Swansea City 1-0 Norwich City

Gylfi Sigurdsson has scored six goals in 10 games for Swansea

Swansea City moved nine points clear of the Premier League relegation zone as Norwich slipped further into danger.

Gylfi Sigurdsson's neat finish into the bottom corner was enough to settle a cagey, low quality match.

Nathan Redmond shot wide late on for the visitors but Swansea, whose head coach Francesco Guidolin missed the game through illness, held on to win.

Norwich remain in the relegation zone and are without a win in 10 matches in all competitions.

Alex Neil's side are now one point from safety after Sunderland picked up a draw against Southampton.

Swansea have now secured back-to-back league victories after their shock win over Arsenal on Wednesday.

• Re-live Swansea's win over Norwich

• Saturday's Premier League reaction

A lack of quality

Except for a low Cameron Jerome effort from range that was palmed away by Lukasz Fabianski, neither goalkeeper was tested in an uneventful first half.

But Iceland midfielder Sigurdsson opened the game up shortly after the break with a calm finish that gave Swansea what was, in the end, a deserved win.

He was also denied a second goal from a curling free kick late on by John Ruddy's finger-tip save.

Norwich lacked urgency until the closing stages and pressed late on in the game, but Dieumerci Mbokani could not keep a header down and substitute Patrick Bamford saw a low effort saved.

The Canaries remain without an away win since beating Manchester United in December.

Norwich managed only three touches in the Swansea box during the first half (left) but they were more of a threat in the second (right) following the introduction of Patrick Bamford

Had you Fer-gotten me?

The second-half introduction of former Norwich midfielder Leroy Fer, signed by Swansea in the January transfer window, gave the hosts a fresh impetus in attack.

It was his square ball that found Sigurdsson in space for the winning goal and, having impressed at the Emirates against Arsenal on Wednesday, he went on to put in a lively performance for the Swans.

Guidolin on the mend

Swansea boss Guidolin picked the team from his hospital bed for a second consecutive game, as he continues to recover from a chest infection.

Coach Alan Curtis, who has taken on first-team duties in his absence, confirmed Guidolin is due to return to work this week and said picking up six points from two games would no doubt aid his recovery.

"I know he's delighted and has sent his best wishes," said Curtis. "He'll probably be relaxing now and it's a huge boost for him.

"He's due to leave hospital on Monday. We won't see him for a couple of days, but I expect him to be at the Bournemouth game next Saturday."

Man of the match: Gylfi Sigurdsson

Norwich struggled to keep hold of Gylfi Sigurdsson and he found time and space to score his eighth goal of the season, and only a brilliant save from Ruddy prevented his total becoming nine

The stats you need to know

• Norwich City are still the only team yet to keep a clean sheet in a Premier League away game this season.

• The Canaries have kept the joint-fewest clean sheets in the Premier League this season (three, along with Sunderland).

• Swansea have won two successive Premier League games for the only the second time since May 2015.

• The Swans have scored in nine of their 10 Premier League games in 2016.

Manager reaction

Swansea coach Alan Curtis: "It was a strange game. The first half was poor from both teams but we upped our game and we got the goal. We were hanging on a bit at the end.

"When it's two teams who need the points it affects it. It was one of the worst games of the season.

"We felt like we had to make changes in the second half and everyone played their part and we're delighted. It gives us breathing space."

Norwich manager Alex Neil: "It was edgy but I don't think there was a team that was clear. You hope you've got the players to make the difference.

"Swansea opened up in a 10-minute spell and got the goal.

"We need to win games to stay in this league. We've got to stay positive and we've got to believe we can win these remaining games. The other teams may determine out fate."

Up next

Swansea travel to Bournemouth on 12 March, while Norwich host Manchester City at lunchtime on the same day.