign in a row that negative milestone has been reached. This is not a relegation that has come out of the blue; it has been on the cards for a number of years now and you have to wonder just when this great club will return to the top tier of English football.
DID YOU KNOW? Aston Villa, unsurprisingly really when you take their position into account, have the worst away record in the Premier League. Since their opening-day win on the South Coast at Bournemouth, the Villans have drawn three and lost 11 on their travels. The 4-0 reverse at Manchester City last time out really did sum things up, as a second-half collapse led to the latest of their heavy defeats this term.
Remi Garde has faced an almighty task since being appointed as Aston Villa boss last year. The Frenchman was more familiar with success during his time at former side Lyon, whom he may return to in the summer. There has been plenty of reshuffling behind the scenes at Villa Park this week, including the departure of sporting director Hendrik Almstadt, and Garde may well be next to leave come the season's end.
So while Villa have remained consistently poor all season, Swansea have gone through more of a roller coaster of results and emotions. A superb start to the campaign, which saw them backed as many punters' favourites to claim an unlikely Europa League berth has since been met by fears of relegation. The departure of Garry Monk left the Swans at a crossroads of sorts, but they have now stabilised slightly since the arrival of Italian coach Francesco Guidolin.
Guidolin has actually been absent from the sidelines for the Welsh outfit's last three games due to a chest infection, meaning a prominent role for Alan Curtis who helped the club to two wins before last weekend's narrow defeat to Bournemouth. It leaves City eight points clear of the drop zone with the same number of games left to play.
There was a sense on the South Coast seven days ago that neither side had a great deal to play for, so the entertaining 3-2 defeat was not met by too many concerns. The previous back-to-back wins over Arsenal and Norwich City eased the relegation concerns massively, and now the Swans are closing in on the magic 40-point mark. It goes without saying, however, that a shock loss this evening and all of a sudden bums will be twitching once more.
Swansea, seeking a third win in four tonight, have no actually won successive home games since back in August when they were flying high. A lot has changed since then, as already touched upon, but their home record has remained consistently poor. Three wins in their last 15 in South Wales, as well as a run of only 14 goals during that period, is simply not good enough for a side with aspirations of finishing in the top half.
Only Watford and Villa have scored fewer home goals, in fact, but there is another even more worrying stat that does not bode well for this evening's fixture. Villa and Swansea are the only two teams left in the top flight yet to score more than two goals in a single league game this term, so do not expect too much excitement at the Liberty Stadium.
If one player on the field is capable of winning a game of football, though, it is Swansea's in-form Icelandic international Gylfi Sigurdsson, who has scored seven goals already this calendar year. That includes an impressive strike at Bournemouth last weekend, with only Harry Kane (8) and Sergio Aguero (9) above him in the scoring charts for 2016. Home supporters will be desperate to see that impressive run continue against a hapless Villa side.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Swansea have won four-in-a-row against the Villans, with their only defeat in the last 10 coming in September 2012 at Villa Park. Today's visitors are also winless at the home of Swansea in their last six visits - all in the top flight - since a 2-1 win in 1971. Put simply, the Swans do not tend to lose when Villa come calling.
So a real chance this weekend for Swansea to surely end their relegation worries once and for all, with three points today moving them up to 36 for the season ahead of a crunch meeting between Newcastle and Sunderland tomorrow. Guidolin's charges have a nice enough run to following this match, as they take on Stoke, Chelsea and Newcastle, but the end-of-season run-in looks very tough on paper. Safety will have to be assured heading into the final month, you feel.
Francesco Guidolin has missed Swansea City's last three games due to a chest infection, but he returns to the sidelines this evening for the visit of basement boys Aston Villa. The Swans are seeking a third win in four outings, which will lift them up to 36 points for the season and one giant step closer to safety for another season.
Before taking a look at some team news from the Liberty Stadium, let us first check out the pre-match thoughts from both camps heading into kickoff.
Francesco Guidolin: "It will not be easy. I know this situation because I have many matches behind me and know how difficult a match like this is. My team has to play well with concentration and intensity, as if it is a final."
Remi Garde: "I am not stupid. It's an impossible mission that we have to make possible. You never know in football. I still believe. I have said that since the first day. I am focused on saving the club from relegation."
Guidolin opting to use the 'cup final' cliche there, then, while his opposite number is trying his best to keep supporters and fans motivated. Villa have already showed a few signs this week that preparations are underway for life in the Championship, with pride essentially all that is seemingly left to play for with a couple of months of the season left to play.
Right, as promised, let's now switch attention to some confirmed team news from the Liberty Stadium, starting with home side Swansea City...
