Swansea City were denied a third Premier League win on the bounce by a late Salomon Rondon strike, as West Bromwich Albion rescued themselves a 1-1 draw.
Neither side could truly find any rhythm to their play throughout the game, although Ben Foster and Lukasz Fabianski each had to make a string of impressive stops across the 90 minutes.
The Swans looked to have won the contest when Gylfi Sigurdsson found a way through 63 minutes in, but a sloppy goal late on was enough for the home side to keep themselves well above the drop zone.
Relive Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at The Hawthorns below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between West Bromwich Albion and Swansea City at The Hawthorns. The Swans may head into this game on the back of two-successive victories, but they still find themselves in real danger of facing the drop this season and in desperate need of points.
Too many draws of late has not helped West Brom's cause, meanwhile, and they are also still yet to fully push away from danger heading into this bottom-half showdown. There is plenty to get through between now and kickoff in a little under an hour's time, so let us get straight into things by checking out some team news from the West Midlands.
TEAM NEWS!
WEST BROM XI: Foster, Olsson, Yacob, Evans, McClean, McAuley, Fletcher, Dawson, Sessegnon, Sandro, Rondon
SWANSEA CITY XI: Fabianski, Rangel, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor, Britton, Ki, Cork, Sigurdsson, Routledge, Ayew
Swansea may have splashed the cash since their last league outing to bring in Alberto Paloschi from Chievo, but the £8m signing has to settle for a place on the bench this evening. That is because manager Francesco Guidolin has opted to go with an unchanged starting lineup for this one, which is not too surprising considering the Swans have just picked up successive wins.
Bafetimbi Gomis is back in the Swansea squad after missing out due to the birth of his child a little over a week ago at Goodison Park, but it is Andre Ayew who once more leads the way up top. Wayne Routledge and Gylfi Sigurdsson are the men tasked with providing attacking support, while Jack Cork and Ki Sung-Yeung have both retained their places despite suggestions that one or the other would make way for Paloschi.
While the Swans have had nine days to put their feet up and rest following victory at Goodison Park, West Brom had to turn their attention towards an FA Cup tie with Peterborough United at the weekend. Climbing up the Premier League table is the main priority at the moment, though, and the Baggies are looking more than a little stronger this evening following the 2-2 draw on Saturday.
The big news is that Sandro comes into the starting lineup after joining from Queens Park Rangers during the winter transfer window. The confusing situation surrounding Saido Berahino shows no sign of ending anytime soon, even though the England international still remains a Baggies player upon Monday's deadline. There is no place in the matchday XI for the forward once again, so he will have to settle for a back-up role.
Tony Pulis has cleared up once more pre-match that Berhaino's absence is largely down to a dead leg suffered in training during the week, meaning that Solomon Rondon is given the nod to lead the attacking line at The Hawthorns. At the other end of the field, Ben Foster is selected again after fully recovering from his recent injury layoff to make his 200th Premier League appearance. Will there be a 54th clean sheet to help with the celebrations?
BENCH WATCH!
WEST BROM SUBS: Myhill; Chester, Gardner, Anichebe, Lambert, Berahino, Pritchard
SWANSEA CITY SUBS: Nordfeldt, Naughton, Amat, Montero, Barrow, Paloschi, Gomis
So as already touched upon, £8m signing Alberto Paloschi is among the Swansea subs for this one, while Gomis and Jefferson Montero can also provide some added attacking impetus if required at any stage. In terms of the hosts, they have another loanee in their ranks in the shape of Alex Pritchard, who joined from Tottenham Hotspur earlier this week. Darren Fletcher is back from a knee injury, meanwhile, so Gary Gardner will provide midfield cover.
No room for Saido Berahino in the West Bromwich Albion starting lineup this evening, as the England international continues to recover from a recent leg injury picked up in training. Swansea City remain unchanged for the trip to the West Midlands, meanwhile, meaning only a place on the bench for new recruit Alberto Paloschi.
It is fair to say that there is not an awful lot between these two sides heading into tonight's showdown at The Hawthorns, with just three points the difference between the pair now. Furthermore, just one strike separates them in terms of goal difference, so a two-goal win for the visitors tonight will see them climb above their opponents into 14th place. That is some going for a team so heavily backed to face the drop just a fortnight ago!
For the Baggies, just one win in their last six in all competitions has seen any sort of momentum seemingly come to an abrupt halt. Draws against Bristol City and Peterborough United in the FA Cup certainly has not helped matters, with the job eventually being done against the Robins at the second attempt, but Saturday's 2-2 stalemate against the Posh means that another fixture can be added to this already congested period of the season.
