Birmingham strike twice late on to clinch dramatic victory over ...
Swansea City suffered late heartbreak as Auston Trusty headed home deep into injury-time to earn Birmingham City a 4-3 win in south Wales.
The Swans completely controlled the first-half but fell behind to Scott Hogan's early penalty. Joel Piroe and Liam Cullen struck in quick succession to put the hosts ahead before the Blues equalised 10 minutes into the second-half through Tahith Chong.
But Piroe capitalised on a mistake from John Ruddy soon after to notch what was his 12th goal of the season as Swansea looked destined to secure victory until Lukas Jutkiewicz headed home in the 90th minute to set-up a tense finish - with Trusty then heading beyond Andy Fisher from a corner to earn the away side a dramatic win.
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Russell Martin made three changes to the side that started the 1-1 draw with Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road a fortnight earlier. Fisher and Olivier Ntcham replaced Steven Benda and Joe Allen who missed out through injury while Nathan Wood came in for Harry Darling.
The Swans fully dictated proceedings from the outset and created an early opportunity to bulge the net as Ntcham played Piroe through on goal, although Ruddy did well to smother the Dutchman's strike.
Matt Grimes then split the Birmingham defence with a sublime pass that put Cullen into a one-on-one position, although, once again, Ruddy came to the rescue of the visitors with a vital save.
It was just the start Martin and his coaching staff will have wanted. One of energy, control and purpose.
And then, out of nowhere, disaster struck.
Ben Cabango took a huge risk with a header back to Fisher, and Reda Khadra took full advantage by pouncing on the loose ball before going down under a challenge from the Swansea goalkeeper - who was duly yellow carded - in the box.
Fisher got a strong connection to Hogan's spot-kick, but the power of the strike ensured the Blues went 1-0 up completely against the run of play.
The Swans stuck to task though and continued to create chances and cause John Eustace's side problems - with Birmingham desperately struggling to carry a threat given the home side's control of the ball.
And they equalised just 10 minutes after going behind as Piroe - despite having his shirt pulled - swivelled before drilling a low shot beyond Ruddy from just inside the 18-yard box.
It was exactly what the Swans deserved, and they continued to dominate the contest in what looked like a 45-minute attack versus defence drill.
It didn't take long for them to carve Birmingham open once again, and this time, it led to another goal.
Jay Fulton's perfectly weighted pass got Piroe in behind the Blues' backline, and he squared to strike partner Cullen who tapped home from close range to hand Swansea the lead.
It was no more than the Swans' efforts warranted, and the confidence continued to flow through the veins of those in white and black as the Jack Army fed off the energetic display from the hosts.
Ntcham was desperately unfortunate not to make it 3-1 as he hurled himself at Joel Latibeaudiere's lofted cross, with the Cameroon international's header going just wide.
On the incredibly rare occasions that Birmingham did get up the pitch, the work-rate of the Swans ensured Fisher was untroubled as the home side led at the break after one of the most dominant halves of football under the current regime.
The Blues showed more fight and duly improved after the restart, with Chong drilling over from an acute angle after bursting beyond Wood.
However, the Manchester United academy product made no mistake a minute later as he was set free by substitute Juninho Bacuna before slotting beyond Fisher.
But just as the mood of the travelling supporters was lifted, Birmingham gifted the Swans a goal.
Ruddy made a mess of an attempted volleyed clearance, and the ball fell to Piroe who had the straightforward task of slotting into an empty net to make it 3-2 in what was proving to be an entertaining second-half.
Luke Cundle and Morgan Whittaker replaced Ntcham and Cullen respectively as Swansea looked to ensure they maintained their grip on the contest after a marginally better spell from the away side.
Maxime Colin fired well over from the edge of the Swansea box as Darling replaced Piroe after Eustace sent on Jutkiewicz.
The hosts played the final stages with just 10 men after Latibeaudiere limped off due to injury, with Martin having already used his three allocated slots to make substitutions.
The Swans' hearts were broken in the final minute as Jutkiewicz headed Colin's cross beyond Fisher, and they then saw Trusty head Hannibal's corner into the net deep into injury-time as the Blues clinched all three points.
Swansea City: Fisher; Latibeaudiere, Cabango, Wood, Manning; Grimes (C), Fulton, Ntcham (Cundle 64), Cooper; Piroe (Darling 77), Cullen (Whittaker 69).
Subs not used: Webb, Naughton, Congreve, Cotterill.
Goals: Piroe 23 & 58, Cullen 29
Yellow card: Fisher 13
Birmingham City: Ruddy (C); Sanderson, Long, Trusty; Bielik (Jutkiewicz 77); Colin, Gardner (Hannibal 46), Chong, Friend (Bacuna 46); Khadra (Longelo 58), Hogan.
Subs not used: Etheridge, Chang, James.
Goals: Hogan 14, Chong 55, Jutkiewicz 90, Trusty 90+7
Attendance: 17,247
Referee: Jeremy Simpson
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