A match that started with Gylfi Sigurdsson demonstrating why he is such a class act when it comes to the art of taking free-kicks ended with Lukasz Fabianski, another of Swansea City’s excellent summer signings, enhancing his status as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League.

With Aston Villa pressing for the equaliser they deserved, Fabianski produced an outstanding one-handed save to repel Christian Benteke’s far-post header in injury time. Both sets of supporters were still catching their breath when opportunity knocked for Gabriel Agbonlahor, only for Fabianski instinctively to stick out a boot.

It was that sort of game for Villa who had the majority of possession (57%), 14 attempts on goal to Swansea’s nine, but once again failed to score. As much as Paul Lambert’s new philosophy has made them easier on the eye, the absence of a goal threat continues to handicap them. Villa have scored only 11 times in 18 league games this season.

“We’re proud of [the players] for the way we played,” the Villa manager said. “We probably did to Swansea what they do to most teams coming here. I thought we outpassed them and hemmed them in. I go away from here disappointed to lose but delighted with the way we’re playing at the minute.”

Swansea had no reason to feel guilty about hanging on for three points. A couple of weeks ago they were on the receiving end of an injustice here when Tottenham Hotspur pilfered a late winner. Back-to-back 1-0 victories have softened that blow and lifted the Welsh club to within four points of Southampton in fourth place. Garry Monk, who felt that Swansea “created enough chances to get that second goal and make it more comfortable”, refused to get carried away with the performance of Fabianski, who has kept eight clean sheets in the league.

“It was a good save [from Benteke] at the end but that’s his job,” the Swansea manager said. “I don’t think he had too much to do throughout the game but at that critical moment right at the end, that’s what you need him for, so the concentration level shows what a good professional he is.”

Sigurdsson’s goal was out of keeping with the miserable conditions as rain lashed down from start to finish. Striking the ball with his right boot from 20 yards out and slightly to the left, the Icelander found the top corner. Brad Guzan, however, was covering that side of the goal. “I think Brad will probably be disappointed,” Lambert said.

Without Jefferson Montero, who limped off with a hamstring problem midway through the first half, Swansea no longer carried the same threat going forward. Villa got better and better as Lambert switched from 5-3-2 in the first half to 4-3-3 after the break.

Andreas Weimann got in a couple of promising positions and failed to make the most of them before Ki Sung-yueng squandered a chance to double Swansea’s lead following a superb flick from Sigurdsson. Then Fabianski thwarted Benteke and Agbonlahor in the frantic finale.