In the league, it is now no win in three for Tony Pulis's men since overcoming Stoke City at the turn of the year. A 2-2 draw away at champions Chelsea, coming after a fine battling display, was certainly something to shout about, yet a 3-0 reverse against Southampton and a bland goalless draw with local rivals Aston Villa last time out has left supporters feeling just a tad short changed.
Albion do have a nice run of fixtures to come before the month is out, however, with today's game against Swansea being followed up by fixtures with Newcastle United, Everton and Crystal Palace. Essentially, the four-point gap on the top half - the Baggies' realistic target this term - is easy enough to make up before heading into the final stretch of the campaign. On the flip side, though, defeat today and the relegation zone will loom even closer for the West Midlands outfit.
If there is one man you want at the helm when in this predicament, then it is a certain Tony Pulis. The Welshman is the perfect manager to lead a charge and, after bringing in some new faces during the recently-closed transfer window, he will be hoping that his side will now be rejuvenated and ready to push on across the next three months or so. With Reading the potential fifth-round opponents in the FA Cup, too, then it is fair to say that this season is far from over just yet.
DID YOU KNOW? Only doomed bottom-of-the-table Aston Villa have scored fewer goals than the 22 clocked up by Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion so far this season. In truth, it is little surprise to see both the Baggies and the Swans struggling towards the wrong end of the table when 'boasting' a scoring rate of less than one goal a game.
Sticking with the theme of goals, West Brom still remain the only top-division side yet to find the net in the opening 15 minutes of a game. You always get the sense with the Baggies that they are a team set-up to contain opponents and then capitalise on any openings at the back, yet their home and away records so far this term is near identical. Whichever way you look at it, draws must be turned into wins if they are indeed going to push on from last year and finish in the top half.
The threat of relegation for West Brom is certainly not has stark has it has been in South Wales, though, where Swansea have seriously flirted with the drop zone in recent months. A strong start to the campaign, in which a top-six finish was touted by many neutrals, has since turned into a disastrous season which has cost the once-respected Garry Monk his job at the Liberty Stadium.
Francesco Guidolin was the man tasked with turning around the Swans' fortunes, working closely with Alan Curtis - who was initially told that the job was his until the summer - to help steady the ship somewhat. The narrow win over Watford last month was far from a classic showing - a little fortunate, even - but the 2-1 triumph on Merseyside last time out was a real battling display at what was previously a tough ground to visit. It may well be exactly what is required to kick-start the club's season once more.
Francesco Guidolin has helped to steady the ship since taking over at Swansea, with the 2-1 victory over Everton last time out coming hot on the heels of a similarly narrow win against Watford under the watch of Alan Curtis.
Swansea were indeed in the bottom three at one stage not so long ago, but now two teams - and a four-point margin - stands between themselves and that same feat. Things are certainly looking more positive at this stage than they did a couple of weeks back, yet many of those sides in and around the relegation zone have spent big during the January transfer window. This is one battle that is far from over at this moment in time.
It is worth mentioning that City picked up just two wins in 19 during their barren run of form, with the nadir arguably coming in the FA Cup when completely outplayed by Oxford United a little under a month ago. It is now two wins from two, however, and the springboard is now there to push on up the table and drag some more teams into the mire - this evening's opponents West Brom among them.
With home games against Crystal Palace and Southampton to come after this, before a trickier looking test at Tottenham Hotspur, then it is not inconceivable that the Swans' relegation troubles could be a thing of the past before the month is even out. Alternatively, defeat tonight and those 1,600 travelling supporters in attendance will have every right to start feeling just a little worried once again.
Victory at The Hawthorns will make it three on the bounce for City for the first time this term in the Premier League. Their biggest problem, as already mentioned a little earlier, has been a lack of ideas in attack. Only one side has scored fewer goals, while their 24.9%-pass-rate in the attacking third in the lowest in the division. Furthermore, Swansea have also yet to score more than twice in a single league game all campaign. Will this be the night that their fortunes finally turn for the better in front of goal?
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Swansea boast a decent record against West Brom on the whole, but at The Hawthorns they have had mixed success - winning two and losing two of the previous four games here. Interestingly, there has not been a single draw in their nine encounters at Premier League level.
Kickoff is fast approaching, so let us check out the pre-match thoughts from both camps heading into this big game at the bottom-end of the Premier League table.
