Carlos Carvalhal has turned Swansea's form around and claimed another home win - but David Moyes problems continue to grow.
Swansea City gave their survival hopes a major boost with a 4-1 thumping of beleaguered West Ham at the Liberty Stadium. Carlos Carvalhal’s men made it four wins in seven matches and jumped to 13th in the table after thrashing David Moyes’ side. Ki Sung-Yeung opened the scoring after eight minutes, his effort from distance somehow beating Adrian despite a distinct lack of power. That was the 51st goal of the season conceded by the Hammers this term, and the visitors’ defensive problems were further compounded in the 18th minute as Winston Reid was taken off on a stretcher with what looked to be a serious knee injury.
Ki fires home the opening goal (Image: Getty Images Europe)
Winston Reid sustains an injury (Image: Action Images via Reuters)
The Kiwi was taken off on a stretcher (Image: Action Images via Reuters) Against a rejigged defensive trio of Pablo Zabaleta, Declan Rice and Aaron Cresswell, Swansea took control as Mike van der Hoorn headed his second goal in English football. Chances kept coming for the buoyant hosts and they made it three early in the second period from another set pieces Andy King poked home from close range. That made it 10 times this season that the Hammers have conceded three or more this term and the excellent Jordan Ayew scored a 63rd minutes penalty after a foul by Cheikhou Kouyate on ex-Hammer Andre Ayew.
Andy King celebrates his goal with Andre Ayew (Image: REUTERS)
Jordan Ayew strikes (Image: Getty Images Europe)
A dejected Arnautovic (Image: Action Images via Reuters)
Beleaguered Hammers (Image: Action Images via Reuters) Michail Antonio nabbed a consolation for the Hammers, coolly taking a Cresswell freekick in his path and firing home. But on a day when they were second best throughout and travelling fans departed en masse early, Moyes will have been all too aware of his side’s growing problems - particularly with the Swans now leapfrogging them in the table. All the action as it happened below...
78 minsminute by minute
A fairly direct route for the goal, as Cresswell fired a free-kick forward from the half-way line that Antonio did superbly with.
78 minsminute by minute
GOAL! Michail Antonio drives a low finish past Fabianski after he takes Cresswell's free-kick under control, swiftly turning to smash home. He's scored off the bench for the second game in a row but, like at Anfield last week, it's only set to be a consolation.
West Ham, meanwhile, have been sucked back into the relegation dogfight and miss the chance to move six points ahead of the relegation zone. Instead, their advantage over the bottom three is just three points and the fact they now have the joint-worst defensive record in the Premier League is a massive concern. They host Burnley next weekend, who ended an 11-match winless run with victory against Everton earlier today.
The victory sees Swansea surge up the Premier League standings, with Carlos Carvalhal's side rising out of the relegation zone and overtaking five teams, including West Ham, in the process. Another crucial relegation fight awaits next weekend against Huddersfield in west Yorkshire but the Swans now seem to have the momentum needed to pull off a great escape.
FULL TIME! Swansea make it four Premier League victories in a row at the Liberty Stadium and pick up a vital three points. Ki Sung-yueng was the man of the moment in the first half, scoring the opener and then putting a ball on a plate for Mike Van der Hoorn from a corner. After the break, a set-piece was again the route of success for the Swans shortly after the restart as Andy King scored his first goal for the club, with Jordan Ayew tucking home from the spot- meaning that Michail Antonio's effort later on was a mere consolation.
90+2 minsminute by minute
Tammy Abraham hasn't scored for a while and he almost has a late chance here following a long ball forward but the young striker can't get the ball under control, which is likely to be the last action of the game.
90 minsminute by minute
THREE minutes added on at the Liberty Stadium.
90 minsminute by minute
Now Swansea make the change, with Sam Clucas replaced by Tammy Abraham.
90 minsSTATS
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88 minsminute by minute
Swansea are set to make their final change of the match but they've been knocking the ball around well during the past few minutes.
86 minsminute by minute
It's going to be a long journey back to east London for West Ham, who have plenty to think about. A win today would have put them within touching distance of safety but this defeat will suck them right into the thick of things at the bottom of the Premier League.
84 minsminute by minute
Into the final five minutes, plus additional time, and the game has settled down. The writing has been on the wall for a while and Swansea have taken their foot off the gas, whilst West Ham knock the ball around without creating too much.
82 minsminute by minute
Arnautovic flagged offside and it's not for the first time this afternoon. The Austrian has been one of West Ham's shining lights since David Moyes took charge but it hasn't been his day this afternoon.
81 minsminute by minute
Second change in quick succession for Swansea, as Andy King is replaced by Tom Carroll. King, like Ayew, has excelled on his first start for the club since his January move and his goal shortly after the restart was crucial to getting Swansea on their way.
A word on Jordan Ayew
Jordan Ayew’s been brilliant for Swansea this season. There have been a lot of questions throughout his career about his ability to be decisive in big moments. But he’s led the Swans for much of the campaign - even when they’ve been really, really bad - and is very much their leader right now.
(Image: Getty Images Europe)
78 minsminute by minute
First Swansea change of the match, as Andre Ayew makes way for Nathan Dyer. Ayew's first start since returning to South Wales has seen him perform very well.
75 minsminute by minute
Another break in play as Antonio and Mawson clash heads inside the area, which Atkinson spots, and both players receive treatment. While the rest of the Premier League games edge towards their conclusion, we've still got a fair chunk to play due to the delay in the first half.
73 minsminute by minute
Kouyate is caught by Jordan Ayew but play continues until Swansea put the ball out of play. The West Ham man is soon back on his feet though and the hosts get the ball back, though they'll have to work their way forward again.
75 minsSTATS
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71 minsminute by minute
Swansea's revival so far has been impressive and there's still a fair amount of work to be done. This result will really issue a statement of intent to the bottom of the Premier League, many of whom are struggling in front of goal. Swansea don't seem to have that problem!
69 minsminute by minute
Arnautovic, Hernandez and Lanzini continue to struggle to get opportunities on the ball, as has substitute Michail Antonio. A leaky defence and an attack that can't get on the ball adds up to a lot of problems for the Hammers.
67 minsminute by minute
West Ham top the table for yellow cards this season and that's another aspect of the game that Moyes needs to cut out heading into the latter stages of the season, as suspensions could really haunt his struggling side.
66 minsminute by minute
Frustration certainly boiling over for the Hammers, as Arnautovic comes in late on Naughton and gets his name taken.
66 minsminute by minute
Kouyate's bad few minutes continue as he enters the book for his latest foul.
64 minsminute by minute
Swansea on course for their biggest Premier League win of the season and there's still time to get even more. As I said earlier, goal difference could be important come the end of the season with how tight things are at the bottom and Swansea have no desire to take their foot off the gas.
63 minsminute by minute
GOAL! Jordan Ayew converts from the spot to make it 4-0 and Swansea are cruising. He steps-up, sends Adrian the wrong way and tucks the ball into the left-hand corner of the net.
62 minsminute by minute
PENALTY! It goes from bad to worse for West Ham! Kouyate clips Andre Ayew inside the box, with the Hammers midfielder not aware of the presence of his former team-mate, and it's an easy decision for Martin Atkinson.
62 minsSTATS
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60 minsminute by minute
West Ham are still showing some fight in attack and are putting Swansea under pressure when the Welsh side have the ball but it's still all far too easy for the hosts. The home supporters are understandably full of voice and there's every reason to be optimistic for the remainder of the season.
58 minsminute by minute
Swansea have been in control throughout and Fabianski, when he has been called upon, has found things fairly easy.
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