Swansea City ended their four-game run without a win away from home by seeing off West Ham United 4-1 at Upton Park.
The Swans were second best for much of the first half, but they actually went into the interval two goals to the good through Wayne Routledge and Andre Ayew strikes.
Ki Sung-yeung added a third soon after the restart, before substitute Bafetimbi Gomis joined the party late on to render Michail Antonio's goal a mere consolation in the grand scheme of things.
Relive the entertaining 90 minutes of action with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between West Ham United and Swansea City at Upton Park. In what will be the final traditional Saturday 3pm kickoff to be staged at this famous East London venue, the Hammers still have plenty to play for in their debut campaign under Slaven Bilic as they go in search of a top-four finish.
The picture may look slightly different once the full-time whistle sounds at Carrow Road this afternoon, where Norwich City and fifth-placed Manchester United are currently facing off, but the Hammers will still be in with a fighting chance regardless of the result in East Anglia. That is because Tuesday night sees a mammoth clash here, with United's Manchester and West Ham facing off in a European shootout.
Qualifying for the Europa League would be seen as a real failure for big-spending Man United, of course, but it will be a tremendous achievement for Bilic & Co. in the Croatian manager's first campaign at the Upton Park helm. Focus right now is on going one better, however, with nine points up for grabs and the margin on Manchester City in fourth standing at five points. Anything less than maximum points will likely see the Londoners fall just short.
Back-to-back wins for West Ham, scoring six goals and shipping just one, has helped keep the feel-good factor going right into the closing stages of the campaign. Their most recent victory, coming at The Hawthorns seven days ago, really was a stellar performance that well and truly upped the pressure on Man United and Man City to themselves pick up points.
Going further back, it is just two defeats in 18 in all competitions for the Hammers - highlighting just how tough to beat they have become since Bilic took charge last summer. With City nursing a European hangover, coupled with manager Manuel Pellegrini perhaps losing just a little interest, that final Champions League berth is now very much in touching distance
Three wins in succession recently did look to derail their top-four hopes a tad, even if those stalemates did come against Arsenal and Chelsea, while there was also a disappointing FA Cup exit at the hands of the Red Devils last month. That was a blow for supporters, who could sense something special happening in their final campaign here, although finishing in the top five would be quite some consolation.
The Hammers are now 10 games unbeaten in the top flight, winning five and drawing five of their most recent outings. Throw into the mix just two home defeats here all season, the last of which arrived some 15 games ago in the opening month of the campaign, and you can begin to see just why they are so fancied to continue this late surge for the elite places in the Premier League.
A key part to their success has been the ability to score goals, with the net being found 18 times in total over the past seven games. Dimitri Payet has remained the key player all campaign, rightly earning a place in the PFA Team of the Year thanks to his raft of wonder-goals and assists since joining last summer. Mark Noble has chipped in with goals of his own of late, too, bagging seven in all - two more than he has managed in the last two season's combined.
Three points really are a must for the Hammers this afternoon if they are to keep the pressure on Man United heading into Tuesday's fixture here; a match that is sure to be an emotional occasion with it the last to be contested at Upton Park. If all goes to plan, next Sunday's final-day match against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium could be one of the biggest in this proud club's recent past.
Plenty of action to come before then, however, and Bilic even admitted earlier this week that he is slightly cautious of Southampton and Liverpool fast closing in behind. The destination of the title may have been decided, while Spurs are Arsenal will jostle for second and third if all goes to plan, but still two relegation places are to be decided as well as the final Champions League berth. West Ham, thanks to a stunning season thus far, are very much in the European mix in that regard.
While West Ham are still fighting for their big European target, the best Swansea can hope for over the next eight days is a top-half finish in the Premier League. Even that would be quite some achievement for the Swans, though, when taking into account their flirtation with the relegation zone for so much of this campaign. They can move up to 11th today should results go their way.
Five wins from their last nine games helped to ease relegation worries, with last week's victory over Liverpool officially confirming another season of Premier League football in South Wales. The back-to-back wins over Arsenal and Norwich City in early March acted as the turning point, helping the Swans to push on and move up to their current standing of 13th place.
The top half may still be mathematically possible, but once the full-time whistle sounds at the Liberty Stadium next week club chiefs know that a few changes will be needed in the summer. Swansea were right in the mire just a couple of months back and in the pack of six or seven teams backed for relegation so, with some added backing now on the horizon, new faces will likely be a priority.
