Swansea City claimed a 1-0 win over Bristol City in the Championship on Friday evening at Ashton Gate.
Joel Piroe's 19th minute strike was the difference between the two sides, albeit, came against the run of play.
Despite having a lot of possession Nigel Pearson's side fell to defeat against Russell Martin's Swans.
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Story of the Match
The first chance fell the way of the Robins, a poor clearance by Steven Benda in the visitors goal allowed Alex Scott play in Matty James, however, the Swans keeper made a smart stop, before, Cameron Pring's cross from the left found Chris Martin, who beat Joel Latibeaudiere to the ball, and his effort goes just wide from close range.
The next chance of the game also fell the way of the hosts when Scott pulled the ball back for James to head into the arms of Benda, before, the visitors keeper's throw was straight to James whose effort from the edge of the area was saved well.
Shortly after the visitors, against the run of play, opened the scoring, Piroe drove forward after winning the ball from Rob Atkinson, his first effort came off the post before bouncing back kindly to allow a calm first-time finish beyond Daniel Bentley.
The hosts came close again after Andi Weimann linked up well with Scott, who managed to get away from Brandon Cooper, before seeing his effort saved well by Benda.
The visitors went close, Matt Grimes, found the forward run of goalscorer, Piroe, whose effort goes wide via a deflection from Han-Noah Massengo, from the set-piece, Cooper knocks the ball into the path of Piroe whose effort is saved from close-range by Bentley.
The hosts went close to going in to the break all square, however, Weimann's effort went over the bar after a good ball from Tomas Kalas.
Half Time: Bristol City 0-1 Swansea City
The hosts went close with the first real chance after the restart, Weimann's cross fell the way back to him, before he curled an effort over the bar.
The Robins' next chance came when Antoine Semenyo played a lovely cross towards Pring but Benda came out to claim the cross, before Pring managed to get away from Ethan Laird but Latibeaudiere took out the midfielder, however, from the free-kick on the edge on the area was cleared.
The hosts continued to knock on the Swans door, Martin managed to get down the right and cross towards James who fired an effort towards goal, Weimann flicked it on but Benda saved well.
Bristol City thought they had their equaliser, Semenyo fired an effort from the edge of the area, it deflected into the path of Weimann who put in from close-range but he was clearly in an offside position.
With the clock running down, the Robins piled on more pressure but the Swans defensive held firm and wouldn't let them find the all important equaliser.
Substitute Andy King went close for the hosts, but his flicked header from Weimann's goes behind.
That was the final chance of the game and the Swans managed to hold on for all three points.
Full Time: Bristol City 0-1 Swansea City
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Takeaways
Swans defensive play at the top of their game
The key to Martin's side coming out on top in the game was down to their defensive play, despite the desire of Pearson's men to find away through the defensive play between Latibeaudiere, Cooper and Ryan Manning along with Laird and Jake Bidwell they managed to stand firm to stop the hosts from finding away to score.
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Teams
Bristol City: Bentley (capt); Simpson (King 85), Kalas, Atkinson, Da Silva; James, Massengo; Scott (Semenyo 60), Weimann, Pring (Wells 71); Martin.
Substitutes (not used): O'Leary, Bakinson, Baker, Palmer.
Booked: Simpson (Foul), Weimann (Dissent), Atkinson (Foul), Semenyo (Foul)
Swansea City: Benda; Latibeaudiere, Cooper, Manning; Laird, Fulton, Grimes (capt), Bidwell; Cullen (Whittaker 71), Piroe (Lowe 82), Paterson.
Substitutes (not used): Joseph, Hamer, Dhanda, McFayden, Williams.
Goals: Piroe 19'
Booked: Fulton (Foul), Piroe (Foul), Manning (Foul), Bidwell (Time-wasting), Latibeaudiere (Foul), Grimes (Foul)
Referee: Geoff Eltringham (County Durham)