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Swansea logo
Premier League
Jan 19, 2014 at 1.30pm UK
 
Spurs logo

1-3

Bony (78')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Adebayor (35', 71'), Flores (53' og.)

Live Commentary: Swansea City 1-3 Tottenham Hotspur - as it happened

Find out how Tottenham Hotspur saw off Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium with Sports Mole's text updates.
2

Tottenham Hotspur made the trip to Swansea City this afternoon knowing that a win would move them up to fifth in the Premier League table.

They did just that thanks to a brace from Emmanuel Adebayor, which sandwiched a own goal from home defender Chico Flores.

The Swans did manage to pull one goal back through Wilfried Bony, but it only proved to be a consolation effort.

You can find out how the match unfolded with our minute-by-minute updates below.


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Afternoon all. So, after a busy Saturday of Premier League action, there are two more matches today. The first of which, involving Swansea City and Tottenham Hotspur at the Liberty Stadium, we will be covering right here.

Before we go any further, though, the team news from Wales is just starting to filter through to us. Let's begin with how the home side will start this contest...

SWANSEA XI: Tremmel; Rangel, Chico, Williams, Davies; Amat, Britton, Shelvey, Pozuelo, Routledge; Bony

SWANSEA SUBS: Cornell, Tiendalli, Taylor, Richards, Lamah, Donnelly, Vazquez

Just the one change from Swansea boss Michael Laudrup, who is without the injured Jose Canas. As a result, Jordi Amat has moved into the midfield, with Chico Flores being recalled at centre-back. The match has also come too soon for winger Nathan Dyer because of ankle complaint, while last season's leading goalscorer Michu is still sidelined.

And now for the away side...

SPURS XI: Lloris; Walker, Chiriches, Dawson, Rose; Eriksen, Bentaleb, Dembele, Chadli, Lennon; Adebayor

SPURS SUBS: Friedel, Naughton, Holtby, Soldado, Capoue, Defoe, Sigurdsson

For the first time since he took charge of Spurs last month, it appears that Tim Sherwood has started with a 4-5-1 formation. The striker to drop out is Roberto Soldado, with Emmanuel Adebayor given the role as a lone frontman. Elsewhere, despite speculation over his future at the club, Nacer Chadli starts in the midfield, as does Christian Eriksen and Aaron Lennon.

The dropping of Soldado is no great surprise. The Spaniard has scored just one Premier League goal from open play this season. What is a little bid surprising is the fact that Sherwood has opted for a change in tactics, rather than using Toronto-bound Jermain Defoe. Perhaps he is keen to match Swansea's five-man midfield, who like to keep hold of the ball whenever possible.

It seems that Swansea boss Michael Laudrup has been a little taken aback by Tottenham's lineup as well. Here is what the Dane has just had to say about the opposition: "Tottenham have surprised me with their lineup. I have seen every game since Tim Sherwood took over and every game they have played with two up front. I see it as a huge compliment to us that they need three in midfield."

Staying with Laudrup, his side will be up against his fellow countryman Eriksen today. There are some that have compared the Spurs midfielder to the Swansea boss during his playing days. Discussing that school of thought with Sky Sports News, the summer signing said: "He was my idol. I haven't read that many books, but I've read his. It's nice [to be compared to him]"

The change of formation is going to see Eriksen take on even more responsibility. In the 4-4-2, he's started on the left flank and drifted inside, but today he is likely to play just behind Adebayor, offering support to the Togo frontman. Chadli should take on the role on the left wing.

Discussing that alteration in strategy, Sherwood has just revealed the reason behind it to Sky Sports News: "The change of shape will mean very little, hopefully. We want rotation and to cause Swansea a few problems. Chadli has done very well in training and deserves a chance."

The transformation of Spurs under Sherwood's guidance has been very impressive, it must be said. They have picked up 13 points from a possible 15, including wins at Southampton and Manchester United. He has also got the best out of Adebayor, who looks a totally different player to the one that cut an unhappy figure during Andre Villas-Boas's time at the club.

The same cannot be said for Swansea, though. From their last seven Premier League fixtures, they've amassed just three points. With that in mind, it's little wonder that they are struggling towards the wrong end of the table right now. In fact, 2013 was a ppor year for Laudrup's charges, despite winning the League Cup back in February, they claimed just eight Premier League victories.

Discussing that recent form, Laudrup has just told Sky Sports News that he believes a change in fortune is just around the corner: "It's been very difficult lately, no doubt about that. We are almost there. In no game have I had the feeling that there is a lack of confidence - everyone wants the ball, which is important."

Looking at Swansea's upcoming fixtures, a win here could do wonders if there is a lack of confidence, despite Laudrup's belief. Next up they take on Fulham, West Ham United, Cardiff City and Stoke City - all sides that are around them in the table. If they can go into those clashes having collected maximum points here, it could have a big impact.