SWANSEA CITY TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Fabianski, Rangel, Fernandez, Williams, Kingsley, Cork, Ki, Fer, Barrow, Sigurdsson, Gomis
SUBS: Nordfeldt, Naughton, Amat, Britton, Montero, Routledge, Paloschi
Guidolin has decided to change things around slightly for the visit of the division's bottom-placed side by making three changes to his starting lineup. Stephen Kingsley, Ki Sung-yueng and striker Bafetimbi Gomis are all welcomed back into the fold, while Neil Taylor, Wayne Routledge and Alberto Paloschi make way from the 3-2 reverse at Bournemouth a week ago.
Andre Ayew picked up an ankle injury recently, meaning that we will miss out on the prospect of a brotherly battle in South Wales. Jefferson Montero has been largely overlooked since the departure of Garry Monk last year, but having overcome an illness that kept him out seven days ago, he takes his place on the bench and is in contention to play a part this evening.
ASTON VILLA TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Guzan, Hutton, Clark, Lescott, Cissokho, Veretout, Westwood, Gueye, Gil, Ayew, Gestede
SUBS: Okore, Bacuna, Sinclair, Agbonlahor, Sanchez, Green, Bunn
Just the one alteration made by Garde, then, as Ciaran Clark replaced Jores Okore in a backline that has been shipping for too many goals this term. Villa will likely go with two up top this evening, as the other Ayew - Jordan - partners former Cardiff City striker Rudy Gestede on his return to this part of the world.
Carlos Sanchez returns to the visitors' bench after a two-month lay-off with a hamstring injury, but Adama Traore and Jack Grealish are still thought to be a good few weeks away from a return. Scott Sinclair and Gabriel Agbonlahor are both among the back-up options available to Garde, meanwhile, as they go in search of a rare away win.
The Liberty Stadium is well and truly beginning to fill up now ahead of another big occasion in South Wales. This has been billed as a real relegation dogfight in front of the TV cameras, but in truth any game involving Villa this season has tended to follow a similar pattern. Garde's men simply must pick up a victory today if they are to avoid relegation; Swansea need the points to themselves push clear.
PREDICTION! Last week's entertaining match at Bournemouth had a strange feel to it, with both sides looking to go all-out attack in an attempt to appease supporters in what looked like a dead-rubber. A little more pressure on Swansea this time around, however, and they know that the cannot afford to lose against the basement boys. I'm going with a straightforward 2-0 win for the hosts.
Both sets of players have made their way down the tunnel at the Liberty Stadium to be greeted by a great applause. Kickoff in South Wales is now just a matter of moments away!
KICKOFF! We are officially underway in the final Premier League fixture of the day. A bright start vital for Villa, who get us going in South Wales sporting their traditional claret and blue kit.
Decent enough start by the visitors, who look to get the ball forward. There has been no rhythm to their game whatsoever in recent months, so they will need to change that this evening if a fourth win of the campaign is to be on the cards.
First shot of the game is fired in by Lescott when a cross is only half-cleared into his path. The defender panicked slightly and scuffed the shot wide of the target, though, giving Swansea a small let-off.
Garde will be more than happy with the way Villa have started this match, but Swansea have taken control of things a little more over the past couple of minutes. Barrow was City's star man at Bournemouth, so they will be keen to get him on the ball a little more.
SHOT! Strange feel to this match, with Villa now completely dictating the tempo. The visitors pounced on a Cork error to make it two vs. two at the back, but Ayew could only shoot over the bar from the edge of the box.
Swansea fans trying to urge their players on following this very slow start; Villa still looking very composed when on the ball. A goal will really cap a positive start to this match by the visitors.
First time Barrow has really got on the ball down the right, and he manages to get a cross into the box which Clark does very well to turn behind for a corner. A sign that Swansea are beginning to move out of first gear, as Cork comes close from the resulting set-piece delivery.
A really teasing cross from Gil dips in front of Fabanski, but the Swansea stopper did well to get behind it and collected the danger. Gestede usually thrives on those crosses, yet he was nowhere to be seen a few yards out.
Williams and Gestede have a little tussle with both going to ground. Williams reacted by shoving his opponent's face with his hand, and is a very lucky boy indeed to avoid seeing a red card for that. Gestede helped his cause by staying on his feet rather than going to ground.
Gestede and Williams again heavily involved in this latest incident, as the former's cross is cut-out by the Swansea skipper's hand. Not enough distance between the ball and the man, though, with the referee rightly waving away the weak appeals.
Villa have seen 83% of the ball in this first half, had three attempts and also one weak penalty appeal. No denying who is on top, but Garde's side have nothing to show for it in terms of an opening goal. Can they push on and make a breakthrough?
