St Gallen are huffing and puffing but Swansea have men behind the ball and have put up a defensive wall. The visitors have been mightly impressive tonight. They will give the Swans an even tougher test in the corresponding fixture.
90' +1
There willl be four minutes added on. Leon Britton is down and needs treatment. The delay, intentional or not, takes the sting out of St Gallen's momentum. Swansea should see this out.
89'
CHANCE! St Gallen almost nick a late equaliser! The visitors cause panic in the Swansea box as a low cross from the left is cleared just before Keita can get a shot in on goal. Heart in mouths at the Liberty Stadium.
87'
Another change for Swansea... a change of shirt for Michu. According to my count, that is his SIXTH shirt of the evening. The Swans' kitman certainly has his work cut out.
85'
These are a nervy few minutes for Swansea as they try to protect what is looking like an increasingly fragile 1-0 lead. Meanwhile, the enigma that is Jonjo Shelvey has come on to help sure up the result.
83'
J. Shelvey enters the game and replaces Pozuelo.
82'
OFF THE POST! Wow, a thumping shot from Nater, from about 25 yards out, cannons off the foot of the post. Tremmel was scrambling over to his left but the Swansea goalkeeper was well beaten. Warning sign for Laudrup's men. St Gallen have been very impressive.
81'
CLOSE! Moments after picking up a yellow for a moment of petulance, Nathan Dyer comes close to doubling Swansea's lead. Pozuelo's cross from the left is met by the substitute at the far post but Lopar is equal to the challenge and stops the volley with his legs.
78'
N. Dyer gets yellow.
I. Martic gets yellow.
Davies gives away a free kick on the edge of his own box. St Gallen again put plenty of players forward but the ball is easily claimed by Tremmel inside his six-yard box. Testing times for the Swans.
77'
B. Davies gets yellow.
Minute
Description
75'
Great defending from Martic. Dyer picks the ball up on the centre circle and charges forward, attempting a pass to send Vazquez through on goal. Martic spots the danger and is able to make a last-ditch challenge.
73'
D. Russo enters the game and replaces P. Montandon.
72'
CLOSE! Vasquez, who has just joined the action, so nearly makes a great impression as he beats the offside trap before curving a decent effort wide of goal from what looked like a near-impossible angle from the left-hand side byline.
70'
Álvaro Vázquez enters the game and replaces W. Bony.
69'
Tiendalli gives the ball away needlessly and allows the chance to Janjatovic claim the ball. Michu is back defending though and is able to dispossess the St Gallen midfielder.
66'
CHANCE! So close to an equaliser! A St Gallen defender plays a super ball out from the back into Keita and the striker takes a clever Gascoigne-esque touch to beat Amat but he then loops his shot over Tremmel. Massive waste, that.
63'
Substitute Nathan Dyer is straight into the action after coming on. He wins a free kick on the right-hand side following a good bit of dribbling but Swansea make nothing of it.
62'
N. Dyer enters the game and replaces W. Routledge.
H. Nater enters the game and replaces R. Rodríguez.
60'
Davies and Pozuelo try to work a one-two on the edge of the St Gallen box but the danger is halted by the away side's defence. Swansea have been so much better in this second half. Laudrup must have had some stern words during the break.
57'
CHANCE! Pozuelo shows great feet before threading a pass for Michu to run on goal.Struggling to get the ball out of his feet, Michu goes to ground under the challenge of Montandon. The crowd appeal for a penalty but nothing is given.
55'
The home fans have reacted well to going in front are now in full voice, though those rampant St Gallen lot are still making themselves heard. Swansea are now playing the type of football we are all used to seeing from them.
52'
W. Routledge has scored a goal for Swansea City!
GOAL! Swansea take the lead! Bony's low shot from the right-hand side of the goal is parried by Lopar and Routledge easily taps in the rebound at the back post. Against the run of play it must be said. One-nil to the Swans!
50'
A bit of housekeeping after half-time. Confirmation that Karanovic was replaced. The striker, who was clattered into by Tremmel, is suffering from concussion. As he went down the tunnel at the break, he asked members of the St Gallen staff which side they were playing and if he had missed a penalty... Hope he comes round sooner rather than later.
48'
Chance for Swansea but Davies’ corner is overhit and is cleared at the far post. Britton concedes a free kick on the edge of the St Gallen penalty area after trying to salvage something from the poor set-piece.
46'
A. Keita enters the game and replaces G. Karanović.
Swansea take the kick-off and we are underway for the second period!
45' +1
There'll be a single minute of time added on. Strange considering the delay for Michu's injury.
45'
CLOSE! Bony nearly creates a moment of magic but after a neat piece of skill he fires wide from the edge of the box. Swansea's best moment of the half comes right at the end of it!
44'
That corner comes to nothing and Routledge manages to spring an attack for the Swans. Michu eventually recieves the ball but his attempted chip to Bony is not excuted well enough and the chance goes begging. Laudrup isn't happy.
43'
St Gallen go straight up the other end with a swift counterattack and earn themselves a corner...
41'
Routledge looks to squirm away from a number of challenges and appears to be fouled. The referee is having none of it, however, with the Swansea fans whistling and jeering. Routledge is finally brought down by Lenjani and the whistle is blown.
38'
Mathys can't keep the ball in play on the right as he runs out of space, putting an end to a dangerous looking attack from the visitors. He has been a real threat in this first half.
