Match Reports

Swansea City 1-0 Albion

An image of Alex Mowatt in the rain at Swansea

Albion were beaten 1-0 at Swansea City on New Year’s Day.

The Swans grabbed all three Sky Bet Championship points thanks to Liam Cullen’s second-half strike.

Carlos Corberán’s men are in FA Cup third round action next, hosting Aldershot at The Hawthorns this Sunday.

The boss made two changes to his XI from Friday’s win over Leeds, bringing in Kyle Bartley and Tom Fellows for Semi Ajayi and Jed Wallace.

Difficult conditions in South Wales may have contributed to an opening period where chances were hard to come by - but the opportunities started flowing around the 20-minute mark.

Conor Townsend, captain for the day, saw a fierce effort tipped over before Brandon Thomas-Asante also had a finish saved following great work by Fellows to play him through.

The Swans didn’t seriously threaten ahead of half-time, and they were holding on when Darnell Furlong’s header was blocked to keep it goalless at the break.

Yet Swansea emerged stronger and, 10 minutes after the restart, the home team scored. The ball fell to Cullen in the area and he took full advantage, striking low past Alex Palmer to put his side 1-0 up.

Corberán used his full allocation of substitutes to try and get Albion back in it, though they were fortunate not to concede another via Josh Tymon’s curler, which hit the woodwork.

The Baggies did push forward late on, Alex Mowatt shooting wide, Thomas-Asante having a header held and a number of crosses and corners being well defended.

In the end that equaliser just did not arrive, ensuring Swansea emerged victorious.

Albion: Palmer; Furlong, Bartley (Ajayi 64), Kipre (Chalobah 64), Townsend; Molumby (Pipa 75), Yokuslu (Pieters 80), Mowatt; Fellows, Thomas-Asante, Diangana (Reach 64).

Substitutes: Griffiths, Taylor, Higgins, Swift.