CHANCE! Another opening goes begging for Villa, this time after Clark headed over unmarked from a corner. Home fans growing really frustrated now, as their side continue to struggle to move out of first gear.
First piece of Villa defending really, as a teasing Sigurdsson set-piece delivery is nodded over by Lescott. Such an incredibly flat atmosphere around the Liberty Stadium at the moment, which the Villans will be looking to thrive on.
A quiet opening 27 minutes to this bottom-of-the-table tussle in South Wales. Aston Villa have certainly had the better of things, but neither side has managed a single shot on target thus far.
YELLOW CARD! Supporters get out of their seats for the first time, as Barrow's charges forward on the counter before being hacked down by Cissokho. A booking for the defender and a chance for Sigurdsson to potentially test Guzan from a shooting position.
Sigurdsson, in great form at the moment, gets his free kick all wrong when blasting high over the bar from 25 yards out. Sums up Swansea's performance in the opening half-hour, really, but there are signs that the hosts are just beginning to warm up.
Swansea's best move of the match so far comes to an end in a disappointing manner, as Sigurdsson's fine through-ball for Ayew is greeted by the offside flag on the far side. Replays show that the official got that one spot on - no complaints!
SAVE! Just when City looked to be wrestling back control of the game, a cross from the right up the other end is met by the head of Gestede. The ex-Cardiff man diverted the ball goalwards, too, but it was a simple enough save for Fabianski to make in the end.
Rangel breaks down the right and picks out Sigurdsson at the end of the move, but the Icelandic international's shot is blocked by Clark in front of goal. Normal service resumed in terms of the possession stakes - City seeing 73% of the ball over the past 15 minutes.
More frustration for the hosts, as a short corner goes wrong and Villa easily clear the danger. Gomis had his first sight of goal moments later, turning on the edge of the box and sending a shot a yard or so over the bar.
Ayew was in behind the Swansea defence, but Williams was back as ever to lunge in and clear the ball for a corner. No sign of a goal as we approach the interval; neither side truly able to find enough rhythm to their play throughout the half.
CLOSE! More impressive play by Villa, as a ball from the right is deflected into the path of Gestede to take on an acrobatic overhead kick. The effort was on target but Williams - yet again - dived in the way to block the ball right in front of goal. Clark heads wide from a corner moments later as the visitors end the half on a real high.
Nine first-half attempts from Villa, one of which was saved by Fabianski, represents arguably their best showing of the season so far. They may rue failing to capitalise on the openings, though, with half time now just seconds away.
HALF TIME: SWANSEA CITY 0-0 ASTON VILLA
The half-time whistle sounds at the Liberty Stadium, bringing an end to a goalless affair so far. Villa have been the better side and arguably deserve a lead at this midway stage, but they have failed to capitalise on any of their chances in the opening 45 minutes.
A slack piece of Jack Cork play nine minutes in allowed Villa to counter through Ayew, who got away the game's first real shot of the match. That was a sign of things to come, as Clark headed over unmarked 10 minutes later for a Villa side looking far better than their league position suggests.
There was a big talking point midway through the half when Williams raised his hands to shove Gestede in the face, but referee Mike Dean did not even show the Welshman a yellow card. Swansea were showing signs of growing into the match as the half wore on, but Gestede's goal-bound effort forced Fabianski into the game's first save.
Gestede and Clark both come close late on in the first half, providing arguably Villa's best showing of the campaign to date. Swansea boss Francesco Guidolin could well be tempted into a change or two at the break, so let's look at the options available to both managers.
SWANSEA CITY SUBS: Nordfeldt, Naughton, Amat, Britton, Montero, Routledge, Paloschi
ASTON VILLA SUBS: Okore, Bacuna, Sinclair, Agbonlahor, Sanchez, Green, Bunn
RESTART! We are back underway at the Liberty Stadium. Swansea must produce a much-improved performance in this second half, and they have brought on Britton for Ki at the interval. Will that spark the hosts into life?
Like-for-like change made by Guidolin pretty much, albeit players with different traits in central midfield. An unbalanced Swansea side on show, which Villa have so far been unable to truly capitalise on. The visitors need all three points this evening; one point doing little to help their cause.
Swansea's passing has more of a tempo to it now, but still they are struggling to create. Guzan has not had a single save to make all evening in South Wales, which really is a rarity for the American goalkeeper.
Big moment in the match, this, as Cissokho - already booked in the first half - brings down a charging Barrow. That is a yellow card every day of the week, and the Villa defender really should be making the walk down the tunnel.
