Nottingham Forest suffered their third defeat in three matches, leaving them just two points above the Championship drop zone.
Continuing from defeats against Barnsley and AFC Bournemouth, the Reds failed to score and were beaten 1-0 as Connor Roberts’ header just before half-time proved the difference.
The 25-year-old headed home moments before the break to put the promotion contenders ahead against the run of play, and the home side never managed to find a way back.
Boss Chris Hughton made two changes to the side that lost at AFC Bournemouth in mid-week as Miguel Guerrero and Anthony Knockaert returned to the starting 11.
Harry Arter and Joe Lolley made way for the duo, settling alongside youngsters Will Swan and Alex Mighten on the substitutes’ bench – the latter making the matchday as part of his return from injury.
The hosts started brightly, forcing Swansea into their own half from the first second; Sammy Ameobi’s left-wing cross met Lyle Taylor on the edge of the six-yard box, but he was unable to squeeze it past Freddie Woodman.
Swansea had a few chances of their own – with Jamal Lowe, Andre Ayew and Ryan Bennett all threatening – but were mostly limited to efforts from outside the penalty area.
It was Forest, meanwhile, who looked the more composed and dangerous. Clever footwork from Anthony Knockaert allowed him to feed the ball wide to Miguel Guerrero, but the Spaniard’s cross lacked accuracy and went out for a goal-kick.
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Ayew escaped a yellow card on 23 minutes when he went in heavily on Ryan Yates, and moments later the Swans escaped a Forest goal as no-one in Red was able to meet with Knockaert’s inswinging freekick.
Slowly the visitors edged themselves back into the game, utilising their pace through Lowe and Ayew to create chances.
Roberts fizzed a low cross into the box looking for Ayew midway through the first half, but Ribeiro managed to get a toe on it and deflect it into Brice Samba’s waiting hands.
Hughton was forced into his first chance on 37 minutes when Roberts’ late challenge caught Jack Colback, the midfielder was replaced by Arter.
Forest’s best chance came on 40 minutes. A clever flick from Taylor allowed Guerrero to pick out Knockaert. The winger drove inside against his marker before striking towards goal, but he was blocked spectacularly by Woodman’s legs.
The rebound fell to Arter at the edge-of-the-box, but he could only force a corner.
And the hosts were made to rue their missed chance as Swansea broke the deadlock three minutes before the interval.
Tobias Figueiredo’s failed backpass started a moment of pressure for the visitors, giving the ball to Ayew. The Swans’ top-scorer so far this season lifted the ball into the box and – after a flick on from Scott McKenna – Roberts reached over Ameobi to head beyond Samba.
Swansea started the second half brightly with an acrobatic effort put wide by Ayew, but Forest continued to have chances of their own.
The hosts felt they should have had a spot-kick when Taylor went down under pressure inside the penalty area, but referee Tony Harrington waved away the appeals.
On 53 minutes, Knockaert and Ameobi used their pace to race away from the trailing defence, although the latter’s cross was too late for his team-mate to connect with.
The visitors felt aggrieved to have been denied a penalty when Roberts was brought down in the area on the hour-mark, Taylor then struck over from a tight angle as Forest continued to try and find a leveller.
Taylor looked to create something on 68 minutes when he found space on the right of the box, but he was forced wide before playing out to Knockaert – the 29-year-old was unable to get an effort on target, however, fizzing a volley wide.
Academy graduate Swan came off the bench for his Forest debut with 15 minutes remaining – after featuring on the bench against Bournemouth – and provided some energy alongside Taylor and Lolley up-front.
Roberts almost wrapped up the game with a spectacular effort from the edge-of-the-box, but it was not in vain as the Welsh side held on to secure the win and move within touching distance of the automatic promotion spots.
By Matt Lee
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