Live Commentary

Last Updated at 4:54 pm, January 2nd 2012

1. 90+4

   ALL OVER. Great win for Swansea - their first ever at Villa Park - but a miserable start to 2012 for Villa. Join me shortly for report, ratings and reaction.

2. 90+4

   N'Zogbia hammers an effort against the post from 18 yards. Great strike - but would still have been too late.

3. 90+2

   Bannan tries to find Bent but it's too long for the England striker. Pretty much sums up his afternoon.

4. 90

   There will be five minutes of added time - but surely not long enough for Villa to pull this one out of the fire.

5. 87

   Brave work there from Guzan who gets a bloodied nose for his troubles.

6. 86

   Allen bursts through but is tugged back by Bannan. Fortunately for the Scot the referee didn't spot the offence and Guzan is able to come out and smother the opportunity.

7. 83

   Bannan comes on for Clark

8. 82

   Barry Bannan about to enter the fray as Villa mount more pressure without getting a clear sight of goal.

9. 81

   Graham has chance to kill the game off as he breaks clear but Dunne gets back to make a crucial challenge as the striker shoots.

10. 79

    Albrighton has looked good since coming on but Swansea are defending resolutely although the winger does force a corner which Vorm clings onto.

11. 78

    Routledge teases Hutton again but this time the defender stands strong.

12. 76

    First goalscorer Dyer makes way to be replaced by the rested Scott Sinclair.

13. 72

    Albrighton gets in a good cross after teasing Rangel but Bent can't get on the end of it.

14. 70

    Seen very little of Bent this afternoon but to be fair to the England striker he's had no service. Villa have left themselves a mountain to climb here.

15. 67

    Change for Villa and Ireland comes off to be replaced by Albrighton. Boos from the crowd at the decision to take the former Manchester City midfielder off.

16. 66

    Pinball in the Swansea area but Villa can't get a clear contact to test Vorm who could have come off his line to tidy up the danger.

17. 65

    Dyer fouls Warnock as Villa look to impose themselves on the game. The hosts are certainly putting on the pressure now.

18. 63

    Ireland goes close after a good centre from Hutton but Rangel blocks at the expense of a corner

19. 61

    N'Zogbia runs at the Swansea defence but his shot is blocked.

20. 60

    Routledge torments substitute Hutton and gets round the Scotland defender but he can't pick out a teammate.

21. 59

    Dunne into the book after getting involved in a spat with Dyer who he pushes in the chest. It's turning into a frustrating day for the home side.

22. 57

    That's Orlandi's last contribution but he's put in a terrific shift and has shown lots of invention. Rodgers looks delighted with his effort as he makes his way to the bench. Joe Allen comes on.

23. 57

    Orlandi fells Ireland and goes into the book.

24. 56

    Orlandi tries to slip in Graham after more great work from Dyer. Incisive break from the visitors.

25. Finally some signs of life from Villa going forward as Agbonlahor teases Rangel and gets in a cross which is blocked at the expense of a corner.

26. 53

    Cuellar is indeed coming off and is replaced by Alan Hutton. All going pear-shaped for the hosts.

27. 51

    Cuellar signals to the bench he has a problem. Will wait and see if he comes off.

28. 50

    Taylor gets in a teasing cross which is flagged as going out for a goal kick even though it took a clear deflection of Cuellar.

29. 48

    What have Villa got in their locker to come back from this? Could this be a first ever win at Villa Park for the Swans?

30. 47

    GOAL SWANSEA: Routledge puts the Welshmen two goals to the good. Routledge gets around Cuellar far too easily and finds Graham whose shot comes back off the post but straight to the winger's feet and he makes no mistake. Amazing to think that's his first top-flight goal.

31. Rousing cheer for Swansea on their reappearance. Hope the second half is as exciting as the first.

32. The sides are on their way back out. Would be interested to know what McLeish said to Warnock at half-time. Does he do the hair-dryer?

33. Mark chips in to say: "Really disappointing being at home after the way we played against Chelsea away. These are the games the villa should be winning, at HOME!!!" Fair point, mate.

34. Interesting comment from Martin who says: "I don't think you're watching the same game as everyone else. Villa are running Swansea ragged and are certainly the best team out there. Dyer has been lucky a couple of times, a dodgy back pass and a slip by Warnock. Just look at the stats for the first half." Don't think stats can tell the story of this one, Martin. The Swans have looked far more incisive and should be 2-0 up.

35. 45+2

    Disgruntled mumblings from the home fans as Villa go in at half-time trailing to Dyer's goal on four minutes. Please email me any thoughts on the first 45 chris.harvey@bskyb.com or Tweet me - @skysportswebed

36. 45

    Two minutes of stoppage time announced.

37. 44

    The Villa fans are certainly getting restless but it's just not happening in the final third.

38. 43

    Dyer has been a thorn for Villa this afternoon and again he threatens to get behind the home defence. Warnock's had a torrid afternoon.

39. 40

    Collins pulls back Routledge and referee Taylor takes action

40. 39

    Now Petrov is guilty of misplaced passes. Perhaps the hosts could take a leaf out of Swansea's book.

41. 38

    Clark seeks out Bent but his pass is poor. I can see Alex McLeish getting stuck into his side at half-time.

