Tottenham Hotspur visited Swansea City this afternoon on the back of consecutive Premier League defeats and with Arsenal breathing down their necks in the chase for Champions League qualification.
Jan Vertonghen and Gareth Bale both continued their fine individual scoring runs with excellent first-half goals, as Spurs entered the break with a two-nil cushion.
However, Swansea launched a second-half assault and reduced the deficit when Michu reached the 20-goal mark for the season with a powerful 71st-minute header.
The hosts continued to press for an equaliser at the Liberty Stadium, but Spurs hung on to claim a victory that moves them above Chelsea into third in the Premier League table.
Below, you can read how the action unfolded in Wales.
After a frustrating midweek of international results for the home nations, I am sure, like me, many of you will be relieved to see the Premier League is back after a fortnight's absence...
One of today's eight top-flight matches pits Capital One Cup winners Swansea City up against Champions League-chasing Tottenham Hotspur. Let's have a look at the team news...
SWANSEA: Vorm; Tiendalli, Chico, Williams, Davies; Britton, De Guzman; Routledge, Dyer, Hernandez; Michu
SUBS: Tremmel, Bartley, Monk, Ki, Lamah, Moore, Shechter
SPURS: Friedel; Walker, Vertonghen, Dawson, Naughton; Dembele, Parker; Lennon, Sigurdsson, Bale; Adebayor
SUBS: Archer, Caulker, Assou-Ekotto, Huddlestone, Livermore, Holtby, Defoe
So, Brad Friedel makes his first Premier League start since November, with regular number one Hugo Lloris omitted from the Spurs 18 due to a knock on his knee picked up while captaining France this week.
Emmanuel Adebayor is preferred in attack to Jermain Defoe, who netted twice in England's 8-0 thrashing of San Marino last Friday.
Both of Tottenham's strikers are struggling for domestic form at the moment, though. They have only one Premier League goal between them in 2013 - an Adebayor effort against Reading on New Year's Day.
Of course, during that time, Gareth Bale has been filling the goalscoring void and this afternoon, the Welshman returns to the ground where he netted on international duty in midweek.
Tottenham's sought-after winger has bagged 12 times in his last 13 appearances for club and country, and will provide support to Adebayor through the central role in which he has excelled in recent months.
Former Swansea loanee Gylfi Sigurdsson and fit-again Aaron Lennon, who missed Tottenham's two Premier League defeats in March, will occupy the flanks for Spurs.
Icelandic midfielder Sigurdsson, who notched a brace against Slovenia on the international break, scored seven times during a prolific short-term spell at the Liberty Stadium last season.
Kyle Naughton starts at left-back ahead of Benoit Assou-Ekotto, who is on a Spurs bench which also includes Defoe, Lewis Holtby and a returning Tom Huddlestone, who has missed two months of action with a knee injury.
Jordan Archer, yet to make a league appearance for the Lillywhites, is the back-up goalkeeper among the visiting substitutes. The 19-year-old stopper featured 29 times during a loan stint at Wycombe Wanderers this season, though.
Hosting Swansea hand a recall to centre-back Chico Flores, who missed their League Cup final date at Wembley because of an ankle problem.
He is partnered in defence by Swans skipper Ashley Williams, an apparent transfer target of Tottenham's fierce rivals Arsenal, and Liverpool after his impressive campaign under Michael Laudrup.
Dwight Tiendalli deputises for the sidelined Angel Rangel at right-back, while the versatile Ki Sung-Yueng misses out as Laudrup opts to play two genuine wingers.
Wayne Routledge and Nathan Dyer will provide pace and width to a Swansea XI spearheaded by 19-goal striker Michu, who was reportedly offered to Spurs in the 2011 pre-season.
Luke Moore netted twice in three games prior to the international break, but has to settle for a place on the bench alongside Ki and fellow striker Itay Shechter.
Around 10 minutes until kickoff now in Wales, and Spurs keeper Lloris has described this match, and every other of Tottenham's remaining fixtures, as a "cup final".
