Hull City's hopes of surviving the Premier League drop took a big dent at the Liberty Stadium this afternoon, having fallen 3-1 against a rampant Swansea City side.
The Swans raced into a two-goal lead in a first half devoid of any real action, Ki Sung-yueng and Bafetimbi Gomis bagging the goals, although Paul McShane did manage to pull one back shortly after the restart.
Just when the visitors looked to be building up a head of steam, David Meyler was shown a straight red following a studs-up challenge on Kyle Naughton, before Gomis bagged his second to seal the points late on.
Relive Sports Mole's live text coverage of the 90 minutes of action in South Wales below.
2pmHello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Swansea City and Hull City at the Liberty Stadium.
2.02pmThe fortunes of these two sides could not be much different as we head into the final throes of the campaign; the Tigers fighting for survival while their opponents sit comfortably in the top half of the table. Steve Bruce's men face a daunting fixture list in the closing weeks of the season, meaning that three points must be the target in South Wales this afternoon if they are to climb away from danger.
2.03pmKickoff is less than an hour away, so let's get straight into things by taking a look at some team news...
2.05pmTEAM NEWS!
SWANSEA CITY STARTING XI: Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor, Cork, Ki, Shelvey, Sigurdsson, Routledge, Gomis
HULL CITY STARTING XI: McGregor, Bruce, Meyler, Hernandez, Brady, Livermore, McShane, Dawson, Ramirez, Elmohamady, N'Doye
2.07pmLet's start by looking at the visiting side, which shows just the one change from their last outing against Chelsea a fortnight ago. Andrew Robertson drops out for this one, failing to even make the bench because of an injury problem, with Robbie Bray the man to come back into the fold.
2.09pmGaston Ramirez has managed to overcome a minor muscle strain in time to feature from the off at the Liberty Stadium, while Dame N'Doye and Abel Hernandez have been tasked with leading the line. Nikica Jelavic and Robert Snodgrass both miss out due to injury, meanwhile, and Steve Bruce also has to make do without midfielder Tom Huddlestone who misses out through suspension.
2.11pmGarry Monk has decided to stick with a winning formula by naming the same starting lineup as the one that took to the field against Aston Villa prior to the international break. That means Bafetimbi Gomis will start up top, with Wayne Routledge and Gylfi Sigurdsson providing some support from midfield.
2.13pmTom Carroll is likely to miss the remainder of the season due to an injury picked up on international duty with England Under-21s in the week, so he misses out on the squad completely. Jefferson Montero is another who was unlikely to feature today due to a thigh problem sustained with Ecuador in the week, and he also fails to make the cut.
2.15pmBENCH WATCH!
SWANSEA CITY SUBS: Tremmel, Amat, Rangel, Grimes, Emnes, Dyer, Oliveira
HULL CITY SUBS: Harper, Rosenior, Chester, Diame, Sagbo, Aluko, Quinn
2.17pmSteve Bruce has been handed a big boost by the return of both Mo Diame and James Chester to the matchday squad. The Tigers bosses lavished plenty of praise on the former of that duo earlier this week, claiming that he could be the difference between going down and staying up. Chester, meanwhile, has managed to recover from a shoulder injury which saw him miss out on Wales's huge match away at Israel last week. As already mentioned, there is no place in the squad for Robertson this afternoon.
2.19pmIn terms of the home side, well Matt Grimes and Marvin Emnes come into the 18-man squad for today's match. They replace the injured Montero and Jay Fulton on the bench, as Monk sticks with the same XI from last time out. Nathan Dyer and Angel Rangel can both provide plenty of width should they be called upon, meanwhile, in what is a strong looking Swans side.
2.21pmSouth Wales is basked in sunshine this afternoon, although there are one or two rain clouds dotted around which could of course have an affect of the playing surface:
PHOTO: It's a perfect day for football at the Liberty, where the #Swans host @HullCity in the @premierleague at 3pm. pic.twitter.com/EnOBQcObN2
— Swansea City FC (@SwansOfficial) April 4, 20152.24pmWell Swansea come into this game sitting comfortably in mid-table, without a great deal to play for on paper. Just try telling that to Garry Monk, though, who is already looking ahead to what he describes as the club's "biggest ever season" next time out. The Swans are currently eighth in the Premier League table, and that is a position they will be fighting to keep hold of in the closing stages of this campaign.
