Gylfi Sigurdsson's 13th-minute free kick has given Swansea City a 1-0 lead at half time in their Boxing Day game at home to Aston Villa.

Swansea began on the front foot as Neil Taylor spooned a long-range effort over the bar before Jefferson Montero failed to guide Nathan Dyer's cross on target.

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Gabriel Agbonlahor flashed a powerful drive wide of Lukasz Fabianski's far post at the other end, but the Swans then took the lead as Sigurdsson bent an accurate free kick beyond the reach of Brad Guzan.

Neither side were able to create any openings for a while but Villa came within whiskers of levelling when Christian Benteke's free kick swung just wide of the far post at the very last second.

Ashley Williams's blushes were spared minutes before the break as the Swansea skipper missed from a matter of yards, only to see the flag raised for offside.