Southampton set club record with Swansea triumph

Che Adams' early goal was his ninth of the season

Southampton set a new club record of 21 games without defeat thanks to a 3-1 victory on Russell Martin's first return to Swansea City.

Will Smallbone tapped in the second goal before Swansea responded against the run of play through a Jamie Paterson header.

But Southampton quickly re-established their control of the contest as Flynn Downes' 20-yard drive deflected into the net.

Swansea rallied in the closing stages as substitute Jerry Yates and Paterson both hit the woodwork, but their failure to take the late chances allowed Southampton to hold on for three points with comfort.

Southampton's run of 21 matches unbeaten in all competitions eclipses their previous best since they entered the Football League in 1920, a 20-game sequence in 1921.

This was a sweet result for Southampton boss Martin, who was given a warm welcome on his first trip back to Wales since leaving his role as Swansea head coach to take over St Mary's last June.

But it was a testing afternoon for Luke Williams, whose team could have no complaints after defeat in his first home league game as Swansea boss.

Martin had enjoyed his first reunion with Swansea on 26 December, when the Welsh side crumbled after a bright start and were eventually thumped 5-0.

Swansea have since appointed Williams, who was on the club's staff under Martin in the 2021-22 season, but it very quickly became apparent that this would be another day where Southampton dominated for long spells.

Adams had already missed one decent chance, slicing wide from Ryan Manning's cross, by the time he swept home on the rebound after Carl Rushworth had parried Stuart Armstrong's shot into his path.

Rushworth then made a brilliant double stop to deny Ryan Fraser and then Adam Armstrong, but Southampton's second arrived when Stuart Armstrong - who looked offside - crossed from the left and the unmarked Smallbone tapped in from point-blank range.

Adam Armstrong drew another save from Rushworth as Southampton swarmed all over their hosts, yet Swansea briefly came back into the contest thanks to their best move of the first half.

When Harrison Ashby crossed from the right, Gavin Bazunu collided with Jamal Lowe, leaving Liam Cullen to loft the ball across goal for Paterson to head home.

Russell Martin acknowledges applause from home fans on his first return to Swansea

Yet Swansea did not have momentum for long, as Downes marked his 25th birthday with his first Southampton goal.

Former Swansea midfielder Downes did not celebrate, but Southampton were smiling again.

The contest was more even after the break, with Paterson going close to a second Swansea goal and substitute Charlie Patino shooting wastefully wide.

Southampton had chances too, with Rushworth's outstretched hand denying Adams a tap-in and Fraser lifting a shot over the bar when unmarked at the far post.

Swansea then conjured their best spell of the contest as the clock ticked down, with Yates turning Paterson's cross-shot against the post before another Paterson effort was pushed on to the other post by the diving Bazunu.

Yannick Bolasie went close twice as Swansea missed the chance to make things interesting in the closing minutes.