Iceland international Gylfi Sigurdsson delivered the goal that earned Swansea a 1-0 Boxing Day win over Aston Villa at the Liberty Stadium on Friday.

Swansea manager Gary Monk made four changes from the side that beat Hull by the same scoreline last weekend.

Top scorer Wilfried Bony returned after being left on the bench against Hull, and also back after injury were Sigurdsson and Jefferson Montero.

Monk's Aston Villa counterpart Paul Lambert was able to field Gabriel Agbonlahor after his successful appeal against the red card he picked up in the draw with Manchester United last time out.

Alan Hutton and Tom Cleverley were back after suspension.

With heavy rain falling at the Liberty Stadium, Tottenham import Sigurdsson sent Swansea into a 13th minute lead, his free-kick narrowly escaping the clutches of Villa's keeper Brad Guzan on the American's 100th appearance for the club.

Villa were downed 4-1 on their last visit to the Liberty in April and in a bid to shake up his attack Lambert sent on striker Andreas Weimann to replace left-back Aly Cissokho for the second half

And in the 62nd minute he forced Swansea 'keeper Lukasz Fabianski into saving his left-footed shot from the right of the box.

Down at the other end, Sigurdsson almost turned provider, presenting Ki Sung-yueng with a chance to put Swansea further ahead but the South Korean sliced his shot wide.

In stoppage time, Christian Benteke almost nicked an equaliser, his header from the centre of the box only denied by good work from Fabianski.

The win pushed Swansea up a place into seventh, with Villa slipping a spot into 13th.