Swansea's Nathan Dyer has experience of a cup final this year, but he has urged his teammates not to focus solely on his former Southampton colleague Gareth Bale.
Spurs have been dubbed a 'one-man team' at points this season due to Bale's exploits, but Dyer insists that the Londoners have other players capable of hurting Swansea.
"I think if you concentrate on what [Bale is] doing most of the time you don't see the runs from other players," London 24 quotes Dyer as saying.
"They have got dangerous players in the whole of their squad. Obviously Gareth is the main man at the moment, but they have players who can score goals from anywhere on the pitch.
"We can't focus everything on Gareth, obviously you have to try to stop him somehow, but you have to make sure everyone else is taken care of as well."
On the contrary, Bale's young Wales compatriot Ben Davies has built up the hype on the Spurs winger, claiming that he has no idea of how to stop the flying 23-year-old.
Davies told The Express: "I've got no idea of how I'm going to stop him. You just play your normal game and see what happens."
The players are emerging onto the pitch now in-front of a packed Liberty Stadium. The imminent kickoff means that we are nearing prediction time, so here goes!
PREDICTION: 1-1. Spurs seem to be losing form at the wrong time and despite picking up plenty of away points this season, I'm backing the Swans to at least deny them victory this afternoon.
We are underway in Wales...
Flores announces his return to Swansea action with a clumsy early challenge on Adebayor, who makes the most of the contact to buy Spurs a free-kick.
Swansea's passing has been sharp from the whistle. De Guzman is operating in a deeper role this afternoon, and he and Britton have seen a lot of the ball in these opening stages.
The hosts counter through Dyer, who passes inside to Michu. Hernandez is unmarked on the left edge of the box, but Walker comes across to poke the ball away from the Spanish hotshot.
GOAL! Swansea 0-1 Spurs (Jan Vertonghen)
Spurs lead, and it is a lovely goal from the prolific defender, Jan Vertonghen! The Belgian brings the ball out of defence before passing to Bale's feet and continuing his run. The Welshman dinks a return over the defence, which Vertonghen controls well and smartly tucks it past Vorm into the bottom corner for his fourth goal in five club games.
That goal demonstrates the benefits of Bale playing in a central role. He is able to influence the game more, as he did with that superb pass to Vertonghen, whose finish was equally classy.
CHANCE! Spurs should be two up. Dembele and Adebayor combine to cut Swansea open through the middle, and the latter has the pace to leave Williams behind him. Adebayor is through one-on-one, but his tame side-footed shot is saved by the leg of Vorm.
Swansea get in behind Tottenham's high line for the first time this afternoon, but Naughton is aware of the danger and steals the ball away from Dyer.
Bale tries another chipped through ball, this time with the outside of his left foot. Adebayor brings it down and tries to cut inside Williams, who stretches out a leg to prevent the Togolese frontman dribbling inside the area.
Tiendalli gets to the right byline with an overlapping run and fizzes a low ball into the Spurs box which Parker is forced to put behind for a corner.
CHANCE! De Guzman whips in a pacey delivery and Michu wriggles away from Dawson, only to head across goal and wide from eight yards.
GOAL! Swansea 0-2 Spurs (Gareth Bale)
Oh, wow. Bale has just topped Tottenham's opening goal with a wonderful strike that could compete with some of his other recent efforts. The same two combine, as Vertonghen collects a loose ball in midfield and plays into Bale's feet. He takes one touch, before, with limited back lift, striking the ball with the outside of his foot into the top corner from 20 yards. Outrageous from the Welshman on home soil.
SAVE! The returning Friedel is called into action for the first time today as Tiendalli, again in an advanced position on the right flank, fires an effort straight at the American, who parries at his near post.
The Swans register another shot and on this occasion, it is the opposite full-back Ben Davies who tries his luck from range with his weaker foot, the ball flying over Friedel's crossbar.
SHOT! Bale utilises the outside of his left foot again, but slices a shot several yards wide of Vorm's far post after some clever footwork bamboozled Flores and Williams.
Once more, Tiendalli finds space on the right wing and delivers a decent ball into the box, which Vertonghen stretches to clear for a throw-in.
