Swansea 1 Villa 0 - Report and pictures

The centre-back profited from an error by Brad Guzan, heading into an empty net after the visiting goalkeeper missed Gylfi Sigurdsson's free-kick, eight minutes into the second-half.

It was the hosts only effort on target of a game in which Villa had the better of the chances.

But they failed to seriously test home keeper Lucas Fabianski, Ciaran Clark twice heading over.

This defeat, coupled with Norwich's 1-0 win at Albion earlier in the afternoon, means Villa are now 12 points adrift of safety at the foot of the Premier League.

As has been clear for several weeks, it is not a question of if Remi Garde's team will be relegated, but when.

The Frenchman will feel they should have got at least a point from this game against a sluggish Swansea who never got out of first gear.

Swansea: Fabianski, Rangel, Fernandez, Williams (C), Kingsley (Routledge 86), Cork, Ki (Britton HT), Fer, Barrow (Naughton 78), Sigurdsson, Gomis.

Subs not used: Amat, Montero, Paloschi, Nordfelt (gk).

Villa: Guzan, Hutton, Clark, Lescott, Cissokho, Gana, Westwood, Veretout (Green 61), Gil (Agbonlahor 74), Ayew, Gestede.

But, has so often has been the case this season, it was a Villa player who made the game's decisive mistake to gift the opposition victory.

Villa made just one change to the side which was beaten 2-0 by Tottenham last Sunday, Clark replacing Jores Okore in the heart of defence.

The latter was on the bench, along with Gabby Agbonlahor and Carlos Sanchez, who both returned from injury, though captain Micah Richards missed out after picking up a knock.

Norwich's 1-0 win at Albion meant Villa began the game 12 points adrift of safety but they started brightly, Joleon Lescott dragging a left-footed shot wide in the opening minutes.

Jordan Ayew then should have done better after robbing Jack Cork midway inside the Swansea half and racing to the edge of the box. But, in space, he sent his shot over the bar.

Cork then headed wide for the hosts but it was Villa doing most of the running and they went close again when Clark glanced Jordan Veretout's corner over.

The biggest trouble for the visitors seemed to be from set-pieces.

Lescott glanced a Sigurdsson free-kick behind for a corner with Guzan in no-man's land.

Sigurdsson also sent a shot off target after Aly Cissokho had been booked for bringing down Swansea's Modou Barrow, 25 yards from goal.

Still, it was Villa who looked more dangerous and continued to have the better chances before the break.

Fabianski was forced into the first save of the game when he held on to Rudy Gestede's header, while Ashley Williams also headed an overhead kick from the Villa striker behind.

Clark sent a header from the resulting corner wide as the half ended goal-less.

Cissokho was perhaps fortunate not to be shown a second yellow card after hauling back Barrow eight minutes into the second half.

But it still proved a costly foul, as Swansea took the lead from the resulting free-kick.

Guzan was at fault as he came for and missed Sigurdsson's delivery, allowing Fernandez to head into an empty net.

As has so often been the case during Villa's campaign, it proved the decisive blow.

Garde introduced Andre Green and Agbonlahor to add extra firepower up front.

But the closest his side came to an equaliser was when Lescott headed straight at Fabianski from a corner.

Bafetimbi Gomis almost got a second for the hosts when he shot inches wide with Guzan at full stretch.

It was a rare exertion for Villa's goalkeeper but, crucially, the damage had already been done.