PREDICTION: So, what can we expect from today's game? Firstly, it should be an easy on the eye football match, with two sides that like to pass the ball on the floor. On current form, you would anticipate a Spurs win and it is hard to looked beyond that. It will be interesting to see if the change in system has an impact, but they should just edge this one. Let's say a 2-1 win, with both goals from Adebayor.

Right, the players are now in the tunnel and are just about to head on to the pitch. Only a few minutes before we get started at the Liberty Stadium.

KICKOFF! Hosting Swansea, attacking from right to left, get this contest started.

Smart play from the home team which ends with Pozuelo attempting to thread through a pass for Bony. It appears that the Swansea striker is going to have a free shot at goal, but Hugo Lloris rushes off his line to thwart the danger. That's really good work from the Spurs goalkeeper.

CHANCE! More good play from Swansea, but this time the finish was lacking. A short corner routine sees Wayne Routledge play a pass to Jonjo Shelvey on the edge of the box, but as the Spurs defence moves out, the Swansea midfielder rushes his shot and fires well wide of the target.

Not too much to report regarding the previous few minutes. Swansea are seeing a lot of the ball, but they are finding it difficult to get Bony involved in the match.

SAVE! First real attack from Spurs and Mousa Dembele perhaps should have done better. First of all he did well to lose his marker, but once he got himself into the penalty area, his pass to Adebayor was cut out. Moments later, up the other end Shelvey saw his powerful strike from 20 yards out parried to safety by a diving Lloris.

Great work from Eriksen, who picks up possession on the halfway line and then weaves his way beyond three Swansea players. His cross towards the back post for Adebayor is cut out by a leaping Gerhard Tremmel, but that's positive play from Tottenham's Danish midfielder nonetheless.

CHANCE! First effort of the afternoon from Bony, who could have played in Pozuelo. Instead, he sent in a dipping shot from 25 yards out, but the ball was always drifting away from the target and Lloris watched it fly wide.

A wasted opening for Spurs as Kyle Walker gets himself to the right byline. His cross is overhit, though, and although Rose is able to keep the move alive by hoisting the ball back into the the Swansea area, the danger is cleared. That is the first time that the visitors have got beyond the Swansea defence and still they await their first shot of the contest.

OFF THE BAR! What a strike from Bony, which beats Lloris all ends up from 20 yards out. It looks for all the world that the ball is flying into the top corner of the net, but the Ivorian's effort rattles against the crossbar. He got some venom behind that hit!

Spurs are struggling to gain a foothold in this match. When they do get possession, they've been wasteful, as highlighted again by Walker, who has just misplaced a pass that would have put Chadli through on goal.

CHANCE! Another opportunity for Bony, who has been lively so far. Angel Rangel swings over a cross from the right, which Spurs skipper Michael Dawson appears to leave. Bony doesn't give up the challenge, though, and attempts to divert his header goalwards. However, he was always stretching and his effort floats into the hands of Lloris.

GOAL! SWANSEA 0-1 TOTTENHAM (ADEBAYOR)

Talk about smash and grab! Spurs have done very little from an attacking sense and yet they lead. It's Eriksen that creates the chance with an inswinging cross from the right. That catches the attention of Adebayor, who gets in front of Rangel to head the ball into the net from close range - he couldn't really miss. That is bound to demoralise the home side because they've dominated this clash so far.

SAVE! That goal has knocked the stuffing out of Swansea, as you might expect. All of a sudden their passing is wayward and mistakes are starting to creeping into their play. One of those errors created an opening for Adebayor, but he is denied a second goal by Tremmel, who gets both hands behind the striker's powerful shot.

Not a good statistic if you are a Swansea fan:



There will be three minutes of stoppage time at the end of this first half.

HALF-TIME: SWANSEA 0-1 TOTTENHAM

There goes the whistle for the break, with Spurs leading Swansea 1-0 at the Liberty Stadium.

If ever half summed up Swansea's season, this was it. They've had more of the possession and created some good openings, yet they've failed to find the net. It's hard to see what Laudrup can say during this 15-minute break. It's not a tactical problem, his players simply are not converting their chances. Now they trail, they are going to have to commit more men forward, which could see them hit on the counter-attack. It's risk that they must take, though.

As for Spurs, Sherwood may actually lay into his players a little bit. Yes they are in front, but they were poor for large parts of that half. On the plus side, it's not a bad thing to be winning having not been in at your best. As mentioned a moment ago, Swansea may end up now playing into Spurs's hands because there are going to be gaps at the back to be exploited.

