Barclays Premier League

FULL TIME

An entertaining encounter at the Liberty Stadium has seen both sides claim a point, but both sides will feel it should have been three. Swansea started brightly and took a deserved lead through Routledge, before a failure to convert chances saw Aston Villa respond with a goal through Andreas Weimann. The visitors grew in confidence, and Christian Benteke cooly converted a penalty 10 minutes from time. Swansea pressed forward with urgency and their persistence was rewarded when Danny Graham grabbed the equaliser in stoppage time. Both managers will take positives, but Michael Laudrup will rue missed chances when leading in the first half. Paul Lambert will be disappointed his team didn't hold on, but will be pleased with the renewed spirit in his young side.

FINAL WHISTLE

Mark Halsey blows the whistle and Swansea will be thankful to Danny Graham for rescuing a point in injury time, having squandered several other chances over the 90 minutes. It's finished Swansea City 2-2 Aston Villa.

GOOOAAALLL!!!!!

Swansea have grabbed the equaliser through DANNY GRAHAM. Nathan Dyer crosses into the penalty area and finds Michu. The playmaker doesn't shoot, but plays in Graham who makes no mistake from close range. Paul Lambert can't believe it, but it's Swansea 2-2 Aston Villa.

FRUSTRATION

Chico Flores is fouled by Benteke and the players have an exchange of words. Mark Halsey is across to calm things down. The hosts have a free kick, but the chance is wasted and Hernandez knocks the cross out of play for a goal kick.

ADDED TIME

Five added minutes for Swansea to try and find an equaliser. Paul Lambert isn't too happy, but the amount of added time has encouraged the home crowd.

TIME RUNNING OUT

Swansea are pressing forward with urgency, but there's a renewed confidence amongst the Aston Villa players and they are looking to grab a third on the break. Paul Lambert is kicking every ball on the touchline, with Michael Laudrup urging his players to keep calm in front of goal.

GOOOAAALLL!!!

CHRISTIAN BENTEKE makes no mistake in blasting the ball past by Michel Vorm and the Villa players run off to celebrate with their fans. Paul Lambert punches the air in delight, and it's Swansea 1-2 Aston Villa.

PENALTY

Shock around the Liberty Stadium, as Nathan Dyer trips Andreas Weimann in the penalty area and Mark Hasley points to the spot. Christian Benteke steps up and it's a massive chance for Aston Villa to take the lead.

FRUSTRATION

Groans from the home crowd, as Nathan Dyer lashes a shot that's off target and goes out for a throw in. Aston Villa make another substitution, with Barry Bannan replacing Ashley Westwood.

FINAL SWANSEA CHANGE

Last throw of the dice from Michael Laudrup, as Kemy Agustien replaces Leon Britton in midfield.

PRESSURE

The hosts are back on the front foot, but Villa are defending with a resolve that has been lacking in their past three games. The ball falls to Rangel, but his cross is again cleared by Herd. Paul Lambert is shouting encouragement at every opportunity to his players, as he knows how vital a result today could be.

VILLA CHANCE

Big chance for the visitors to take a shock lead. Christian Benteke manages to turn past Davies and hits an overhead kick on target. Vorm is there to parry clear, and Ashley Williams clears upfield. It's a big chance for the visitors, and the hosts could be made to pay further for their missed chances.

ASTON VILLA SUBSTITUTION

Enda Stevens is replaced by Brett Holman, as Paul Lambert responds to the Swansea changes. He will see it as a welcome point if his side can hold on for the remaining 20 minutes.

SECOND SWANSEA SUBSTITUTION

Wayne Routledge is taken off and Nathan Dyer is on. Michael Laudrup will be hoping Dyer's pace can unlock a tiring Aston Villa defence.

SWANSEA SUBSTITUTION

Sung-Yueng Ki is sent on for Jonathan De Guzman, as Michael Laudrup looks for some variety in midfield.

PENALTY APPEALS

Swansea feel they should have had a penalty, as Joe Bennett is judged to have handled the ball. Mark Halsey belives it was outside the penalty area, so the hosts have to be content with a free kick. Hernandez crosses, but Danny Graham's header is clawed away by Guzan.

QUIET

Aston Villa are trying to take the sting out of the game and the youngsters appear to be growing in confidence. Marc Albrighton looks to threaten, but overhits his cross and Vorm collects for a goal kick.

ALMOST A SECOND

Danny Graham drags his shot across goal, but there is no Swansea player rushing into the penalty area and the chance is gone. Aston Villa are living dangerously, but the hosts still continue to squander chances.

SWANSEA CHANCE

The hosts are pressing forward as they look to regain the lead. Danny Graham is onside, but leaves the ball for Pablo Hernandez. His shot is blasted wide and Brad Guzan can take his time over the goal kick.

SECOND HALF

Aston Villa get the second half underway.

HALF TIME

Half time at the Liberty Stadium and Swansea will feel unfortunate to go in level. The hosts started well and took the lead through Wayne Routledge. The hosts then hit the woodwork twice through Michu, and were made to pay on the verge of half time, as Christian Benteke's low shot crept past Michel Vorm. Paul Lambert will be delighted by the way his side have fought back into the game, but knows there is an important 45 minutes ahead.

ADDED TIME

One added minute for either side to try and take the lead before half time.

GOOOAAALLL!!!