2.27pmAs well as finishing in the top half - or in eighth place to be more specific - Swansea are also looking to surpass their previous record points tally in a single Premier League campaign. The current best stands at 47 points, which is now within touching distance. Victory over Hull this afternoon in a game which sees the Welsh side installed as firm favourites, and they will be within just one point of that target.
2.30pmThe one blight on Swansea's season has been their lack of consistency when you look at the their previous results as a whole. In fact, despite their lofty current position of eighth place, they have failed to win three games in a row all term. This failure to put together a solid run of victories doesn't appear to have affected the Swans one little bit, though, with their recent triumph over Manchester United - completing a league double this season over the Red Devils - showing just what they are capable of on their day.
2.33pmIt could also be argued that Swansea have been let down somewhat by a lack of goals since the departure of Wilfried Bony to Manchester City, scoring more than once in a game on just two occasions since his departure in January, although, once again, the flip side to this argument suggests that Monk's men are doing enough to pick up the points with minimum fuss. The Liberty Stadium club also have a nice run of games to play over the coming weeks, whereby they don't play a single side above them until the beginning of May, so there is a chance there to not only rack up the goals but to also perhaps close the gap on Tottenham Hotspur who sit directly above them.
2.36pmSo things are looking somewhat rosy for the home side, then, but what about their opponents this afternoon? Well Hull have failed to win any of their last four games, although that has not stopped Steve Bruce from putting a positive spin on things. He claimed this week that he feels in a buoyant mood following impressive displays against Manchester City and Chelsea in recent weeks - games which saw the Tigers claim one point from a possible six - yet the bottom line remains the same: Hull are in real danger of facing relegation this season, and desperately need to start putting some points on the board.
2.39pmThe biggest worry for Hull is the fact that they face a real tough finale to the season, much like Norwich City last season who out of pretty much nowhere dropped down to the Championship following a bad end to the campaign. Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Liverpool are still all to come in the final eight games, while trips to Crystal Palace and Southampton are also on the cards. This, on paper at least, is one of the Tigers' easier games, up against a Swans side with little to play for other than pride.
2.42pmWhat we do know is that Hull will give Swansea a run for their money this afternoon no matter what the eventual outcome. They have let in two or more goals in a match on just one occasion since January, that coming in their match against Chelsea a fortnight ago which saw them desperately miss out 3-2 following a brave but ultimately futile salvo mission. Bruce's charges are three points and three places above the drop zone, though, so a win today will go a long way to relieving some pressure.
2.44pmHit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa team had to say about this encounter
2.47pmDID YOU KNOW: Swansea have lost just four of their 15 home games this season, although they have claimed maximum points just once in their last five outings at the Liberty Stadium. Hull, meanwhile, have tasted victory just twice on the road all campaign, so the odds are very much stacked against them this afternoon.
2.50pmPREVIOUS MEETINGS: Swansea won the reverse meeting between the two earlier this season, which was their first triumph against Hull in seven attempts. The omens are not great for the Tigers, though, because their last victory at Swansea came back in 2004. In fact, they have won just once in 14 trips to this part of the world, which has not proved to be a happy hunting ground for them in recent times.
2.53pmBefore I give my own prediction ahead of today's match, there's still time to take a look at what both managers have had to say coming into this game.
Garry Monk: "They pushed Chelsea all the way in the last game, and I was really impressed with them. Hull want to steer clear of the relegation zone, so they will be a determined side coming here. But we are focused on winning the three points, as Hull will be. They have always been close encounters between the sides in recent times."
Steve Bruce: "The way we've played over the last few weeks, the performances have been good. Sometimes you don't get the result, and we were close to getting a result against Chelsea so we have to take that into the next eight games. The tickly bit's here."
2.56pmPREDICTION: Kickoff is just a few minutes away now, in what should be an entertaining afternoon in South Wales. The Swans are looking to surpass their previous record points total at this level, which is now within touching distance, while Hull have a target of a very different kind. Any talk of records have been put to one side for the time being as far as they are concerned, because with a tough set of fixtures still to come, they are in desperate need of three points to claw themselves away from danger at the wrong end of the table. A point may not be good enough in the grand scheme of things, but I'm going to back them to claim a 1-1 draw this afternoon.
2.58pmRight, both sets of players are now out on the field as they undergo their last-minute stretches. The techno music is pumping around the Liberty Stadium to get the fans up for this one even more, which they have responded to well.
3pmHow will they cope without the Croatian striker this afternoon? We're about to find out...
