Swansea City 3-0 Peterborough United: Swans ease to win over Posh

Jake Bidwell is one of only five Swansea players to score in the Championship this season, with his early goal his second of the campaign

Swansea produced a dominant first half display to ease past Peterborough United 3-0 at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Swansea went 2-0 up within 13 minutes as Joel Piroe doubled their lead after Jake Bidwell opened the scoring in just the second minute of the match.

The hosts effectively wrapped things up before the break when Olivier Ntcham had time and space to pick his spot.

The hosts were always in control and they could have added to their three goals after the interval.

Swansea move up to 13th in the Championship after their comfortable win, just two points outside of the play-off positions, while Peterborough are 20th.

In truth, Swansea will wonder how they only won by three goals in a game they dominated from start to finish.

This was the first meeting between the two sides in five years and the first league encounter since February 2010, with Swansea winning on both those occasions.

They were heavy favourites for this one having won their last three home games and Russell Martin's side could barely have made a stronger start as they threatened to move out of sight inside the first 20 minutes.

The visitors had not even managed to have a touch of the ball when the Swans took the lead after just over a minute following a lovely move that culminated in Ethan Laird's fine run and cross being converted from close-range by Bidwell.

Swansea did not relent as they continued on the front-foot and they scored a second goal on 13 minutes when top-scorer Piroe was allowed space and time to fire the ball home from 20-yards, with former Swans goalkeeper David Cornell rooted to the spot.

Piroe fired narrowly over moments later, with the hosts completely in control of the contest as Ntcham also shot over.

You would not have known the Posh had won their previous two games as it took 28 minutes for the visitors to fashion even a chance, but Ben Hamer reacted quickly to tip Nathan Thompson's effort around the post.

The visitors will feel they should have at least tested Hamer just before the interval, but Samuel Szmodics fired wide after Idris Kanu's teasing cross.

The miss proved pivotal as the visitors gifted Swansea a goal on the stroke of half time when Ntcham was given far too much time and space to pick out the bottom corner after Piroe's simple pass split the Posh defence.

Swansea were no less dominant after half time with Laird seeing a penalty appeal waved away and Piroe coming close when he rounded Cornell, but could not find the finish or pass his approach-play merited.

Ntcham also came close to scoring a second, forcing a finger-tip save from former Wales under-21 goalkeeper Cornell, who also denied substitute Michael Obafemi after he raced clear.

Swansea's dominance made the second half feel almost like a training exercise as they kept possession and looked to add a fourth, but they could not find a way past Cornell, while sub Joe Ward missed a good chance for a consolation.

Swansea City boss Russell Martin told BBC Sport Wales:

"We gave up a couple of chances in the first-half which we were a bit annoyed about but apart from that we were outstanding really.

"The start of the game summed them up. The intensity, the attitude, their approach to the game, Ethan (Laird's) intensity to run and get the ball, and Bidders' (Jake Bidwell) to make up the ground he did was incredible.

"I thought our guys really stopped them at source, pressed really aggressively high. We scored a goal from winning the ball back really high.

"I'm just really pleased and proud with the players for their approach towards the game."

Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson said:

"It was a long afternoon, we prepared all week to play a very good team on the ball.... and we were 2-0 down after 13 minutes.

"We struggled against a team who just keep the ball. It was a horrendous start from us and then we just had to try and stay in the game.

"We didn't touch the ball before we conceded. It couldn't have been an easier goal.

"As we have seen this season already, teams punish you. There are going to be days like this in the Championship, days when you suffer."