A much-improved second-half performance was not enough for Swansea City as they fell to defeat against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.
Jayson Molumby got what proved to be the winner in first-half stoppage time, at the end of a period the hosts had by far the better of, with Lawrence Vigouroux making three important saves.
But the second half was a role reversal, but the Swans were unable to make the most of big chances that fell to Žan Vipotnik, Gonçalo Franco and Jisung Eom, with the latter also having a penalty shout waved away.
Head coach Luke Williams would have been disappointed with his side’s showing before the break, but far more encouraged by what he saw after the interval as they took the game to an unbeaten Baggies side who made the play-offs last season.
The Swans showed just one change from the draw against Cardiff as Vipotnik came in for Liam Cullen, who missed out with a minor ankle knock.
New signings Myles Peart-Harris and Jon McLaughlin were among the substitutes.
It took a fine save from Vigouroux to deny Albion an early opener, the keeper getting down sharply to keep out a strike from Tom Fellows, who had been freed into space by Darnell Furlong.
Josh Maja then headed a Karlan Grant cross straight into Vigouroux’s gloves, and the keeper was soon pushing Molumby’s low strike away for a corner.
Molumby was then booked for a poor late lunge on Matt Grimes, which left the skipper requiring prolonged treatment before he was fit enough to continue.
Swansea continued to weather heavy pressure, but they managed to get through that spell and saw Franco have a volley blocked from a Grimes free-kick.
Grant volleyed the loose ball wide after a Maja shot was blocked by Harry Darling but the Swans had looked set to go in level at the break until Molumby struck in stoppage time.
Maja was given time to turn and link with the Irishman, and the return pass had just enough weight on it for the midfielder to slide the ball into the bottom corner.
Furlong drove an angled effort wide shortly after the restart before the Swans produced their best passage of play as Ronald’s pass allowed Josh Key to surge into the area, but his shot was blocked by Kyle Bartley.
A fine through ball then sent Vipotnik through, but the Slovenian’s final effort was tame and easily gathered in by Alex Palmer in the Baggies goal.
Another big chance soon came Swansea’s way, Eom running onto a ball in the box, only for Furlong to make a terrific covering challenge.
Eom was involved again when Franco’s deflected shot ran to him with only Palmer to beat, the Korean tumbled as he looked to go past the advancing keeper but referee Anthony Backhouse was unmoved.
It was all Swansea, and a wonderful sweeping move ended with Franco flicking the ball against Palmer from Josh Tymon’s delivery.
At the other end substitute Uros Racic volleyed over the bar from Grant’s cross moments after coming on.
But it was Swansea making all the running as the contest entered its final 20 minutes and they continued to press for an equaliser.
Ronald’s pace won a corner that Darling was unable to reach, before Vigouroux made a terrific stop to tip the ball onto the post after Ben Cabango had stretched to cut out a cross.
The Swans came forward again during six minutes of stoppage time but could not get themselves back on terms.
West Bromwich Albion: Alex Palmer, Darnell Furlong, Kyle Bartley (captain), Sami Ajayi, Jayson Molumby (Uros Racic 66), Josh Maja (Lewis Dobbin 74), John Swift, Torbjorn Heggem (Gianluca Frabotta 82), Karlan Grant (Callum Styles 82), Alex Mowatt, Tom Fellows (Jed Wallace 74).
Unused Substitutes: Joe Wildsmith, Ousmane Diakite, Paddy McNair, Devante Cole.
Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux; Josh Key, Ben Cabango, Harry Darling, Josh Tymon; Matt Grimes (captain), Gonçalo Franco, Ollie Cooper; Jisung Eom (Myles Peart-Harris 63), Žan Vipotnik (Florian Bianchini 62), Ronald.
Unused Substitutes: Jon McLaughlin, Kristian Pedersen, Jay Fulton, Joe Allen, Kyle Naughton, Nelson Abbey, Azeem Abdulai.
Referee: Anthony Backhouse
Attendance: 24,975 (1,787 away)