The manager situation is still yet to be cleared up, meanwhile, as Francesco Guidolin appears likely to be given his marching orders. It is very much a case of job done for the Italian, who was appointed earlier this year with just one real target in mind - keep the Swans in the top flight. That was pulled off with victory over Liverpool, coming on the back of the recent home success against Chelsea in South Wales.
Those two results may suggest a rejuvenated feel around the Liberty Stadium, but away from home the Swansea were heavily beaten by both Newcastle United and Leicester City. In fact, the Welsh outfit have not won in their last four outings on the road, conceding 12 goals in the process. Only Newcastle (2) and bottom-side Villa (1) have won fewer games on their travels than Swansea's three this term.
DID YOU KNOW? Swansea City scored three goals in a single Premier League game for the first time this season last time out when beating Liverpool 3-1. The Swans' tally of 37 goals this campaign is the sixth lowest in the division, while West Ham United's 23 is only bettered by Leicester, Arsenal and Man City.
So not the greatest season for Swansea supporters, then, particularly after so many years of upwards success. It has now been five years since they were promoted into the big time, ensuring that they are now very much an established team at this level once more. The first three-quarters of this season must be taken as a real wake-up call, though, with a big summer ahead for Huw Jenkins if a similar scenario is to be avoided next time out.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! The omens are even better for West Ham when taking into account the three previous Premier League meetings here between these two teams. The Hammers have won each of those past clashes here, while the Swans have only won one of the seven matches overall - drawing three and losing three of the other outings. The reverse fixture in December finished goalless at the Liberty Stadium.
That previous match in South Wales, played just before Christmas, came at a time when Swansea were in a desperate place towards the bottom of the division. It would be a couple more months before they finally managed to get a little breathing space under Guidolin and Alan Curtis, but they are now assured of another season of top-flight football with two games left to play.
Kickoff in East London is now a little over 20 minutes away, so let us turn attention to the pre-match thoughts from both camps heading into the Premier League showdown.
Slaven Bilic: "We are really happy and grateful that with three games to go we are in competition for a European place, whether you're talking about top four which is quite hard but possible, or top six. We have to be on top of our game in all three of these matches as there are a couple of teams below us that are capable of winning their games, like we are, and the gap is not so big."
Francesco Guidolin: "West Ham are a very good team and they have had a good season. But I am confident that we have a good group, it is not only 11 players. I have the chance to see some players who don't play much and this is important for the future of our club and our players."
Bilic just emphasising the importance of winning this afternoon, then, not only to keep alive hopes of a top-four finish but also to hold off the charge from Southampton and Liverpool below. There is a big difference between finishing fourth and eighth, but regardless of what happens over the next eight days Bilic can be more than happy with his debut season as a manager on these shores.
Guidolin suggesting that his focus has now shifted towards the future, meanwhile, as he plans to check out some of his fringe players this afternoon. Plenty of big names on the casualty list for the visitors today, so with that in mind let us check out the confirmed team news from East London, starting with West Ham.
WEST HAM UNITED TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Randolph, Antonio, Cresswell, Reid, Ogbonna, Noble, Kouyate, Moses, Lanzini, Payet, Carroll
SUBS: Spiegel, Tomkins, Valencia, Obiang, Sakho, Collins, Emenike
I make it just the two changes made by Bilic to West Ham's starting lineup, with Darren Randolph displacing Adrian in goal and Victor Moses coming in for Diafra Sakho further up the field. Adrian is likely to miss the remainder of the Hammers' season due to a calf injury picked up last time out, so a big chance for cup keeper Randolph to impress ahead of this summer's European Championships.
Payet and Noble will once more prove to be key players this afternoon no doubt, with both taking their places in the Hammers' midfield. Andy Carroll has a decent enough record against Swansea in the past, and his height could cause the visitors some real problems from set-piece plays this afternoon. Manuel Lanzini will take his place in attack just off the tall forward, aiming to build on his own decent scoring record.
SWANSEA CITY TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Fabianski, Naughton, Kingsley, Fernandez, Amat, Ki, Fer, Cork, Routledge, Barrow, Ayew
SUBS: Nordfeldt, Rangel, Gomis, Emnes, Britton, Gorre, Fulton
The Swans may have beaten Liverpool fairly emphatically last weekend, but head coach Guidolin has still made six changes to his side. One of those was already known prior today, with skipper Ashley Williams being given the final two games of the season off to prepare for this summer's Euros where he will lead Wales. Jack Cork is the man to take over the captaincy in his absence.
Kyle Naughton, Federico Fernandez and Stephen Kingsley all come into the back four, while Leroy Fer and Ki Sung-yueng are back in midfield. There is also start for Modou Barrow up front, with Neil Taylor, Jefferson Montero, Alberto Paloschi and, biggest of all, Gylfi Sigurdsson all out injured this afternoon. A much-changed City side, then, and one that West Ham will be favourites to overcome on home soil.
