Swansea City 3-4 Leeds United: Spirited Swans start new era with dramatic defeat

Swansea City's new era got off to an entertaining, but ultimately disappointing start, as Wilfried Gnonto's stoppage-time strike handed Leeds United a dramatic win in a seven-goal thriller at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Harry Darling’s first goal of the season after just nine minutes put the hosts in front, before Manor Solomon levelled.

Liam Cullen then followed up his recent heroics for Wales by netting his fourth of the season just before the break, but Wales team-mate Ben Cabango was powerless to prevent himself from turning into his own net early in the second half.

Leeds then took the lead for the first time 15 minutes from time, when Solomon popped up for his second of the game, blasting home from Sam Byram's cross.

Substitute Florian Bianchini looked to have rescued a point when he restored parity again in stoppage time. But Gnonto netted more or less straight from the kick-off to seal the points for Leeds, who are top of the Championship following this victory.

Swansea sit 14th, and there was plenty for the club's new ownership group to digest on the back of what was a thoroughly absorbing encounter.

Boss Luke Williams was hugely complimentary about Daniel Farke’s side and their potential promotion ambitions ahead of this clash, and the visitors wasted little time in taking the front foot, with former Swan Daniel James prodding an effort over the bar from a driven early corner.

But Swansea, boosted by an extra vibrant crowd, would respond in fine fashion.

Matt Grimes curled in a freekick towards the far post, and Darling did brilliantly to meet it on the volley and fire into the net.

A dream start for Swansea and their new owners, but if anyone in the director’s box allowed themselves to indulge in a fiesta of high fives