beIN SPORTS MATCH CENTRE: Swansea City 1-0 West Bromwich Albion

Wilfried Bony scored an 81st-minute winner as Swansea City moved off the bottom of the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over fellow struggler West Bromwich Albion.

The Swans left it late to record their first league victory in eight matches, Bony ramming home a loose ball after a Ki Sung-yueng corner to lift his side above Crystal Palace in the standings.

The striker's second goal in as many games leaves visiting manager Alan Pardew still winless since taking charge of the Baggies, who only remain outside the relegation places on goal difference.

Pardew's last visit to Liberty Stadium was back in November 2016, when his Crystal Palace side lost 5-4 to the hosts, yet any hope of a pre-Christmas feast of goals looked unlikely between two clubs with a combined total of 20 in the league prior to kick-off.

It appeared the battle between the two strugglers would end in stalemate until Bony popped up with the match-winner, securing three crucial points that will ease any pressure on his manager, Paul Clement.

Critical of his side after surrendering a lead to lose 2-1 at Stoke City a week ago, Clement responded by making four changes, including handing Wayne Routledge a first start since the opening day of the season.

Top scorer Tammy Abraham dropped down to the bench while Renato Sanches failed to even make the matchday squad, a new low for the on-loan midfielder in what is turning out to be a disastrous spell in south Wales.

Deckchairs suitably shuffled on a Swansea ship in danger of sinking out of the top flight, Clement saw his side pose the greater threat in their pursuit of a first win since 15 October (AEDT).

Jake Livermore nearly helped out the hosts by scoring in his own net, the midfielder inadvertently flicking on a free-kick that clipped the far post and stayed out.

Alfie Mawson then carelessly nodded over when picked out perfectly by Routledge's teasing cross soon after, wasting easily the best opportunity in a first half that failed to warm up until the closing minutes

West Brom did manage the only shot on target before the break, yet Pardew's attacking line-up caused more work for referee Mike Dean, who booked Claudio Yacob and Sam Field, than home goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.

Bony saw a low shot slip narrowly wide before Ben Foster was finally forced into a save when needing to turn aside a drive from substitute Jordan Ayew that looked to be squeezing inside the goalkeeper's left post.

However, Swansea's incessant pressure was finally rewarded from a set-piece opportunity, as Bony scored in back-to-back Premier League games for the first time since December 2014.

Abraham wasted a glorious chance to double the lead in stoppage-time, lifting the ball over Foster but also wide of the target when clean through, but Swansea held on for a much-needed result ahead of the midweek visit of leader Manchester City.