Both sets of players are now making their way into the tunnel area at Upton Park, where kickoff is now just six minutes or so away. It seems like a good time to make a prediction and, going by those confirmed teams below, I can only see this one going one way. The pressure is off Swansea this afternoon, of course, and many players will indeed be eager to impress, but the Hammers will be fired up on the back of results elsewhere already this afternoon. 3-1 home win.
A Juan Mata strike 72 minutes in proved enough for Manchester United to overcome Norwich City at Carrow Road in that aforementioned early match, ensuring that the Hammers are now four points off the Red Devils and five adrift of Man City. It is a tough ask, granted, but Bilic's charges will fight all the way to make it into the top five. Kickoff is now just moments away!
Both sets of players are now out on the field of play, greeted by a strong reception from all four corners of this packed ground. What an occasion this should be; one that will have a big say in how the top six pans out in the closing stages of the season.
KICKOFF! We are officially underway at Upton Park in this final Saturday fixture to be played here. Routledge was in behind Antonio just 30 seconds in, but the official's flag went up for offside.
SAVE! West Ham earn themselves an early corner, which is worked short to Payet. The Hammers' Player of the Season cut inside and fired away a well-hit shot on target, which Fabianski did very well to push aside. From the next corner, Reid's header was caught by the Polish stopper.
So a really bright start to the match from the hosts, who were only denied an opener inside three minutes by a strong Fabianski hand. The Hammers just need to keep this momentum going now in order to keep their opponents pegged back.
This game is being played exclusive in Swansea's half of the pitch at the moment, with the Hammers pressing them right back. Payet's dangerous cross is just about dealt with, but it comes in via Reid to win another corner for his side.
A fourth corner of the match is met by Antonio, but his cross is cut out to prevent another chance in front of goal. Carroll causing some danger early on, creating a decoy for Noble to latch on to a loose ball 25 yards out which sails well over the bar.
West Ham enjoying nearly 75% of the possession in the opening 11 minutes of the game, but have just the two shots on target to show for their dominance. One of those, coming from a Payet belter, saw Fabianski lunge across his goal to push the ball aside.
Swansea's best move of the match so far, as Barrow picks out Ki who in turn looks for Ayew. The Swans man was flagged for offside, though, and the rare foray forward comes to an abrupt halt before a shot can be fired away.
CLOSE! Ki penalised for handball, allowing Payet to take on a free kick from 25 yards out which ends on the roof of the net. Fabianski puffs out his cheeks in relief, but there was never enough dip to take it under the bar.
West Ham still the side very much on top at Upton Park, then, but Swansea able to breath a little more compared to the opening five minutes or so. Six changes made by the Swans this afternoon, remember, which tells in their disjointed play.
Another chance for Payet to test Fabianski from a free kick, well positioned around 25 yards from goal, but the wall does its just and deflects the ball inches wide of goal. Not sure the Swans' No.1 was getting there so that was a huge block.
Play just settling down a little more now in East London, but still not really seen much from the visitors in an attacking sense. Ayew comes deep for the ball, although no teammate takes his place as the most advanced player so another disappointing moment.
West Ham United have dominated the opening quarter of this match, forcing Lukasz Fabianski into a couple of crucial saves early on which the Poland international did well to keep out. Swansea City yet to have a shot of any sort thus far.
GOAL! WEST HAM UNITED 0-1 SWANSEA CITY (WAYNE ROUTLEDGE)
To say this goal has come against the run of play would be a huge understatement! West Ham, having dominated the opening 25 minutes of the game, find themselves a goal behind at Upton Park. It was a nice goal, in fairness, as Ki picked out Naughton down the right, whose first-time side-foot pass allowed Routledge to volley home from a couple of yards out.
CHANCE! One shot, one goal for the visitors - proving that possession counts for very little if you do not put the ball into the net. West Ham have squandered a glorious chance to level, though, as Fabianski flapped at a cross which allowed Ogbonna to shoot at an empty goal. The defender fluffed his lines, sending his half-volley high and wide.
SHOT! Up the other end, a fine Routledge pass with the outside of the boot is headed on goal by Ki, but it was simple enough for Randolph to keep out at his front post. Great balance to this game all of a sudden.
GOAL! WEST HAM UNITED 0-2 SWANSEA CITY (ANDRE AYEW)
Well, well well. Swansea have scored a second of the match to surely end West Ham's outside hopes of gatecrashing the top four. It started down the Hammers' right once more, where Antonio has been badly exposed, as Kingsley got the better of his man and sent in a superb cross for Ayew to divert home from a few yards out.
