Swansea 3-0 West Brom: Sunday Mirror match report

Scott Sinclair ended the goal famine for Swansea City who finally kick-started their Premier League campaign in style.

Brendan Rodgers’ new boys had not managed to score a goal in their opening four top-flight matches.

But Sinclair ended 374 minutes of frustration with a cool penalty before Leroy Lita and Nathan Dyer added the gloss to a first league win of the season.

Rodgers commented: “We ­thoroughly deserved the points. It was a very ­complete ­performance. Our play with and without the ball was first class.

“I’m happy for the players because it will give them confidence. Overall this was an ­outstanding team ­performance against a top side and top manager.

“Our performance level has been excellent in the first five games. It’s three clean sheets as well and we have always looked like scoring. We just needed a break.”

However, the Welsh club’s victory was marred by a nasty collision between left-back Neil Taylor and West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie in the 81st minute.

Taylor came off worse and received six minutes of on-the-field treatment ­before he was stretchered off ­wearing an oxygen mask.

There was a sombre mood inside the Liberty Stadium following the deaths of four coal miners in the ­Gleision Colliery, situated in the ­nearby Swansea Valley.

Both sides wore black ­armbands and a minute’s silence was observed prior to kick-off.

Swansea had fired blanks against Manchester City, Wigan, Sunderland and ­Arsenal, but in the 14th minute Sinclair broke their top-flight duck from 12 yards.

Sinclair fed Joe Allen inside the box and a rash challenge from Paul Scharner brought the midfielder down. Referee Martin Atkinson pointed to the spot.

Sinclair sent Ben Foster the wrong way for the first ­Premier League goal at the Liberty Stadium.

His strike also meant that the Welsh club avoided ­Newcastle’s dreaded record of the longest amount of time without a goal in the Premier League from the start of the season – by 64 minutes.

Swansea doubled their ­advantage courtesy of a well-worked training ground move.

Mark Gower clipped a ­corner to Sinclair, who broke free of his marker and flicked the ball towards the back post where Lita headed past Foster from six yards.

It was Lita’s first strike since his £1.75million move from Middlesbrough and his first goal in the Premier League for more than three years.

Swansea sealed an ­emphatic victory on 49 minutes when Lita flicked on Michel Vorm’s punt downfield and Dyer raced clear between Nicky Shorey and Craig Dawson to slam the ball through Foster’s legs.

West Brom manager Roy Hodgson said: “We played poorly but Swansea played very well. When we play way below what we expect to achieve then it will be difficult to get a result.

“We conceded poor goals through defensive errors. I was disappointed and the only positive I can take is that we kept going.”

VERDICT: Relief all round for Swansea as they got their first goals and first win in the top flight. Now we'll see if they have what it takes to stay in the Premier League.

***

THE BIG ISSUE: Are both these clubs destined for a relegation fight?

The Swans started the game at the bottom of the table after Blackburn's 4-3 win over Arsenal and they fought hard to get off it and move up to 12th. But for all their possession they still lack punch up front. Their first goals and first win will give them heart, but they have to go to Chelsea next week for a bigger test of their credentials. Albion look set to join them in the bitter battle for survival. After their first win at Norwich last week this was a lame performance from Roy Hodgson's side. They lacked passion and goals and they now look like prime candidates for the drop.