Tiendalli has been an excellent outlet for Swansea, with Spurs operating two right-footed players on their left flank who are looking to come inside, there is often space for the full-back to run into.
GOALFLASH! Chelsea had equalised against Southampton courtesy of captain John Terry, but the Saints are ahead again through Rickie Lambert's fantastic set piece.
WOODWORK! Dyer comes within inches of halving Swansea's deficit! Again, it is Tiendalli overlapping down the right, and he finds Dyer with his cross, which the winger heads against the crossbar. The rebound strikes the former Saints man and rolls just wide!
Parker is lucky to escape unpunished after tugging down Leon Britton, who resumes play with a quick free-kick as the hosts, who have had the better of the last 10 minutes, sense that the momentum is in their favour.
SHOT! De Guzman tries to bend the ball over Friedel and inside the far post, but does not get enough dip on his shot, which finishes several yards over the crossbar.
Spurs threaten to catch Swansea on the break, as Dembele surges through midfield. He has Bale and Adebayor making runs either side of him, and, perhaps incorrectly, opts to pass to the Togolese striker down the right. He is slowed up by Williams, and the attack loses momentum.
We are entering first-half stoppage time, of which there will be two minutes...
HALF-TIME: Swansea 0-2 Spurs
Two goals of the highest quality separate Spurs and Swansea at the Liberty Stadium interval. Predictably, Gareth Bale was involved in both, but Jan Vertonghen deserves great credit for his equal contribution...
The Belgian started each goalscoring move from central defence, and applied the finish to the first, smartly controlling a dinked Bale pass before poking the ball past Michel Vorm. His pass to Bale set up the Welshman to brilliantly strike Spurs into a two-goal advantage with the outside of his headline-making left foot.
After being caught out by Tottenham's rapid start, Swansea settled well and enjoyed a lot of possession between minutes 25 and 45, fashioning a couple of chances in the process. Nathan Dyer struck the crossbar, while Michu came close with a header.
If they continue as they finished the first period, there is a way back into the match for the hosts against a Spurs side who have been shaky in defence of late. A third, always likely when the Lillywhite are allowed to play on the counter, would kill this match off.
We are underway in the second period, with both lineups unchanged...
GOALFLASH! Tottenham's north London rivals Arsenal look to be well on their way to three points this afternoon. Santi Cazorla has put them 2-0 ahead against Reading.
CHANCE! Naughton trips Dyer to give Swansea a free kick on the edge of the box. Spurs fall asleep as De Guzman slips in Michu, but 41-year-old Friedel show the reactions of a goalkeeper half his age to storm off his line and foil the Spaniard with a low stop.
SAVE! Sigurdsson nearly joins the high-class goalscoring party with a bending effort from a tight angle on the left edge of the box. The precise shot looks bound for the top corner before Vorm superbly tips it over the crossbar.
CLOSE! Michu has his second golden chance since the resumption of play. Dyer lays the ball back for Tiendalli to cross towards the Swans top scorer, who again loses his marker Dawson, only to head into the ground and wide.
Nathan Dyer runs at Kyle Naughton and with options in the middle, selfishly choose to attempt a shot, which flies over Friedel's goal.
SUBSTITUTION: Michael Laudrup uses his bench for the first time, introducing Ki Sung-Yeung in place of the ineffective De Guzman.
That personnel change will likely see Hernandez move into a more advanced position, forming an attacking midfield three alongside Dyer and Routledge, who will aim to support the so-far wasteful Michu.
Lennon's tricky footwork sees him skip past Davies, and with Sigurdsson, Adebayor, and Bale in the middle, Flores intercepts his cross by heading the ball behind for a corner.
SUBSTITUTION: Adebayor, who was booked in the first half, is done for the afternoon as Jermain Defoe comes on for the final 30 minutes.
BOOKING: Michu is yellow carded following a clash of heads with Scott Parker, which leaves the Spurs man requiring treatment. Tottenham players were surrounding referee Anthony Taylor indicating that Michu used an elbow, but replays suggest those complaints were unwarranted.