42. 36

    Great chance for Swansea to double their lead. Terrific work from Orlandi to pull the ball across for Graham but his left-footed shot from 10 yards out is narrowly wide.

43. 35

    Bad foul on Ireland earns another free-kick which comes to nothing.

44. 33

    Agbonlahor in the wars again but he wins a free kick some 25 yards out. N'Zogbia lines it up but his effort is high, wide and horrible.

45. 30

    Brilliant work by Dyer as he again gets the better of Warnock. His centre finds Graham but the effort does not have enough power to fully test Guzan. The visitors are certainly good value for their lead.

46. 29

    More good work going forward from Swansea. Villa are allowing them far too much space at the moment.

47. Another super run by Dyer who gets in behind Warnock and centres but the Villa defence stand firm. Great game so far this.

48. 26

    Good work from Dunne as Orlandi looks to run the veteran defender who just 'old man's' him to guide the ball to safety.

49. 25

    Collins goes close with a towering header as Villa look to get back on terms.

50. 23

    Agbonlahor goes down in the box with Taylor tugging at his arm but again there's nothing doing from the officials. Looked a penalty to me on first sight.

51. 22

    Great cross in by N'Zogbia from the left but Williams defends well under challenge from Bent.

52. 20

    Agnonlahor looks to be held back as he tries to play in Bent but the referee waves play on.

53. 18

    Caulker is first name into the book after bringing down Warnock as he broke clear.

54. 17

    Now it's the visitors' turn to enjoy a spell of possession football before Dunne steps in to break it up.

55. 15

    Dyer drifts in a cross which is only just wide of Guzan's bar. That was close to doubling Swansea's tally.

56. 12

    Now Ireland has a chance but his effort is deflected wide. Villa have forced a whole series of corners.

57. 11

    Chaos in the Swansea box from Agbonlahor's corner but the ball won't drop to a Villa foot.

58. 10

    Petrov has space to pick a pass but plays it behind Agbonlahor and Cuellar can't make up the ground. Villa have been rocked by that early setback.

59. 8

    Super strike from Andrea Orlandi in just his third game for Swansea as his left-foot drive whistles narrowly wide. Terrific opening to this clash.

60. 8

    Good cross from N'Zogbia finds Bent who knocks the ball across the six-yard box but no-one reacts and Swansea clear their lines,

61. 6

    Bent has a sniff at an immediate reply but he fails to control the ball and the chance has gone.

62. 4

    GOAL SWANSEA. Awful mistake from Warnock and Nathan Dyer makes Villa pay as he drives it into the corner and out of the reach of Brad Guzan. What a start for the visitors.

63. 3

    Neat start from the home side who are knocking the ball around well in the early stages.

64. 2

    Gabby Agbonlahor fires in a teasing centre with the first move of the match but the Swansea defence holds firm with Bent lurking.

65. 1

    Villa get this game underway. Really looking forward to seeing how Stephen Ireland performs this afternoon.

66. The players are on their way out of the tunnel. What will 2012 bring for both these sides? We'll see by 5pm.

67. Quick update from Sky Bet ahead of kick off. It's 4/5 on a Villa win while Swansea are available at 7/2. You can get 5/2 on the draw.

68. Ifthi says "This will be a tough one to call. Both of the teams are doing well. But Villa will look stronger because of that fantastic win at Chelsea. Swansea on the other hand are doing ok off that draw with tottenham. Villa park is a hard place to come to. Seeing as I'm a villa fan im gonna go for 4-2 to the home side."

69. Cian has been in touch to ask: "I see Sinclair is not in the starting line up, any ideas why? I'm going to go with 2-0 Swansea. Caulker And Routledge to score!" Well it appears Brendan Rogers has just shuffled his pack a little with games coming so thick and fast.

70. John has been in touch with his thoughts and says: "I think it will be a positive first half from Villa and they will win the game 2-0 with both goals coming in the first half and N'zogbia will notch for the first time at villa park."

71. Some news for Swansea fans ahead of kick off, You have signed former Reading midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson on loan from Hoffenheim until the end of the season.

72. If you'd like to offer up any pre-match predictions, please email me chris.harvey@bskyb.com or get in touch via Twitter - @skysportswebed

73. So keep those predictions coming in? Can Swansea break their Villa Park duck?

74. It's a tough one to call this. Villa's home record is average at best having won just four of their last 12 at Villa Park. Then again the visitors come with the worst away record in the Premier League with just three points on their travels.

75. Swansea Vorm, Rangel, Caulker, Williams, Taylor; Britton, Dyer, Routledge, Agustien, Orlandi; Graham.

76. Team news is starting to come through. Villa: Guzan; Cuellar, Dunne, Collins, Warnock; Petrov, Clark, N'Zogbia, Ireland; Agbonlahor, Bent.

77. A worrying stat for Swans fans ahead of kick off. Swansea have visited Villa Park seven times - and have lost all seven without scoring. Thanks to my friends at Opta for that gem

78. If you'd like to offer up any pre-match predictions, please email me chris.harvey@bskyb.com or get in touch via Twitter - @skysportswebed

79. Very much looking forward to this one. Villa come into the game on the back of a great win at Chelsea while Swans will be looking for a first win in five.

80. Live updates will appear here...