Hull City have a couple of injury concerns ahead of today's trip to Swansea: http://t.co/TKxcA3ox38 pic.twitter.com/dxjg1J0TQE
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 4, 20151 minKICKOFF! Swansea get us underway at the Liberty Stadium, lining up with what looks to be a diamond formation. Wayne Routledge is tasked with providing support for Gomis at the tip of that midfield four.
3 minFollowing an opening period of pressure from the hosts, Hull have settled well and are looking comfortable on the ball. No chances of note yet, but Brady looks as though he will play a big part down the left-hand side if these opening stages are anything to go by.
5 minHull look to hit their opponents on the break, N'Doye holds the ball up in the centre of the field and looked to play Hernandez in behind, but it was simple enough for Fernandez to deal with. At least it should have been, although his pass back to Fabianski was rather week, forcing the Polish stopper to slice his clearance out for a throw.
7 minBoth sides taking it in turns to enjoy spells on the ball, with Swansea currently knocking it around in the Tigers' half. Nothing too threatening at this stage, but there's plenty of time for that to change of course.
9 minKi looks to loft a ball into the box for Gomis to get his head onto, but MxGregor races out to collect. Swansea just seem to be lacking a bit of width at the moment due to this midfield diamond they are playing with.
11 minRoutledge drifts into a big hole of space on the right-hand side of the area and deliver a cross which is easily dealt with in the end. That is a little worrying as far as Hull are concerned, though, because he was given far too much time and space then.
14 minIt's been a somewhat slow start to the game, which Swansea have just about edged. No shots whatsoever thus far, and that doesn't look like changing any time soon as both teams take their time on the ball before moving bodies forward. The onus is on Hull to make something happen as this game wares on.
16 minSwansea are working the ball around well in deeper areas, but the lack of width is still costing them a little. A sloppy pass from Shelvey sees their latest attack break down, as we continue with this sluggish start.
18 minGOAL! SWANSEA CITY 1-0 HULL CITY (KI SUNG-YEUNG)
19 minThe first shot of the match leads to the first goal, as Ki continues his good run of form against Hull City. The Swans had just enjoyed their best spell of the game, with Routledge breaking in on the left before failing to pick out a teammate, but in the next wave Shelvey's shot from distance was parried straight into the path of Ki from a few yards out. It was by no means a simple finish for the South Korean, and he had to keep his composure in order to tuck the ball beyond McGregor.
21 minSo after a slow start to the game, Swansea finally managed to up things a little and were duly rewarded with the game's breakthrough goal. Shelvey's shot dipped just in front of McGregor, forcing him to simply parry it straight into the path of Ki rather than behind for a corner.
23 minHernandez finds himself in a bit of space on the edge of the box, but a brilliant tackle denies him from getting a shot away. He tried his luck a few moments later from range, but he was never likely to beat Fabianski. Hull starting to put some attacking moves together themselves, at least.
25 minWilliams, who won his 50th cap for Wales seven days ago, has been solid at the back in these opening 25 minutes, but in truth he has not had a great deal to do. Swansea still the side on top, with Hull needing to chase a goal.
27 minNot bad going for the South Korean, who has hit a rich vein of form:
3 - Ki Sung-yueng has scored in three of his last four Premier League appearances at Liberty Stadium. Unlocked.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 4, 201529 minThat Ki goal is still the only real piece of action we have seen afternoon, although Gomis could have tested McGregor from the edge of the box if he got his connection right a few moments ago. Meanwhile, Hull appear to be making a change...
31 minHULL CITY SUB: Indeed they are - Stephen Quinn replacing Gaston Ramirez shortly after the half-hour mark in South Wales. That is surely injury related, because even though Hull have failed to get going, it seems a bit drastic to change things around at this stage.
33 minThe Swans look so assured in possession, edging closer towards the Hull goal as a team before Routledge is eventually dispossessed inside the area. Sigurdsson is playing a key part, but still just the one goal for the home side. N'Doye is surely growing more and more frustrated up top at the other end of the field.
35 minN'Doye perhaps needs to run around a little more, because although to support to him has been non-existent so far, he has not done much to help the situation. A shot to nothing took a deflection off the forward was deflected on target, although he was adjudged to have been in an offside position.
37 minRoutledge produces a fine cross on the half-volley into a dangerous area, but McShane gets to the ball ahead of Gomis. Swansea now have a corner as they up the pressure.