Tony Pulis: "Swansea have done so well to establish themselves in the top-flight over the last few seasons and, under Huw Jenkins' leadership, you can guarantee that they will be doing everything they can to maintain their position in this division. They've brought in Francesco as manager now and he got off to a flying start against Everton so we are well aware that we are going to be in for a tough game this evening."
Francesco Guidolin: "We have a few more days than them to get ready, but it does not make much difference. A win would be important but right now I am very happy. Our position was not good but with two victories the table looks better. I have some other ideas (how to play) but this is a moment when I can't change too many things."
Guidolin talking up the importance of those previous two results, then, while at the same time playing down the fact that his side has had two days more rest than West Brom. It could well make a difference, despite the Baggies making five changes from the weekend draw against Bristol City, although at this level you expect each and every player to be able to play twice in the space of a few days.
PREDICTION! Some big games taking place up and down the country this evening, so the Premier League table could look just a little different come the conclusion of this late kickoff. The obvious prediction to give is a draw, but this is a fixture that so often provides us with a winner on the night, so I'm going to back Swansea to continue their recent impressive run and make it three wins on the bounce for the first time this term. 1-2.
We are now less than two minutes away from kickoff at The Hawthorns, as both sides emerge down the tunnel...
KICKOFF! Rondon and the returning Fletcher get proceedings underway for West Brom. Swansea sporting their changed blue and green strip this evening.
SAVE! Almost a dream start for the home side, as Dawson's cross from the right is met well by Fletcher in a central position inside the box. The attempt was heading for the back of the net if not for the intervention of Fabianski, who leapt high to push the ball over the crossbar.
Sandro lunges in with a tackle that could quite easily have seen at least a yellow card, but the referee is happy to let the new Albion recruit get away with just a telling off. Very bright start for the Baggies following that early Fletcher chance.
Taylor is picked out in plenty of space down the left-hand side, but when looking up he has nobody in a visiting shirt to pick out. A more evenly-matched contest on our hands now as the Welsh side begin to grow a little more into the match.
Ki's searching ball over the top for Cork is easily cut out by the Baggies, but it is the visitors who have been seeing more of possession over the past five minutes or so. Sandro's robust challenge may have just sparked Guidolin's men into life.
Albion barely being given a chance to find their rhythm at the moment. They only opening of the contest so far came inside the opening few minutes when Fletcher saw his header tipped over the bar. Swansea supporters making most of the noise, clearly pleased by what they have seen thus far.
Better from West Brom, as Dawson asks some more questions high up on the right. All he had to show for his efforts was a couple of throw-ins, but the Baggies at least getting some bodies into advanced positions now after a sluggish spell in this game.
Two of the three lowest scorers on show this evening, remember, so do not be surprised by the sluggish nature of the contest so far. Still restricted to just that once chance so far - Fletcher seeing his header at the end of Dawson's right-sided cross palmed over the upright.
Routledge gets a cross into the box, but Ayew is the only Swansea player around and inevitably misses out. Up the other end, Rondon squares the ball but likewise has nobody in an Albion top nearby in the area. Very frustrating.
The play continues to remain disjointed, with neither side yet to wrestle control of the contest. A case of taking it in turns to knock the ball around at the moment, but certainly nothing to shout home about in an attacking sense.
SHOT! West Brom making good inroads down the right; Sessegnon and Dawson finding some space to swing crosses into the area. All to no avail once more, though, as the Swans clear their lines well. Rangel then found himself in space up the other end, but blasted well wide from 30 yards out with others better placed.
Arguably the best move of the match so far ends with McClean picking out Fletcher towards the back post, who in turn knocks the ball across goal for Rondon to latch on to. The header back across goal had just a little too much on it, though, giving the striker a tad too much to do.
It remains goalless at The Hawthorns with a little over a quarter of the match now played. West Brom still yet to score in the opening 15 minutes of a game this term, but they came closest to a breakthrough inside the opening stages of the match.
SHOT! Sandro looks like a man who is struggling with the pace of the Premier League at the moment. A few wayward passes so far and now a poor touch on the edge of the box to squander possession. Ki uses that as a platform to break, before playing in Ayew to get a heavily-deflected shot away. Was always going wide, but Foster could not prevent the corner.
A penalty shout for Swansea after a little pull in the box, but referee Neil Swarbrick felt that there was not enough in it. This game desperately needs something to spark it into life.
Dawson delivers a flat delivery into the box, which Fletcher does well to head on. Was flicked into a decent area, but there was nobody around to gamble. Just looking back at that Sigurdsson penalty shout, I'm surprised the Swans man didn't make a little more of it - he was certainly pulled back a little inside the box.