SUBSTITUTION: Chico Flores's return is cut short as Garry Monk replaces him in central defence. That was a testing 65 minutes for the Spaniard on his comeback.
BOOKING: Walker cynically trips Hernandez as Swansea prepare to counter. Referee Taylor allows the game to continue, but when the move comes to nothing, later cautions the England full-back.
GOAL! Swansea 1-2 Spurs (Michu)
Michu makes amends for his earlier misses by powering a header in from a Swansea corner. That strike had been coming and brings the hosts back into this match, with the Spaniard reaching 20 goals for the season in the process.
WOODWORK! Bale intercepts a Ki pass on the edge of his own box and embarks on a surging run. He reaches the Swansea area unchallenged, knocks the ball past Williams and shoots low against the post with Vorm seemingly beaten.
SUBSTITUTION: Villas-Boas swaps Sigurdsson for Holtby as he attempts to regain the momentum in this match. He will look for the German to help Spurs keep the ball better than they have in this second half.
Having already been booked, Michu should really have been sent off here after tussling with Vertonghen, wrestling him to the ground before seemingly forcing his forearm into the back of the Spurs man's head.
SUBSTITUTION: Home boss Laudrup makes his final change of the afternoon, sacrificing Hernandez and throwing on another striker in the shape of Itay Shechter.
There are worrying signs for Tottenham. They are sitting deeper and deeper, and have been dropping since the break, inviting pressure on themselves. As per usual, Swansea have had plenty of the ball and are now converting their possession into chances.
Tiendalli whips in a delightful ball from deep and with Michu waiting at the back post, Walker is forced to concede a corner as the Swans continue their assault on the Spurs box.
BOOKING: Davies is yellow carded for a tug on Lennon, who has rarely had an opportunity to run at the young Welshman all game, particularly during the second period.
Holtby looks for Vertonghen with the resultant free-kick, and then again with a follow-up cross but overhits his delivery, which Vorm lets run behind.
SAVE! Vorm keeps Swansea in the match with a fine reflex stop from Defoe, who had fired a shot from the inside right position across goal.
Under challenges from Vertonghen and Parker, Michu goes to the floor despite there being no contact. Referee Taylor sees both incidents, but chooses not to penalise the Spaniard, who is now very fortunate to still be on the pitch.
BLOCK! Following Holtby's introduction, Bale has been shifted to the left and he shows us why he was formerly used as a left-back with a last-ditch block to prevent Dyer side-footing Routledge's clever cross into the net from eight yards.
BOOKING: Holtby is cautioned for sticking a leg out to trip Dyer.
Things are really getting feisty as we enter the first of five minutes of stoppage time. There is now an altercation between the two benches, with Swansea accusing Spurs coach Steffen Freund of holding onto the ball to slow down play.
BOOKING: Parker tries to wind down the clock in the corner, but Monk pinches the ball away from him and Parker pulls back the Swansea man to prevent the breakaway.
SAVE! Bale is denied a goal that would have made the game safe for Spurs by Vorm, who makes himself big to block with his chest from the Welshman.
Vorm has the ball and will launch it forward. This is last-chance saloon for the Swans.
FULL-TIME: Swansea 1-2 Spurs
Tottenham were really up against it during that second period, but their two brilliant goals in the opening 20 minutes gave them enough of a cushion to resist the Swansea barrage.
Gareth Bale superbly assisted Jan Vertonghen's well-taken opener, before the roles were reversed for Tottenham's second, which came courtesy of the Welshman's magnificent outside-of-the-foot strike. Spurs barely turned up for the second period were largely devoid of an attacking threat. Swansea had the majority of the ball and forced the visitors to drop deeper, creating several chances which would have earned them a point, had Michu among others not been so wasteful. A big win for Spurs, but Swansea showed that they will not relax as the season winds down.
That is it from me for this afternoon. Here, you can read a full-time report of the Liberty Stadium contest. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for this fixture. Over and out...
Written by
Joe Fish
Joe Fish