38 minGOAL! SWANSEA CITY 2-0 HULL CITY (GOMIS)
39 minFrom the resulting corner Hull failed to clear their lines properly, and once Bruce and Dawson got in each other's way, Gomis produced a wonderful acrobatic strike from the centre of the box to double his side's lead. Poor defending from Hull, who find themselves two goals down to a Swans side who have barely got out of first gear themselves thus far.
41 minThat may be a little harsh on the Swans because they have certainly been the better side, but we have seen next to no action in either box all afternoon bar those two goals. Hull really have to up things in the second half if they are to claim a point from this one. They battled back from two behind against Chelsea, don't forget...
43 minHull are currently enjoying their best spell since the opening five minutes or so of the game, swinging in a couple of crosses which have come to nothing. If they can pull one back before half time then the whole context of this game will change.
45 minFernandez and Williams have had no trouble whatsoever dealing with deliveries from either flank. Brady has been starved of the ball in the opening 45 minutes, and that is something Bruce will have to rectify at the break.
45+1 minHALF TIME: SWANSEA CITY 2-0 HULL CITY
3.50pmSwansea take a comprehensive 2-0 lead into the half-time interval, then, as referee Andre Marriner brings things to a close. The game has not really got going if truth be told, but that has not fazed the hosts one bit. Ki opened the scoring with 18 minutes on the clock, tapping home from close range after McGregor could only parry Shelvey's long-range drive, before Gomis added a second with an acrobatic effort on the 38-minute mark.
3.53pmThe Tigers really need to up their game in the second half if they are to take anything away from this game, and with the likes of Tottenham, Man United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Southampton to come before the end of the season, this is a game in which Bruce would have been targeting at least a point from. They have failed to test Fabianski throughout, but surely we can expect that to change after the restart. I certainly hope so, anyway.
3.56pmKi put the Swans ahead on 18 minutes, before Gomis added a second prior to the interval:
PICTURE: Ki Sung-Yueng celebrates putting the #Swans ahead. #SWAHUL pic.twitter.com/Tz9nlLuJ0e
— Swansea City FC (@SwansOfficial) April 4, 20153.58pmBENCH WATCH!
SWANSEA CITY SUBS: Tremmel, Amat, Rangel, Grimes, Emnes, Dyer, Oliveira
HULL CITY SUBS: Harper, Rosenior, Chester, Diame, Sagbo, Aluko
4.01pmHull have already been forced into one change, of course, with Ramirez departing inside the opening 30 minutes. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Steve Bruce make another substitution at the break, however, because his side desperately need something out of this game with time against them.
46 minRESTART! Hull gets things back underway in South Wales, knowing that they need to provide more attacking impetus right from the off.
47 minSHOT! A positive start to this second half as far as the visitors are concerned, although Hernandez's shot from range was well wide of goal in the end.
48 minYELLOW CARD! Frustration gets the better of Hernandez, who enters the referee's book for a rash challenge on Ki.
49 minYELLOW CARDS! Things have just boiled over a little here, as N'Doye and Williams join Hernandez in receiving a booking at the start of this half. It was handbags really, but they will have to watch themselves now.
50 minGOAL! SWANSEA CITY 2-1 HULL CITY (MCSHANE)
51 minFinally, Hull manage to click into gear thanks to a superb set-piece delivery from Brady. Bruce looked to get a little flick on the ball which took it into the path of McShane, and he was never going to miss from a few yards out. Game on!
53 minRED CARD! Hull have been enjoying their best spell of the game, coming close to bagging a second goal in the same number of minutes, but David Meyler has just been shown a red card to seriously dent the Tigers' hopes of taking anything from this game.
54 minI have to say, that looks a rather harsh decision as far as Hull are concerned. Monk was straight up following Meyler's challenge on Naughton, but I think a yellow would have sufficed. It has been a real frantic start to this second half, which is in stark contrast to what we witnessed in the opening 45 minutes.
56 minSWANSEA CITY SUB: Following some treatment on the field, it has been decided that Naughton will play no further part following that challenge from Meyler. Angel Rangel comes on in his place to slot in at full-back.
58 minSHOT! Swansea will surely resume control of the game now following that Melyer dismissal, but for a few minutes they were seriously on the ropes. Shelvey tries his luck from range, with a shot which was always heading wide of goal. Incidentally, McShane was shown a yellow in the aftermath of that little scuffle - the fifth card we have seen this half.
60 minCHANCE! What a brilliant opportunity for Hull, and Hernandez in particular. A cross from N'Doye was dummied by Elmohamady, allowing the ball to roll through for Hernandez who failed to make any contact from five yards out.