GOAL! SWANSEA CITY 1-0 ASTON VILLA (FEDERICO FERNANDEZ)
It may be undeserved on the balance of things so far, but Swansea take the lead from their first attempt on target. It was barely an 'attempt', in truth, as a free kick into the box was poorly dealt with by Guzan. The Villa stopper failed to get proper contact on the ball and Fernandez - who knew little about it - bundled home his first Swansea goal.
A better atmosphere inside the Liberty Stadium now, perhaps because the home fans know that three points today will surely end any talk of relegation for good. Villa need to find some momentum again after that cruel setback a few minutes ago.
YELLOW CARD! A reckless Sigurdsson challenge sees him enter the referee's book. Garde watching on from the sidelines, perhaps weighing up what change to make next as we approach the hour mark in South Wales.
Swansea far more comfortable on the ball since that key Fernandez goal. Villa's players must be so disheartened, having dominated the first-half chances at the Liberty Stadium. Villa appear to be ready to make a change or two.
ASTON VILLA SUB! Andre Green is on in place of Jordan Veretout for the visitors, providing some fresh legs in wide positions. The Villans have struggled to find any momentum since falling behind around 10 minutes ago now.
As far as the neutral is concerned, the remaining 25 minutes of this game do not appear to offer much hope in terms of entertainment. At 0-0 Villa were really getting bodies forward; now it is a case of Swansea taking control of things and potentially building on their lead.
Villa win a free kick around 40 yards from goal, which fails to beta Barrow on the edge of the Swansea box. The Villans just need to enjoy a spell in possession and look to build on that. A point is a starting point ahead of a season of Championship football next term.
Still very little to report back on in terms of action. Swansea still on top but largely looking to build attacks on the counter. Gomis is caught offside for the umpteenth time tonight; the division's most offside player failing to learn his lesson.
Swansea City lead 1-0 against Aston Villa at the Liberty Stadium, thanks to Federico Fernandez's first goal for the club 53 minutes in. The visitors had largely been on top up until that point, but it is pretty much one-way traffic in the Swans' favour now.
SAVE! Villa send a little warning to their opponents when winning a corner, which Gestede is beaten to by potential matchwinner Fernandez. The visitors at last able to build some attacking momentum, as Lescott diverts an attempt on target for Fabianski to hold.
ASTON VILLA SUB! Agbonlahor is give a late run-out in place of Gil, so a slight tweak in formation will be required. Still hope for Villa here, but can they capitalise on an underwhelming Swansea showing?
Atmosphere has gone flat again all of a sudden as we head into the final 14 minutes of a rather poor advert for the Premier League. Villa beating their opponents 2-1 in terms of shots on target, yet the Swans lead in terms of the one stat that truly matters.
SWANSEA CITY SUB! Barrow nowhere near as involved as last weekend at Bournemouth, and he has now been replaced by Kyle Naughton. Guidolin perhaps just looking to strengthen in the wide areas to thwart Villa further.
Still little by the way of any action at the Liberty Stadium. Fans can be forgiven for leaving 10 minutes early in this instance to avoid to traffic because it is a poor spectacle in fairness.
The possession stats suggest that this second half as been well balanced, as Swansea have seen 54% of the ball so far. They have not once been under any real pressure, though, with the Villans' best openings being saved for the first half.
A prolonged spell of Swansea pressure comes to little in the end, but it has eaten up another couple of minutes. They will go 11 points clear of the drop zone should it remain this way, remember, so important that they keep their awareness levels.
SWANSEA CITY SUB! Kingsley has been struggling with an injury for a while now, and he is finally withdrawn to give Wayne Routledge a run-out. Hopefully the fresh legs out wide will provide some attacking intent in the closing minutes.
Routledge is urged forward by supporters but instead sprays a pass across the field to Sigurdsson. It's another attack that comes to nothing, though, and that full-time whistle cannot come soon enough. Two minutes plus added time to come.
YELLOW CARD! Lescott pulls back on Gomis's shirt and rightly earns a yellow card in the process. Four minutes of added time to come at the Liberty Stadium - do not expect any chances to arrive for either side.
YELLOW CARD! Leon Britton now taking one for the team when conceding a free kick. Villa win a corner but Fabianski punches the ball well clear. A real strong hand from the Polish stopper to see his side over the line.
FULL TIME: SWANSEA CITY 1-0 ASTON VILLA
So there was to be no late drama at the Liberty Stadium, as the closing stages continued with the theme of a rather poor game. Swansea City supporters will certainly not be complaining, as they have picked up a third win in four outings to move 11 points clear of the drop zone.
It is a different story for Aston Villa, though, who are now 12 points from safety with seven games left to play this term. Well that concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events from South Wales, but be sure to stick around for some reaction over the coming hours. Thanks for joining!
