A goal from Ben Cabango saw the Sky Blues fall to a 1-0 defeat under the floodlights at the Liberty Stadium.
City competed well with the promotion hopefuls in an even first-half display, but Cabango’s header from Conor Hourihane’s corner, ten minutes after the break, proved to be decisive.
Jamal Lowe had the first real chance for the home side, after a sharp start to the game, as he forced a good stop from Ben Wilson at a tight angle. Played in down the left channel, Lowe cut back inside to fire the ball at the front post, but Wilson was equal to it.
City responded quickly through Max Biamou, as he looked to turn and shoot on the edge of the box, just failing to make the right connection with the shot to send the ball beyond Freddie Woodman in the Swansea goal. The Sky Blues also had calls for a penalty waved away, despite Callum O’Hare looking to have been brought down, in a lively first 10 minutes.
After a stop-start quarter of an hour, Liam Kelly was next the Sky Blues man to threaten the Swans’ goal. The skipper looked to replicate his goal against Wycombe earlier this season, receiving the ball on the edge of the box, but sent the ball over the crossbar.
Though not offering much goal threat, the home side created the best chance of the first half on 30 minutes. Wingback Connor Roberts ran towards the byline, looking to get behind City’s backline, before cutting the ball back across the box to Lowe. The goal seemed to open up for the striker, but some resolute defending closed down the space and sent his shot wide of the post.
Swansea continued to press in the latter stages of the first half. A minute after Lowe had steered the ball wide, Yan Dhanda was the next player to go close to opening the scoring. Cut back for the midfielder on the edge of the box, Dhanda went for a top corner finish but could only find the side-netting.
However, City refused to sit back and Biamou went inches away from giving the Sky Blues the lead. Making a decisive run towards the byline from a throw in, Kelly collected the ball out wide, sending the ball back across goal. The ball rebounded to Biamou who sent his thunderous half-volley whistling past the far post.
HALF-TIME: SWANSEA CITY 0-0 SKY BLUES
The second-half almost got off to an explosive start for Mark Robins’ side. After some sustained pressure from the Sky Blues, the ball from a corner broke to Sam McCallum 25 yards from goal. The wingback unleashed a fierce shot that, for a moment, looked to be arrowing into the top corner but instead flashed wide.
Despite a strong start for City, it was Swansea who took the lead ten minutes after the break. Meeting a Conor Hourihane corner from the right, Ben Cabango sent his header past Ben Wilson from just a few yards out to put Steve Cooper’s team ahead.
Following the goal, the flow of the game was disrupted by both sides making a combined five substitutes. Though, it was Jamal Lowe, again, who came inches away from doubling his side’s advantage, with 20 minutes remaining. An impressive solo run ended with the forward cutting in from the left side of the box, but steering his curled effort wide of Wilson’s far post.
Swansea were persistent in their search for a decisive second goal. A few minutes after Lowe had created problems for the Sky Blues’ defence, it was Swans captain Matt Grimes who sent a fizzing drive off target from distance.
With the clock quickly counting down, Kyle McFadzean was handed City’s best chance to put the game back on level terms. A beautifully floated cross from Matty James’ free-kick found the centre-half running towards goal. Beating his marker, he met the ball first-time with a side-foot finish but couldn’t direct his shot past Woodman in the Swansea goal.
Camped in Swansea’s box after the announcement of five minutes added time, Sam McCallum set Coventry pulses racing, yet again, as he met Viktor Gyokeres’ cross from the left but failed to keep his header down.
Tyler Walker also saw his first-time effort sail over the target as the Sky Blues continued to look for an equaliser. Though the goal failed to materialise for Mark Robins’ team, they produced a spirited performance against a high-quality Swansea side.
FULL-TIME: SWANSEA CITY 1-0 SKY BLUES
Goals: Ben Cabango (54’)
Yellows: Sam McCallum, Leo Ostigard, Andre Ayew
Swansea City XI: Freddie Woodman (GK), Connor Roberts, Kyle Naughton (Lautibeaudiere, 70’), Ben Cabango, Marc Guehi, Jake Bidwell, Matt Grimes (C), Conor Hourihane (Fulton, 66’), Yan Dhanda (Smith, 66’), Andre Ayew, Jamal Lowe.
Unused Subs: Ben Hamer (GK), Ryan Manning, Morgan Whittaker, Paul Arriola, Ollie Cooper, Kieron Freeman.
Sky Blues Xl: Ben Wilson (GK), Julien Dacosta (Dabo, 45’), Leo Ostigard, Kyle McFadzean, Dom Hyam, Sam McCallum, Liam Kelly (C) (James, 65’), Gustavo Hamer (Sheaf, 65’), Callum O'Hare (Bakayoko, 83’), Max Biamou (Gyokeres, 65’), Tyler Walker.
Unused Subs: Marko Marosi (GK), Michael Rose, Jamie Allen, Jordan Shipley.