62 minIn the minutes leading up to that red card, Hull had been enjoying by far their best moment of the game:
6 - No Premier League side has been shown more red cards than Hull City this season (6, level with Aston Villa). Raucous.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 4, 201564 minSWANSEA CITY SUB: Jack Cork has been carrying a knock ever since he was clattered by skipper Ashley Williams in the first half, and it is perhaps unsurprising to see him being replaced by Nathan Dyer. That will mean a quick change of system for the hosts.
67 minSome good defending from N'Doye denies Ki from connecting with a corner swung into the box, as Swansea continue to search for a third goal. Hull have looked better this half, but that red card appears to have taken the wind right out of their sails.
69 minCHANCE! The game feels somewhat disjointed now following what was a frantic start to the second half, but if any side is going to find a way through it is going to be the Swans. Gomis was almost in on goal a few moments ago, although he failed to test McGregor.
71 minYELLOW CARD! Bruce lives nervously as he takes down Gomis. Sigurdsson's through-ball was perfect for the striker to chase down, but the centre-back took one for the team and earn himself a caution. Home supporters wanted a red, but there was a player covering on the far side.
72 minHULL SUB: That is Bruce's last involvement in the game, with the returning Mo Diame on in his place. Can he make the difference like manager Steve Bruce said he would pre-match?
74 minSigurdsson and Shelvey both shoot well wide of goal from their respective attempts, as the game continues to following a particular theme. Swansea are on top, while Hull are offering next to nothing in attack.
77 minThis half promised so much following that close-range strike from McShane but, a goalmouth scramble aside, it has been pretty much all one-way traffic. Hull are staring a defeat right in the face, which will leave them three points above the drop zone ahead of that tough run of games I mentioned a little earlier.
79 minSHOT! A rare attacking piece of play from the visitors, as Diame fires a shot away at goal. It was sarcastically cheered by the home supporters, but it appeared to take a deflection on its way through meaning a corner kick for Hull.
80 minThe set piece is cleared away, bringing to an end Hull's attack. Aluko looks as though he may make an appearance shortly.
82 minHULL CITY SUB: Aluko, hardly a prolific goalscorer this season, is thrown on for the final stages of this game in place of Hernandez.
84 minHull are still struggling to keep hold of possession, yet it must be remembered there is still just the one goal in it. The Tigers may be down to 10 men, but there is still time to create one more big chance.
86 minA vital challenge from McShane at the back denies the Swans from adding a third goal. Sigurdsson was yet again the man who almost carved the Tigers open - his passing his really stood out this afternoon.
88 minSwansea looking so, so comfortable on the ball. It is they who are chasing the game's fourth goal, which will certainly end any lingering hopes Hull have of claiming a share of the spoils.
89 minYELLOW CARD! Diame, back for the first time in four months, enters the referee's book for a sloppy challenge. That's the seventh card of the second half, yet this game has not been particularly dirty as such.
90 minSWANSEA SUB: Matt Grimes comes on for his Premier League debut, just a few months after running out in League Two. Shelvey is the man to make way, with six minutes of added time left to play.
90+1 minGOAL! SWANSEA CITY 3-1 HULL CITY (GOMIS)
90+2 minHull finally turn the screw a little, boosted by the six minutes of added time, but after Nathan Dyer blocked Brady's cross into the box, a punt up field allowed Gomis to run in with only McGregor to beat. He dinked the ball superbly over the Tigers stopper, highlighting the confidence in his game at this moment in time, and wrapping up the points for his side in the process.
90+4 minSwansea just need to do exactly what they have done for the past 45 minutes now, by remaining strong and stopping their opponents putting together any sort of attacking move. The three points are staying in South Wales this evening.
90+5 minSHOT! N'Doye takes range from around 28 yards out with a shot which wasn't all that far wide. Fabianksi would have had it covered even if it was on target, though. That should be that.
90+6 minFULL TIME: SWANSEA CITY 3-1 HULL CITY
4.58pmAndre Marriner brings the game to a close, meaning that Swansea move within two points of their all-time record Premier League points haul. It was a solid performance from Garry Monk's side, although bar a short spell of Hull pressure the result never looked in too much doubt. The Tigers, meanwhile, now find themselves in real danger at the wrong end of the table.
5pmWell that's all from me in terms of live text coverage of this afternoon's match, but be sure to stick around as we bring you a full match report, player ratings and analysis from the Liberty Stadium.