SAVE! Best moment of the match so far by quite some distance, as Sigurdsson takes on a shot-to-nothing from 40 yards out. The ball was swerving one way and another, but Foster was brilliantly able to push the ball over the bar after quickly backtracking towards his line.
That Sigurdsson shot came about after some more sloppy play in the centre of the park from Albion, incidentally, which pretty much sums things up from a home perspective. Ayew has just got another shot away at the end of a counter - a deflection taking the ball well away from target.
So Swansea looking the more likely to make a breakthrough over the last 10 minutes, then, with West Brom's only real attacking moment of note coming inside the opening few minutes. A chance for all that to change, though, as Albion have won a free kick in a decent shooting position.
CHANCE! Rather comically, three Albion players run up for the free kick but none of them actually make contact with the ball. Sessegnon finally composes himself and has another go at it, swinging in a delightful cross which Dawson somehow heads wide when drifting in unmarked. What a chance!
A first sight of goal for Rondon, who heads wide of goal when picked out by Sandro. Great play by the QPR loanee to acrobatically pick out his new teammate, but the striker struggled to find his range.
CHANCE! The chances are coming quick and fast for Albion now - this arguably the pick of the lot. Swansea struggle to clear their lines, and when the ball eventually came back in from the left Fletcher opened up his body ready to tuck the ball into the bottom corner. The midfielder struggled to make the desired contact, however, and the ball instead trickled wide of goal.
Ki picked up a nasty head injury in the build-up to that Fletcher chance, and his evening is now over. Stretcher is on the field, with the Swansea medical staff just taking their time to go through all the necessary protocols.
Still awaiting Ki to leave the field following that blow to the head. Four minutes of added time have been shown, but we are likely to play near double that at this rate.
SWANSEA CITY SUB! Ki has now left the field to a strong applause from each section of the ground. Alberto Paloschi has come on for his Swansea debut up top, a little earlier than perhaps planned.
Ki was actually knocked unconscious when connecting with Sessegnon, which explains why the Swansea medical staff were so eager to take their time. The momentum has inevitably been drained out of the game, with half time around three minutes away now.
SAVE! Big, big save by Foster! Routledge flicked the ball on for Paloschi, who was only denied a debut goal by the quick reactions of Foster on his 200th Premier League appearance. Swansea ending this half the stronger of the two.
SAVE! It may have been a slow-burner, but this half is certainly ending on a high. Sessegnon's wicked delivery was heading for the net, but Fabianski did well to beat it away. That should be that as far as the opening 45 minutes are concerned.
HALF TIME: WEST BROMWICH ALBION 0-0 SWANSEA CITY
An entertaining first half at The Hawthorns on the whole, then, although the less said about the first 20 minutes or so the better. The best opening during that period came three minutes in, when Fletcher's header was well tipped over by Fabianski. It took until the half-hour mark before the Swans got a meaningful shot away, as Sigurdsson's swerving drive was pushed aside by Foster.
Soon after, Sessegnon's free kick - at the second attempt - was flicked narrowly wide by the head of an unmarked Dawson, who perhaps should have done better from a central position. There was more still to come for Albion, as Fletcher missed a good chance from close range, before Sessegnon saw his shot-cross parried away.
Swansea had one more decent opening of their own, though, as substitute Paloschi saw his strike kept out by Foster when played through by Routledge. The Italian's introduction came about following a nasty head injury sustained by Ki, explaining the large amount of added time played at the end of a first half that grew in quality as it went on.
Swansea already forced into making one change, then, but still a few options open to them if they are looking to break the deadlock. Albion's wildcard comes in the shape of a certain Saido Berahino, who is said to be carrying a knock this evening.
WEST BROM SUBS: Myhill; Chester, Gardner, Anichebe, Lambert, Berahino, Pritchard
SWANSEA CITY SUBS: Nordfeldt, Naughton, Amat, Montero, Barrow, Paloschi, Gomis
Lukasz Fabianski was forced into action on a couple of occasions during the first half, including early on when denying Darren Fletcher from a close-range header.
RESTART! Swansea get us back underway at The Hawthorns, looking to get the most out of £8m signing Alberto Paloschi who was brought on deep into first-half stoppage time. Let's hope the first half begins in the same manner that the first half ended!
A little update on the condition of Ki - the South Korean is said to be feeling better after his clash of heads which left him concussed. No further changes made by either team at the interval, either, so it is as you were.
Good, powerful play down the right by Rondon to get the better of Taylor. The cross into the box was not the greatest, however, and was easily cut out by the first man for a corner. Fabianski collected the set-piece to put an end to the first attacking move of the half.
