Swansea kept their slim Sky Bet Championship play-off hopes alive with a 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday thanks to goals from Rhian Brewster and Andre Ayew.
Steve Cooper’s side struggled in the first half as they struggled to adapt to their head coach’s new formation, but they improved after the break.
Brewster opened the scoring before Ayew’s penalty doubled the advantage. Wednesday manager and Swansea great Garry Monk saw Atdhe Nuhiu pull one back in added time but it was too little, too late for the visitors.
Swansea’s defensive crisis saw full-back Kyle Naughton forced to step in as an emergency centre-back before Wednesday winger Jacob Murphy had three fine early chances.
The second saw Adam Reach’s cross deflect slightly off Naughton to Murphy at the back post, but with plenty of space he could only spoon over the bar.
The home side’s shoddiness at the back was coupled with a lack of an attacking threat and Jay Fulton was booked for a poor tackle on Julian Borner.
Alessio Da Cruz had a shot blocked by Marc Guehi and he also headed over but the Owls failed to make their opportunities count in the first half. Brewster’s poor free-kick summed up Swansea’s struggles.
Swansea’s persistence with their shape at the break finally paid dividends after the break, with Ayew having a free-kick saved before the hosts moved ahead.
Roberts attempted to get on the end of Jake Bidwell’s cross but was fouled by Reach, who was booked and then replaced, with Ayew stepping up to convert the penalty for his 16th goal of the season.
The fact Wednesday were two behind must have been of huge disappointment to Monk, especially after his team’s first-half showing.