The good news for West Ham is that there is still about an hour to play taking into account any stoppage time. They could easily have scored two inside the opening five minutes, so keeping their cool will now be key. Swansea, on the other hand, will look to slow down the tempo.
So nearly a third for Swansea, as Barrow's cross is met by Routledge. The shot was well blocked in front of goal, allowing West Ham to break through Lanzini who won a corner through a deflected strike of his own.
It is very nearly an away day special in the Premier League, incidentally - Man United have already won at Norwich, while four other visiting teams also lead in the other games taking place this afternoon. Newcastle, at bottom-side Villa, the only side letting us down on that front at the moment.
Fair to say the mood has changed around Upton Park over the last 15 minutes. The players were feeding off the atmosphere early on, but it has been a far more balanced game in terms of possession since Swansea scored against the run of play.
Ayew takes a palm in the face, leading to a short stoppage in play. Bilic uses that time to speak to his players, no doubt urging them to get forward a little more. A goal prior to the interval will change the mood around this ground completely.
CHANCE! A chance late in the half for Barrow, who is played through by Routledge down the right. The forward, under pressure from Reid who he beat for pace, sent his first-time shot wide of the target when he should have been testing Randolph at the very least.
SHOT! Payet cuts inside on his right but can only curl a shot right at Fabianski. The strike lacked any real pace and precision, unlike his attempt at the start of the half that had the Swansea keeper at full stretch.
CHANCE! What a chance for West Ham to pull once back with the last act of the half. A cross from the right made its way to Carroll at the back post, but he sent the ball back across the face of goal rather than shooting, where Lanzini could only divert the ball over the bar off balance.
HALF TIME: WEST HAM UNITED 0-2 SWANSEA CITY
Well supporters certainly got their money's worth in that first half at Upton Park, but for the home fans in attendance it is not the half-time score they were looking for to say the least. The Hammers dominated the early throes, coming close through a well-struck Payet shot and Reid's header from a corner which Fabianski kept out on both occasions.
Payet then took on a free kick which he sent onto the roof of the net, before the Swans went up the other end and scored from their first real attacking move of the match. Ki picked out Naughton inside the box, with the full-back simply side-footing the ball across for Routledge to tap home two yards from goal. Ogbonna could have levelled up two minutes later, but blasted over with an empty net gaping when Fabianski fluffed his lines at a corner.
Ki's header was kept out by stand-in keeper Randolph, just a few moments before Antonio was again caught out down his ride channel for Kingsley to pick out Ayew. The forward made no mistake, tapping home his side's second ahead of a frantic finale to the half. Barrow sent his shot wide when played through, Payet curled a shot into the hands of Fabianski, and a mixture of Carroll and Lanzini missed from right under the bar. What a game so far!
BENCH WATCH!
WETS HAM UNITED SUBS: Spiegel, Tomkins, Valencia, Obiang, Sakho, Collins, Emenike
SWANSEA CITY SUBS: Nordfeldt, Rangel, Gomis, Emnes, Britton, Gorre, Fulton
The teams have emerged back down the tunnel ahead of the second half. Let's hope for as much energy as we witnessed in the first half, in a game that West Ham trail by two goals to nil.
RESTART! Thirty seconds into the half and Moses is already picked out at the back post with a decent cross. The winger quite clearly used his hand to control the ball, though, when he could have taken the shot on first time.
Barrow gets into the box but his shot is blocked aside. The visitors not willing to simply sit back in the second period if the early stages of this half are anything to go by, with the next goal - if it arrives - likely to be key in how the remainder pans out.
Moses is frustratingly flagged for offside, a few minutes after handling the ball inside the box in a decent position. West Ham need their winger to produce some magic, but Bilic may be tempted to turn to one of his back-up options.
GOAL! WEST HAM UNITED 0-3 SWANSEA CITY (KI SUNG-YUENG)
The home supporters inside Upton Park have been left completely stunned. They have arguably been the better side in terms of chances created, but they are incredibly three goals behind now! Full credit to Swansea, because yet again they make the most of some room down the left and send in a cross which Ki this time blasts home first time. Great cross, great finish, great goal.
SAVE! Carroll blasts a real gem a shot on target from 20 yards out, which Fabianski got right behind. From the next attacking move, Antonio has his shot blocked by the Poland international before Carroll this time blasted wide. What a superb game of football!