Aston Villa have grabbed an equaliser and Swansea have paid for not taking their chances. Christian Benteke plays in ANDREAS WEIMANN, who turns past Ashley Williams and knocks a low shot past Michel Vorm. Paul Lambert will be delighted and it's Swansea 1-1 Aston Villa.

FIRST BOOKINGS

Frustration is creeping in at the Liberty Stadium for the visitors, and Ciaran Clark is booked by Mark Halsey for persistant fouling, before Andreas Weimann is also shown a yellow card for kicking the ball away.

CONTROL

Aston Villa cannot get out of their half and the hosts are continuing to create chances. Graham plays the ball into Hernandez, but his chance is denied by a linesman's flag.

PRESSURE

The hosts continue to press forward. Jonathan De Guzman crosses a corner into the penalty area, but neither Michu or Williams can get a head to the ball and Chris Herd clears. Aston Villa cannot get any meaningful possession as Swansea are pressing at every opportunity and forces mistakes.

WOODWORK RATTLED

Swansea should be two goals up. Ashley Williams plays the ball into the path of Michu, but again his shot rattles off the post. Pablo Hernandez races onto the rebound, but can only blaze wide. Michael Laudrup can't believe it, but will be encouraged by the amount of chances his side have created.

SIGNS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Aston Villa are showing signs of fight at the Liberty Stadium. The visitors win their first corner of the game, but can't make the most of it as Ashley Westwood's cross is poor and Swansea clear.

VILLA CHANCE

The visitors try to respond and Christian Benteke powers past Davies. He hits his shot on target, but Michel Vorm is equal to it and smothers the ball.

CORNER CHANCE

Swansea win the first corner of the game. Pablo Hernandez passes to Jonathan De Guzman, who whips the cross in, but Danny Graham is flagged for offside in the six-yard box.

ANOTHER CHANCE

Michael Laudrup will feel his side should be out of sight already. Leon Britton plays the ball into the penalty area, but Angel Rangel can't get a touch to it and the chance is gone. Paul Lambert is urging his side to keep the ball, but Swansea are closing his young side down at every opportunity.

ON THE CHARGE

Swansea are pushing forward for a second and Michu is unlucky to see his shot bounce back off the post. Danny Graham then finds space in the penalty area, but he lashes his shot wide from eight yards out. Aston Villa have been rattled by the goal and a second could prove critical with the way their side has leaked goals in recent weeks.

GOOOAAAALLL!!!

The hosts have started the quicker and deservedly take the lead. WAYNE ROUTLEDGE is found in the penalty area and he makes up for his earlier miss by turning and blasting the ball past Brad Guzan. Michael Laudrup will be delighted, but Aston Villa will be disappointed at having conceded so early on. It's Swansea 1-0 Aston Villa.

GREAT CHANCE

Great chance for Swansea to take the lead. Wayne Routledge breaks through the Villa defence and the winger is through on goal. His driven shot is saved by Guzan and Danny Graham can't get the rebound on target and the visitors clear.

UNDERWAY

Swansea get the game underway at the Liberty Stadium.

ASTON VILLA TEAM NEWS

Four changes from Paul Lambert. Fabian Delph returns in midfield from suspension, whilst Enda Stevens, Marc Albrighton and Ashley Westwood also return to the side. Darren Bent again misses out.

SWANSEA TEAM NEWS

A massive boost for the hosts, as both Michu and Michel Vorm return to the side. There are five changes in total, with Chico Flores, Leon Britton and Ben Davies also taking their places in the starting eleven.

ONES TO WATCH

With Michu having a late fitness test, Michael Laudrup might be tempted to throw Danny Graham up front, with the striker having scored on his return to the side against Fulham. Aston Villa have a lengthy injury list, but Fabian Delph returns from suspension and might be thrown straight into the starting eleven. Lambert will be hoping Delph's return can add some stability to a midfield that has been overrun in recent games.

RECOVERY NEEDED

Paul Lambert was shocked by his sides capitulation to Wigan last weekend. The Villa fans weren't too happy and the message is simply that they must do better. The stunning victory at Anfield was only two weeks ago, but it feels like an eternity for the visitors. Having only mustered four shots on target in three games, it's clear there are problems that Lambert needs to address starting with this afternoon.

PUSHING ON

Michael Laudrup will have been delighted with his sides performance at Fulham last weekend, having won without key man Michu who missed the game through injury. The hosts will be looking to build on that result and will fancy their chances against an out of form Aston Villa side. The Swans are the only team to have won every game this season when they have taken the lead first, so Laudrup will know how important an early goal can be.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Mark Halsey referees both sides for the first time this season. The hosts have never lost in the Premier League when the official has been in charge. Aston Villa fans will remember Halsey for giving Man Utd a controversial penalty in their 4-0 defeat at Old Trafford last season. The visitors will be hoping history doesn't repeat itself this afternoon.

PREVIEW

A big game at the Liberty Stadium, as Swansea City look to kick off 2013 with a win against an Aston Villa side looking to end a dreadful run of three defeats and 15 goals conceded. The hosts are sitting in the top half of the table, but Michael Laudrup will not be getting carried away and maintains the target is to reach 40 points. Paul Lambert felt his side had turned a corner following a great win at Anfield earlier in December, but the poor run of form over christmas has seen his team drop to 17th. His side might be inexperienced, but they need to start picking up points or risk being dragged into the relegation zone.