They were perhaps made to work harder for it than they should have done. But in the end, this was a pleasing away win for Swansea City.
Not since the days of Paulo Sousa in 2010 had a Swans side won a league game at Derby County.
A superb opening 15-minute blitz, in the end, ensured that record changed, although Swansea certainly didn’t have it all their own way at a chilly Pride Park.
Zan Vipotnik put the Swans in front with his third goal of the season, lashing home a magnificent strike after just two minutes, before Ronald doubled the lead with a well taken second as part of a blistering start from the visitors.
Derby improved, however, and created several strong opportunities either side of half-time, with Kayden Jackson somehow sending a shot off the post and wide from close range after Lawrence Vigouroux had previously denied Marcus Harness.
But the hosts would haul themselves back into the contest midway inside the second half as Nathaniel Mendez-Laing slotted home from the spot after substitute Cyrus Christie was penalised for bringing down Tom Barkhuizen inside the box.
Derby pushed for an equaliser, but having conceded late on in their last two league outings, a rocking Swans defence just about held out this time.
The win, Swansea’s third on the road this season, pushes the Swans up to 11th and into the top half of the table, which is where Luke Williams feels his side deserve to be following their spirited showings against some of the league’s big hitters.
Indeed, while the result was disappointing, there were clearly plenty of positives from the defeat to Leeds United, with both WIlliams insisting he felt the performance showed his side were good value for a place among the top teams in the Championship table.
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