West Ham, despite being three down, have plenty of momentum behind them. You get the feeling that just one goal will do the trick and spark a turnaround, but Fabianski has produced a few huge stops already today.
WEST HAM UNITED SUB! Home fans still standing by their players, acknowledging that they do not deserve to be three behind. Bilic has decided to change things around, bringing on Diafra Sakho for Victor Moses.
Swansea do look like they have a fourth goal in them, but they failed to play their cards right on this occasion when hitting their opponents on the break. The hosts just passing the ball around at will now as we enter the final half-hour of the game.
Swansea had not scored three goals in a single game prior to last weekend's win over Swansea, remember, but they have had no such trouble today. Six goals in two games for them! Their away day woes are also certain to end, with West Ham now failing to find their groove.
Better from United, as Carroll nods the ball across goal for Sakho to volley on goal. Fabianski somehow managed to keep the shot out from a couple of yards, but the offside flag did eventually go up anyway. Can the Hammers find a way past the Pole?
Lanzini's shot this time blocked by Fernandez - plenty of those so far today. No sign of any sort of grandstand finish at this rate, as West Ham just cannot find that much-needed breakthrough goal. Twenty-three minutes left to play in East London.
GOAL! WEST HAM UNITED 1-3 SWANSEA CITY (DIAFRA SAKHO)
Now, about that grandstand finish... West Ham do at last have a deserved goal back; Antonio denied twice by Fabianski before Sakho forced the ball into the roof of the net. A few shouts for a free kick from Swansea players, but I could see no real infringement there.
SWANSEA CITY SUB! Modou Barrow is off to make way for Angel Rangel in a defensive change. Looking back at that West Ham goal, it may well have come off Kingsley last. The Swans win their first corner of the game, meanwhile, as Ayew's shot is blocked behind.
YELLOW CARD! Diafra Sakho becomes the first player to see yellow for a challenge on Fernandez in the air. West Ham still the side with the momentum in the final quarter of this match, desperately seeking a second that really would make things interesting.
WEST HAM UNITED SUB! So Bilic roles the dice for a second time today, bringing on Emmanuel Emenike for Cheikhou Kouyate. Will that prove an inspired change? Carroll has just seen a shot flicked wide of goal, as the Hammers continue to knock the door.
Fabianski easily collects Payet's cross into the box to give Swansea a little breather. West Ham still the team on top as they go in search of two more goals, but their attacking rhythm is not quite there at the moment due to some tired legs.
Yet another corner for West Ham, the latest of which after Sakho's shot was blocked behind into the side-netting. So many half-chances for the hosts, though they cannot seem to make the most of them at the moment. City doing well to just hold on with a two-goal advantage.
YELLOW CARD! Winston Reid gives away a needless free kick to earn a yellow. Ayew was free inside the box moments beforehand, but could not quite get a shot away and Swansea's first chance in a while went begging. Gomis now on for Routledge.
Plenty of home fans making their way out of Upton Park now, as the momentum slowly starts to move back in the visitors' favour. It looked for so long, even at 3-0 down, that West Ham could mount a charge. Just the one goal so far, though, and surely little hope of a point at this late stage.
YELLOW CARD! All very frustrating for West Ham fans now, as Angelo Ogbonna becomes the latest to earn a needless yellow card. Swansea happy to sit back and soak up any pressure, which is the way this one will remain for the last five minutes.
OFF THE BAR! Gomis flicks the ball into a central position where Antonio appeared to just knee the ball onto his own goal frame. Major let-off for the hosts, but it surely will not matter now with just a few minutes left.
SAVE! Both teams continuing to attack right to the death here, but any chance of a dramatic finish are all over now. Randolph keeps out a powerful Naughton drive to spare further Hammers blushes.
West Ham win corner number 12 of the match, which Carroll cannot quite get on the end of. Swansea actually look the more likely to score a fourth goal in the closing stages.
GOAL! WEST HAM UNITED 1-4 SWANSEA CITY (BAFETIMBI GOMIS)
Swansea do indeed get their fourth, coming at the end of a straightforward counter-attack. Ayew and Gomis found themselves up against Noble, with the latter being given the honour of rolling the ball past Randolph late on.
FULL TIME: WEST HAM UNITED 1-4 SWANSEA CITY
Swansea the side smiling at full time, then, as they bag themselves a fourth to put the icing on the cake. It was a superb game of football overall, but one that West Ham will want to forget quickly in their final Saturday fixture at Upton Park.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events in East London, but Leicester City's meeting with Everton at the King Power Stadium is soon to get underway. Updates from what is sure to be a real party in the East Midlands can be found by clicking here. Enjoy!