Not a great sign for Albion supporters, as Evans clutches his hamstring in the early stages of this second half. Pulis will not want to take any risks, so surely the Northern Irishman's evening is about to come to an abrupt end.
Evans now staying down on the floor just to confirm that earlier scare. Half a chance for Ayew in the opposition box, meanwhile, but he takes an air-shot at his volleyed attempt at the back post.
WEST BROM SUB! Craig Gardner will fill in at the back in place of Evans. Not idea for the hosts, with Ayew just growing into the game a little.
Dawson has moved to left-back and Gardner slotted in at right-back, incidentally, so Pulis having to reshuffle as a result of Evans's injury. Fletcher has just headed over once again, this time from around nine yards out.
SWANSEA CITY SUB! Kyle Naughton is now on in place of Taylor for the Swans. Still no sign of Berahino for the home side, but the Englishman has been warming up over the last few minutes.
SHOT! Sessegnon gets another shot away at goal, which is routine enough for Fabianski down the middle. Straight up the other end, Sigurdsson lifts a shot high over the bar when played into a decent position inside the box. Looks like Berahino is being readied...
WEST BROM SUB! Berahino is introduced, but Baggies supporters are unhappy to see Sessegnon leave in the opposite direction. The Englishman has a little under 30 minutes to bag himself a goal.
GOAL! WEST BROMWICH ALBION 0-1 SWANSEA CITY (GYLFI SIGURDSSON)
Swansea City make the breakthrough in the West Midlands, and it comes via their most lively source. Britton did well to burst into some space, before looking up and playing Sigurdsson through. The Icelandic international still had plenty to do, but he picked his spot beautifully to tuck the ball beyond the reach of Foster.
Olsson provides a great interception to deny Sigurdsson and Paloschi linking up in the final third. Albion appear to be on the ropes a little at the moment, with Swansea rallying after that crucial breakthrough goal. Still a little over 20 minutes to go.
WEST BROM SUB! Victor Anichebe has now been introduced in place of Sandro, so Pulis now looking more towards attack. That is what the supporters wanted with the scores tied.
West Brom looking a little brighter now, as they chase down an equaliser. Gylfi Sigurdsson's strike a little under 10 minutes ago is proving to be the difference at the moment.
SAVE! Williams has his header kept out at one end, but the bigger danger came up the opposite end of the field. Anichebe struck his shot with some real venom, only for Fabianski to once more get a strong hand to the ball to tip it over.
The ball is swung into the back-post area, but Anichebe's header is somehow clawed to safety by Fabianski. The flag was up anyway for an early challenge, but it is all Albion now heading into the final 14 minutes or so.
Still one more sub remaining for Guidolin to make should he wish. Albion have looked better since going behind but, bar one big Fabianski save, they have not asked near enough questions.
SWANSEA CITY SUB! Swansea looking to protect what they have, as Ayew is replaced by Amat. It could be backs to the wall for these final 10 minutes, then, but Guidolin certainly not taking any risks.
Paloschi puts McClean under pressure to earn his side a throw high up the pitch. The debutant has looked lively since being introduced in the first half.
Swansea have done really well to take the sting out of the match since making that third and final change. So incredibly frustrating for Albion supporters, but they can only watch on as their side struggles to find any momentum.
Routledge gets forward well but opts to go for the corner flag. Swansea desperate to run down the clock and, while home supporters are hardly happy about it, you can not blame them. What a win this would be - their third on the bounce.
Sigurdsson gets a shot away at goal, but he could only drag it wide. Sat up nice for the forward, so he perhaps should have been doing a little better from there.
OFF THE POST! Albion may be the ones chasing a goal, but it is Swansea who are more likely to add the game's second goal. Paloschi gets on the end of Naughton's cross at the front post, only for his flick to come back off the upright.
GOAL! WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1-1 SWANSEA CITY (SALOMON RONDON)
A late, late twist to the game the The Hawthorns! Swansea struggle to clear a corner, which eventually falls to Rondon just a couple of yards out to smash home a dramatic leveller. Undeserved, in truth!
FULL TIME: WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1-1 SWANSEA CITY
Well it may not have truly been deserved on the balance of the final 15 minutes or so, but credit to West Brom for digging deep to rescue themselves a point. It is a crucial point, too, as it means that they remain three ahead of their opponents and comfortably out of reach of the bottom three - for now!
Well that concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events from the West Midlands, but be sure to stick around for plenty of reaction from each of this evening's top-flight games. Thanks for joining!
