Swansea City completed their 2013/14 Premier League campaign with a three one win against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. Nathan Dyer, Marvin Emnes and Wilifried Bony got the goals. With Sunderland having previously secured their top flight survival, it was a game the Swans were expected to win with a minimum of fuss. Having finished a very credible ninth in the table the previous season, as well as lifting the League Cup, there were high hopes in Wales that Swansea would again show progress this season. Participation in the Europa League necessitated a larger squad, but even with the extra numbers and quality, Swansea struggled in the league. The busy schedule of games proved too much. They motored along well in Europe, but following a two nil defeat against West Ham, manager Michael Laudrup was sacked at the beginning of February. At that point they were just two points clear of the relegation zone. Garry Monk was quickly placed in charge for the rest of the season. Bony had a fantastic first season, scoring plenty of goals. Attacker Michu never reached the heights of the previous campaign and then picked up an ankle injury that severely curtailed his involvement. Monk ultimately guided the Swans clear of the drop zone and in the end they finished twelfth in the table. A top ten finish had been the aim at the start of the campaign, but the season was a bit of a disaster in many ways. They left it very late to secure Premier League survival and in the end only managed to amass a measly forty two points. Monk has surprisingly been given the job on a permanent basis. It remains to seen if they will be able to hang on to the likes of Bony or Michu, or if the other foreign players brought in by Laudrup will wish to remain at the Liberty Stadium.
