Albion finish 2016/17 Premier League season in 10th
- Evans heads opener from Fletcher corner (33)
- Ayew nods leveller for Swans (72)
- Llorente fires home late winner (86)
- Baggies finish campaign in 10th place on 45 points
- Albion Star Man: Jonny Evans
ALBION finished the 2016/17 Premier League season in 10th position after a 2-1 defeat at Swansea City on the final day.
Jonny Evans' header from captain Darren Fletcher's corner just after the half-hour mark handed the Baggies the lead but a Jordan Ayew leveller and late Fernando Llorente volley gave the hosts victory at the Liberty Stadium.
It meant the Baggies finished a successful 2016/17 campaign on 45 points, four short of the record-breaking 49 which secured eighth spot in 2012/13.
Tony Pulis made one change from the side beaten at Manchester City in midweek - James Morrison coming in for Nacer Chadli, who dropped to the bench.
Salomon Rondon headed into the hands of Kristoffer Nordfeldt inside the opening 10 minutes and it was the Venezuela international striker who enjoyed a clear opening midway through the first period.
Baggies skipper Fletcher played a delightful throughball which caught out the Swans defence but an onside Rondon saw his first-time strike saved low by Nordfeldt.
Chris Brunt did well to block a goalbound shot from Leroy Fer at the other end before Albion opened the scoring in the 33rd minute.
Fletcher swung over an inch-perfect set-piece and, with Nordfeldt caught out, Evans was on hand to rise unmarked and head home at the far post - the club's 16th league goal from corners this term.
Kyle Naughton drilled over from the edge of the area in the last action of the first half - yet it was Albion who came closest at the start of the second period.
First, Brunt almost surprised Nordfeldt with a free-kick at his near post and then, just minutes later, Rondon dispossessed Federico Fernandez and raced through but saw his shot blocked by retreating Swans skipper Leon Britton.
Fernandez had a chance to make amends from a flicked corner shortly after but somehow headed wide from a great position at the back post.
Yet Ayew made no mistake 18 minutes from time as he nodded home from close range after Fernando Llorente had sent Gylfi Sigurdsson's free-kick back across goal.
Ayew found the side-netting shortly after while Albion also pressed for a winner of their own.
But it was the Swans who came out on top after Llorente was on hand to volley home substitute Luciano Narsingh's cross four minutes from time.
Albion pushed for a late leveller but were unable to find a second goal in the South Wales sun.
Albion: Foster; Nyom, Dawson, Evans, M Wilson (Leko 88); Yacob, Fletcher (c), Livermore (McClean 79); Morrison (Robson-Kanu 84), Brunt; Rondon.
Subs: Myhill; K Wilson, Field, Chadli.
BOOKED: M Wilson (foul, 51)
Swansea: Nordfeldt, Naughton, Fernandez, Mawson, Olsson, Fer (Ki Sung-Yueng 81), Britton (c) (Narsingh 66), Carroll, Ayew (Kingsley 90+3), Llorente, Sigurdsson.
Subs: Tremmel, Amat, Cork, McBurnie.
BOOKED: Fernandez (foul, 90+2)
Referee: Mike Dean (Cheshire)