Swansea City 2-0 Norwich City: Andre Ayew and Conor Hourihane goals give Swans victory

Swansea City closed the gap on Championship leaders Norwich City to two points thanks to an impressive 2-0 victory over the stuttering Canaries.

Conor Hourihane then made it three goals in as many league games since joining Swansea on loan from Aston Villa with a supreme long-range drive.

Norwich battled hard to respond but are now winless in three league matches.

Daniel Farke's team would have gone seven points clear at the top of the table with victory, but instead are left looking over their shoulders at Swansea, who climb back into the automatic promotion places and have a game in hand.

This meeting of two sides who like to play possession football promised much and did not disappoint in an open, entertaining first half.

Norwich pressed high and were sharp on the counter-attack, while Swansea worked hard to pass their way around the yellow shirts and were typically steadfast on the back foot.

It was the visitors who threatened first, Todd Cantwell threading Teemu Pukki into space only for the Finland striker to shoot narrowly wide with the angle tight.

At the other end Lukas Rupp's wayward backpass had Krul scrambling to clear, before Marc Guehi's fabulous ball sent Jamal Lowe surging into the box.

Krul gathered Lowe's effort, then Max Aarons made a vital block to deny Hourihane at the far post after Connor Roberts' long throw was not cleared.

The opener came from the Roberts corner which followed, as Krul came to claim and spilled the ball to Guehi.

He laid it off to Jake Bidwell and his mishit effort fell to Ayew, who shot on the turn and found the bottom corner.

Norwich almost produced an immediate response as Grant Hanley met Przemyslaw Placheta's free-kick with a firm header, but Freddie Woodman's smart save ensured Swansea were ahead at the break.

They doubled their advantage with the first notable attack of the second half, as Norwich left Hourihane in too much space and Jay Fulton squared for the Irish international.

Hourihane finished brilliantly, drilling a low, left-foot shot into the bottom corner of Krul's net from 25 yards.

This was Norwich's third game in six days - while Swansea had a rare midweek off - but that did not stop Farke's men pushing hard to try to find a route back into the contest.

But they are now without a goal in three league games while Swansea, the side with the meanest defence in the EFL, can celebrate their 15th clean sheet in 27 Championship games this season.

Cooper felt they should have had the chance to extend their lead from the penalty spot late on when Jordan Morris tumbled under Ben Gibson's challenge, but referee Simon Hooper's decision to wave home appeals away counted for little in the end.

Swansea head coach Steve Cooper:

"I thought tactically, we were brilliant in the first half in terms of where we thought we could show Norwich with the ball, where we could win it and where we could attack.

"We got the breakthrough with Andre, then started the second half brilliantly with a great goal from Conor. We gave up a lot of territory after the (second) goal, but that's normal and natural."

Cooper on Swansea's league position:

"There were no expectations at the start of the season so I think it would be unfair to start doing it now with 19 games to go.

"We are over just over halfway. We take it game by game. Sorry, I say it every week. I will be telling you again on Monday and before Sheffield Wednesday, but that's how we work. We can't look too far forward."

Norwich head coach Daniel Farke:

"We are disappointed. It's sometimes important to feel the disappointment. It was a tight game between two top sides.

"They are the best defence in the league, but also dangerous on the counter-attack. We made a crucial key mistake for the first goal and then we gave the ball away for the second.

"We tried everything, but they are good when they concentrate on sitting deep. We have to accept the loss.

"This league is all about consistency and not about momentum. You will always have periods of a few games when you do not find the net."

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