36'
Swansea, so often the dominant team in terms of possession, are chasing shadows at the moment as St Gallen continue their authorative start to this match.
33'
Madness. Michu has changed his shirt and no headband is required. He looks like he has been booked by the referee for being keen to return to the match but I'm informed he hasn't. Plenty of sympathy given to the forward from the Swansea fans.
30'
A St Gallen corner from the left is punched clear by Tremmel as Michu recieves treatment on the sidelines. All a bit surreal, this. We could have had a couple of penalties in the opening half hour, while Michu is still covered in blood on the sidelines as he sits with his legs crosses, shaking his head.
27'
Deary me. Michu is bleeding profusely from the top of his head and is currently standing on the touchline. The striker wants a penalty for the challenge he suffered in the box, a high boot from a St Gallen defender. Laudrup is incensed on the bench.
26'
CHANCE! That dangerous free kick is met by Amat at the near post. His header looks to be going in at the far post but the St Gallen goalkeeper makes a great save, tipping it onto the post.
24'
Play starts up again after Karanovic took a heavy knock in that earlier challenge. Tiendalli is fouled as he storms down the left and wins Swansea a free kick in a dangerous position.
21'
St Gallen win a free kick just inside the Swansea half as Viktieviez falls over in an aerial challenge. This is nervy stuff from Michael Laudrup's men.
18'
CHANCE! Mathys is set through one on one with Tremmel but he pokes his effort wide of goal. St Gallen really should be ahead. Swansea are all over the place at the moment!
16'
It's a poor penalty from Karanovic. The St Gallen man struck the spot kick poorly and Tremmel was able to make a save low to his right. What a let off for Swansea!
15'
Penalty saved by G. Tremmel!
Rodriguez runs at Tiendalli and beats the Swansea man to create some space on the edge of the penalty area before firing in a cross which hits the left arm of the Swans defender!
PENALTY SAVED!
14'
PENALTY TO ST GALLEN!
12'
Goran Karanovic tries his luck from the edge of the Swansea box but can only send a half-volley over the bar. Half a chance for the former Bayern Munich youth player.
10'
Pozuelo’s clever ball over the top looks to have too much pace on it for Michu but the Spaniard shows good pace and endeavour to meet the ball and smash it into the side netting from a tight angle.
7'
Michu expects to win a free-kick as he is knocked over by Stephane Besle but the referee waves play on. Meanwhile, the St Gallen fans are making an absolute racket in the away end.
5'
CHANCE! Jonathan De Guzman's corner bounces through to Michu in the centre of the six-yard box but all he can do is divert the ball over the bar. He’s not expecting it at all and can only head his effort over the bar.
3'
Good start from the visitors as Lenjani bombs down the left wing and skips past Tiendalli to whip in a superb ball that fizzes across the face of the goal but it rolls out for a goal kick.
1'
St Gallen take the kick-off and we are underway!
Good evening ladies and gents! Welcome to play-by-play coverage of Swansea City v St. Gallen from the Liberty Stadium LIVE!
Team news to follow...
Swansea: Tremmel; Tiendalli, Chico, Amat, Ben Davies; Britton, Pozuelo, De Guzman; Michu, Routledge, Bony. Subs: Vorm, Taylor, Shelvey, Dyer, Lamah, Canas, Vazquez.
Swansea boss Michael Laudrup makes four changes from the team that lost 2-1 to Arsenal. Record signing Wilfried Bony returns to lead the attack, with Alejandro Pozuelo, Leon Britton and Gerhard Tremmel also coming back into the side.
The visitors to South Wales tonight are unbeaten in 12 games in all competitions. They include in-form striker Goran Karanovic in their team, as well as Bayern Munich academy product Dejan Janjatovic, who is one to watch tonight.
A little history lesson. Swansea have never faced a side from Switzerland in the club's history but their opponents have previously come up against an English side. St Gallen faced Chelsea in the 2000/2001 Uefa Cup and, after losing 1-0 at Stamford Bridge, were able to overturn the deficit to eliminate the Blues. How times have changed.
The teams are in the tunnel and look ready to emerge. There is a real buzz of anticipation in South Wales as the Liberty Stadium hosts another European night. Let's hope for another famous night for the Swans.
The travelling St Gallen fans have come in their numbers and are creating a real atmosphere themselves. The customary flares have already been lit in the away end. Moments away from kick-off...
HALF-TIME: Swansea 0-0 St Gallen
Well, what a action-packed half of football that was! St Gallen have been excellent. The Swiss outfit have out passed Swansea in this first period, something which isn't often said. But that missed penalty is something they could rue if they don't manage a goal.
Swansea meanwhile have been hot and cold. Michu's half has been interrupted by a nasty looking head injury. Bony has come close for Laudrup's side but in truth, they haven't really turned up yet. They need to replicate their performance at the Mestalla two weeks ago.
FULL-TIME: Swansea City 1-0 St Gallen
Swansea come away with a vital three points in their quest to reach the knock-out stages of the Europa League but they'll know they were fortunate to do so. St Gallen missed a first half penalty along with a string of chances as they put in a performance of real quality in South Wales.
Wayne Routledge turned Bony's saved shot in from close range to register the only goal of the game. Michael Laudrup will be pleased with the fight his players showed, especially Michu, who was left in a bloody state following a high boot from a St Gallen defender. An ugly, buy vitally important win for the Swans. Job done.
Commentary
More…