Shane Long header sends Southampton sixth against toothless Swansea

Shane Long's second-half header gave Southampton a fifth win in six games to send Saints sixth and inflict a first Swansea defeat under new boss Francesco Guidolin.

The result means Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster extends his run of clean sheets to six, but this wasn't a busy afternoon for the England stopper.

Despite embarking on a timely four-match unbeaten run, Swansea are not clear of trouble and, while Guidolin's men had started impressively, his side lacked a cutting edge against a well drilled Saints back line.

With the sides locked at 0-0 deep into the second half, Swansea should have gone ahead through captain Ashley Williams, but the Wales defender glanced his header wide after Sigurdsson had put it on a plate for him. Saints made Swansea pay for that miss when Long found space in the box to nod in James Ward-Prowse's cross in, despite the desperate efforts of Lukasz Fabianksi to keep it out.

Swansea threw everything at Saints in the closing stages, but Guidolin's side lacked the quality in attack to make the breakthrough and, while Saints move up to sixth, Swansea are now only three points clear of the drop zone.

44' - SIGURDSSON OVER! Finally, a chance! Rangel's cross from the right is flicked on by Paloschi to Sigurdsson, but he volleys his shot over when he should have hit the target.

45' - LONG HEADER! Ward-Prowse delivers a fine cross from the right which is straight on Long's head, but the Irishman seems surprised to see it reach him, and he heads it straight at Fabianski. Big chance.

50' - ROMEU HEADER! Ryan Bertrand delivers a superb cross from the left for Oriol Romeu, who squanders a great chance, glancing his header well wide from close range.

58' - SOUTHAMPTON GOAL DISALLOWED! A good decision by the referee as Jose Fonte heads the ball out of Fabianski's arms when he had just landed both hands on it, before it was knocked out of them and tapped in.

64' - WILLIAMS CHANCE! Brilliant free-kick by Sigurdsson puts it on a plate for Williams, but the Swansea captain doesn't get enough on his free header and glances it wide. Huge chance.

69' - GOAL! Swansea 0-1 Southampton: Long scores! Ward-Prowse delivers a cross from the right and finds Long unmarked in the middle, and Irishman buries his header, despite the best efforts of Fabianski to keep it out on the line.

89' - PENALTY? Alberto Paloschi goes down under pressure from Maya Yoshida, but it's little more than a nudge. Not a penalty.

90' - AUSTIN CHANCE! Charlie Austin races clear on the break for Saints and forces a good save out of Fabianski, but he should have crossed for Long, who is furious he didn't.

Southampton have scored a league-high 11 headed goals in the Premier League this season.

Fraser Forster has kept six Premier League clean sheets in a row in 2015/16 since coming back from injury.

It is nine hours of Premier League football since Southampton last conceded a goal.

Can Southampton qualify for Europe? They're in a great position to leapfrog Manchester United as they quietly sneak ahead of West Ham to go sixth. They're finding form at the perfect time and much of that is down to the brilliant form of Fraser Forster in goal and an increasingly confident back four.

James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) : At the heart of everything positive that Saints produced. Was no surprise to see him provide the assist for Long's winner. Can't be far away from an England call-up given his recent displays.

Swansea: Fabianski 7, Rangel 7, Fernandez 7, Williams 6, Taylor 6, Britton 7, Cork, Sigurdsson 7, Routledge 6, Ayew 6, Paloschi 5. Subs; Naughton n/a, Barrow 7, Gomis n/a.

Southampton: Forster 7, Fonte 8, van Dijk 7, Bertrand 7, Targett 7, S Davis 7, Clasie 7, Romeu 7, Ward-Prowse 8, Long 8, Pellè 6. Subs: Cédric n/a, Yoshida n/a, Austin n/a.