Match ends, Aston Villa 1, Swansea City 2.
Aston VillaAston Villa1SwanseaSwansea City2
Andre Ayew scored a late winner for Swansea to pile more pressure on Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood.
The midfielder side-footed in a Kyle Naughton cross to give Swansea a first win in six games.
Andre's brother Jordan had given Villa the lead with a stooping header before Gylfi Sigurdsson curled in a 25-yard free-kick to level.
Villa's sixth straight defeat sees them remain second bottom of the Premier League, four points from safety.
Home defender Joleon Lescott had a chance to equalise late on when he found space at a corner but hooked a shot over.
Reaction to this game and the rest of Saturday's top flight fixtures
Relive Swansea's win over Aston Villa
What now for Sherwood?
Sherwood, whose team have won only once all season, had likened this game to a cup final in the build-up.
The club's hierarchy were also reportedly looking at the games against Chelsea and Swansea to judge the side - Villa have lost both.
They survived a Swansea chance when Federico Fernandez skied a shot from close range as both sides struggled to stamp any kind of authority on the game.
Fernandez was involved in a clash with Villa centre-back Micah Richards before the latter was also involved in a heated exchange with Swansea skipper Ashley Williams when he attempted to intervene.
Jordan Ayew gave Villa hope with his first goal for the club but the hosts led for only six minutes.
Andre wins family battle
There was a family affair with Jordan and Andre Ayew on opposing sides and both midfielders played a key part for their sides.
The pair played against each other in the French league last season and Jordan's team won on that occasion, but this time their fortunes were reversed.
Andre should have put the visitors in front when he was played through on goal by Bafetimbi Gomis only for his shot to be saved by on-rushing keeper Brad Guzan
Villa counter-attacked from the resulting corner, with Jordan nodding in Gabriel Agbonlahor's cross.
However, Swansea responded impressively and Andre atoned for his earlier miss as he scored the winner from six yards after a dangerous low cross by Naughton.
"We are unlucky and we have a lot of new players," said Jordan. "Every week we are getting better and we have to continue to do that.
"We are always behind the manager. He is behind us and we are all together and there is no problem."
On Andre, he added: "We are family, there is no problem."
Man of the match - Andre Ayew
What they said
Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood: "I'm disappointed with result. I didn't think we deserved to lose. We can't carry anyone because we're getting done.
"I said to the boys every one has to play to their maximum to get anything from a game. At the moment we are short.
"The boys gave everything. There's no shortage in desire but the quality is not quite there."
Swansea boss Garry Monk: "The period that we have been in and the way we have been playing, it was good to get the three points in the way we did.
"All of it has been a bit of a circus this week. It was about getting through this period. Hopefully, we can get some momentum now."
"Concerning speculation about his role, Monk added: "I don't concentrate on it. I don't focus on it. I focus myself and group on football."
The stats you need to know
- Jordan Ayew scored his first Premier League goal in what was his sixth appearance in the competition.
- His brother Andre Ayew scored his fifth Premier League goal in his 10th appearance.
- Gylfi Sigurdsson has scored (16) or assisted (14) 30 goals in 60 Premier League appearances for Swansea.
- Bafetimbi Gomis created four chances against Villa, no forward has managed more in a single Premier League game so far this season.
- Aston Villa have won just one of their nine Premier League meetings with Swansea, losing each of the last four.
What next?
Aston Villa are at Southampton on Wednesday for a League Cup fourth-round tie before a trip to Sherwood's former club Tottenham in the league. Swansea host Arsenal in the Premier League next Saturday.
Line-ups
Aston Villa
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Guzan
- 21Hutton
- 4RichardsBooked at 31mins
- 16Lescott
- 18RichardsonBooked at 77mins
- 7Bacuna
- 8Gueye
- 19J Ayew
- 40GrealishSubstituted forGilat 74'minutes
- 11AgbonlahorSubstituted forTraoréat 85'minutes
- 39Gestede
Substitutes
- 15Westwood
- 20Traoré
- 23Amavi
- 24C Sánchez
- 25Gil
- 31Bunn
- 33Crespo
Swansea
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Fabianski
- 26NaughtonBooked at 29mins
- 33Fernandez
- 6WilliamsBooked at 31mins
- 3Taylor
- 4Ki Sung-yueng
- 8ShelveySubstituted forCorkat 85'minutes
- 10A Ayew
- 23G SigurdssonBooked at 73mins
- 20MonteroSubstituted forBarrowat 76'minutes
- 18GomisSubstituted forMacedo Lopesat 90'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Britton
- 13Nordfeldt
- 17Macedo Lopes
- 22Rangel
- 24Cork
- 27Bartley
- 58Barrow
- Referee:
- Neil Swarbrick
- Attendance:
- 33,324
Match Stats
Home TeamAston VillaAway TeamSwansea
- Possession
- Home48%
- Away52%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away4
- Corners
- Home4
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Aston Villa 1, Swansea City 2.
Post update
Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Kieran Richardson.
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Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Alan Hutton.
Substitution
Substitution, Swansea City. Eder replaces Bafétimbi Gomis.
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Attempt missed. Joleon Lescott (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Leandro Bacuna with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by André Ayew.
Goal!
Goal! Aston Villa 1, Swansea City 2. André Ayew (Swansea City) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Kyle Naughton with a cross.
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Foul by Modou Barrow (Swansea City).
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Kieran Richardson (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Swansea City. Jack Cork replaces Jonjo Shelvey.
Substitution
Substitution, Aston Villa. Adama Traoré replaces Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea City) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Modou Barrow.
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Attempt saved. André Ayew (Swansea City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Modou Barrow with a cross.
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Attempt saved. Jordan Ayew (Aston Villa) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Idrissa Gueye.
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Neil Taylor (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Leandro Bacuna (Aston Villa).
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Foul by André Ayew (Swansea City).
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Jordan Ayew (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Attempt missed. Modou Barrow (Swansea City) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a set piece situation.