It's vitally important that Laudrup tries to gee his players up as much as possible. He said before the match that their confidence hadn't been battered by their recent run, but it didn't look that way after Spurs scored. It's going to be a big 10 minutes after the restart. If Swansea don't bounce back mentally, they could find themselves 2-0 down in no time.

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! Spurs, leading 1-0, get this contest restarted.

Lively start to the second half from Spurs and Adebayor in particular, who is given a lot of freedom down the right wing by the Swansea defence. His cross was cut out by Flores and the resultant corner comes to nothing, but it is a sign that the away side are looking to extend their lead, rather than simply protect it.

BOOKING! The first yellow card of the clash and it goes to Swansea's Amat. He tries to protest his innocence, but it was a poor challenge that he made on Vlad Chiriches.

SUBSTITUTION: And there is more bad news for Swansea as Shelvey limps off with what appears to be an hamstring injury. He's not long recovered from a similar complaint. As he trudges down the tunnel for treatment, Roland Lamah has come on.

GOAL! SWANSEA 0-2 TOTTENHAM (CHICO, OG)

Awful all round from Swansea, who face a real uphill task now. The first offender is substitute Lamah, who switches off as Dawson plays a pass inside him for Walker. From there, the full-back drills in a cross beyond the reach of a diving Tremmel and with Adebayor lurking at the back post, a panicking Chico diverts the ball into the back of his own net. A real calamity goal from a Swansea point of view, which has probably sealed all three points for the North Londoners.

The away fans are in fine voice now and their team are responding by playing some really good football. If this continues, you can see them scoring another goal or two.

Oh dear Chico:



SAVE! Bony really is not afraid to try his luck from anywhere. In what was Swansea's first real attack of the half, he unleashed yet another powerful effort from the edge of the area, but it's straight and Lloris and the Spurs goalkeeper is able to deal with the danger.

There could be some more bad news for Laudrup as Routledge comes out of a challenge with Danny Rose limping. Swansea really do not need any more injuries. The winger is carrying on for the moment, but he looks to be in some pain.

SUBSTITUTION: First change of the match for Spurs and it is the ineffective Chadli that is coming off. He's been replaced by former Swansea midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson, who has missed the last four games through injury.

BOOKING! Swansea frontman Bony goes into the book, but you have to say it's harsh on him. Yes he did collide with Chiriches, but he only had eyes for the ball and there was a coming together between the two players. It looked like an honest collision more than anything else.

CHANCE! What an opportunity for Spurs to seal the three points. A simple pass over the top releases Dembele, who has Adebayor in support. Having committed Tremmel off his line, a simple square pass for his teammate would have almost certainly resulted in a goal. The Belgian goes alone, though, and fires hopelessly wide.

GOAL! SWANSEA 0-3 TOTTENHAM (ADEBAYOR)

Adebayor will certainly be more happier with Rose than he was with Dembele 60 seconds ago. He's all alone inside the area and this time he's picked out by his teammate. As Tremmel rushes out, the Togo striker shows great composure to slot the ball underneath the Swansea keeper. The three points are heading back to the capital and Adebayor his hat-trick hunting.

When his head is in the right frame of mind, there are few better strikers in the Premier League than Adebayor. Whatever Sherwood has said to him since he took charge, it's worked.

GOAL! SWANSEA 1-3 TOTTENHAM (BONY)

Swansea may have been poor today, but Bony deserves his 13th goal of the season. The move leading up to it was scrappy, as Lamah's intended shot bounces into his path 12 yards from goal. After that, the Ivorian shows his clinical touch by neatly dispatching a half-volley into the bottom corner of Lloris's net. A consolation, surely.

BOOKING! Silly from Spurs full-back Rose, who kicks the ball away not once, but twice! Rightly he is cautioned by Atkinson. Also, Spurs have made a change with Lennon departing the field of play and Kyle Naughton coming on.

SAVE! Tottenham could and perhaps should have scored a fourth through Sigurdsson. Walker picks him out with a low pass towards the edge of the area, but with just Tremmel to beat, the Iceland international drills a shot straight at the Swansea keeper.

Spurs are cruising to the win right now. At times they are letting Swansea have possession, but it is in the areas of the pitch where they pose little or no threat. Both sides appear to have accepted the outcome.

There will be five minutes of stoppage time at the end of this match.

FULL TIME: SWANSEA 1-3 TOTTENHAM

So, Spurs's good form continues with their fifth successive away win, while Swansea are dropping like a stone right now. It's going to be a big few weeks ahead for both of these teams, just for very different reasons.

That's all we have time for from the Liberty Stadium. Thanks for joining us this afternoon and until next time, goodbye.

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Michael Laudrup manager of Swansea City motivates his team during the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and Swansea City at St Mary's Stadium on October 6, 2013
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