Swansea ended a three match winless run thanks to a Jermaine Easter strike in the narrow 1-0 home win over Barnsley and the host's keeper, Dutchman Dorus de Vries. The Swans are now in third place and earned praise from boss Brendan Rodgers for their performance.

"We were always calm and we created lots of chances. It was an excellent performance," the Northern Irishman said.

"The players have been excellent all season and their reaction after Sunday's 4-0 defeat was fantastic. We always knew QPR was going to be a tough, tough game.

"But win, lose or draw against QPR we said we had to come into the Barnsley game in a positive frame of mind and carry on playing like we have been all season.

"We could have come into it being a little bit negative, but the huge resolve of this group of players shone through.

"We are all about being offensive and being creative, but the reaction from the players in keeping a clean sheet after conceding four goals two days earlier was tremendous.

"We have got to this point in the season by playing the way we do and we must keep doing that as we move into the New Year."

Tykes boss Mark Robins felt the impressive De Vries prevented his side from taking a point at the Liberty Stadium.

"De Vries made two or three unbelievable saves," said Robins. "I wasn't too disappointed in the performance, although it was disappointing to lose the game.

"I thought we should have had a nailed-on penalty in the first half, but this was a game in which I wanted to try and play Swansea at their own (passing) game.

"We came off second best in the end, but that's the type of football our fans want to watch.

"The Swansea fans have had four years of that to watch. They have kept the same philosophy even though the managers have changed - they have got it off to a tee.

"We have fallen off in the last two games so we need to go and get some points."