When we set out on this Premier League journey 228 games ago we were given no chance of staying up – remember Brendan’s famous comment that people believed there was more chance of Elvis being found alive than us staying up? But we are still here and this season we will draw level with the likes of Birmingham, Derby and Portsmouth in completing seven seasons at this level as well as moving into the top 30 of all time Premier League points.

But this is not about that it is about our Premier League season openers which have often given us tough away games but we have secured some very good results from those games so join us with this trip down memory lane.

2011/12 – Manchester City 4 Swansea City 0

Our Premier League debut could not have been any harder as we faced Manchester City – who would be eventual champions – on the opening Monday Night football of the season.

Having sat and watched the remainder of the weekend fixture list unfold before we got into the action we played well enough for the first half although under much pressure from the home team.

Edin Dzeko opened the scoring after 57 minutes when he prodded home a Michel Vorm parry from Adam Johnson before Sergio Aguero was introduced into the fray on 60 minutes as a then record signing.

The Argentinian scored twice on debut either side of a David Silva goal and the Swans were well beaten on debut although we got our own back later on in the season when Luke Moore’s header almost derailed the City title challenge.

Speaking after the game Brendan Rodgers said “I’m very very proud of my team tonight,” he said. “It’s obviously disappointing to concede the goals that we did – you’re going to get punished by teams of that class – but to have controlled possession as we did for periods is so encouraging. There were many, many positives for us. We won’t be downhearted, we’ll play as we play, and we’ll work in the knowledge we won’t come up against this opposition every week.”

2012/13 – QPR 0 Swansea City 5

As managerial debuts in the Premier League go then this was right up there with one of the most spectacular as Michael Laudrup witnessed is side tearing QPR apart to record a five goal win on the opening day of the season.

Parading some of his new signings, Michu scored twice to set the tone for what we would achieve that season and Nathan Dyer was also on target twice before Scott Sinclair ended the scoring with his last Swansea goal.

The Swans also hit the bar twice as we ran riot in front of our jubilant away support, starting off a season that would include our only major trophy win and a Top 10 finish.

Compare this to the previous season when it was January before we recorded an away win and it was no surprise that it was a jubilant Laudrup who faced the press after the game “Michu – two goals and the second one was a fantastic goal. But I’ve worked with two of the players, Chico and Jonathan de Guzman, and I’ve seen Michu many times.

“And apart from their quality as players, I know more or less their personality.

“They are players who want to show a great attitude and that’s important as well because they are coming to a small team over here.

2013/14 – Swansea City 1 Manchester United 4

This remains the only time we have played at home on the opening weekend of the Premier League and also was the first Premier League fixture for Manchester United of the post-Alex Ferguson era.

New Man Utd manager David Moyes watched his side win with some comfort inspired by Robin Van Persie who was almost famously killed in his previous appearance at the Liberty.

Van Persie and Danny Welbeck scored twice within two minutes around the half hour mark and the Swans early season optimism was over and both scored again in the second half although there was a debut goal from Wilfried Bony for the home side to cheer as they were well beaten.

The result was probably a little harsh on us as we started well enough but never recovered from the two goals as Laudrup mused on after the game “For the first 30 minutes we were very competitive and at moments we dominated. You can come back from that but when they scored a second, against a team like Manchester United – it’s difficult.

“The difference was in the in finishing but that second goal really destroyed us in many ways and we never really recovered from that.

“Three of their four goals were outstanding, but you can’t say we played badly, especially in the first half.”

2014/15 – Manchester United 1 Swansea City 2

For the second season running we were drawn to face Manchester United but this time at Old Trafford.

The previous season had been the managerial debut for David Moyes but this time it was Luis Van Gaal who was making his Premier League managerial debut for the home side.

The Swans though were out to ruin the party and Garry Monk’s side did just that thanks to goals from Ki and Gylfi who silenced the home crowd although many will tell you that isn’t too difficult at Old Trafford.

Ki scored the first Premier League goal of the campaign – the game was switched for lunchtime coverage – and whilst Rooney equalised early in the second half it was Sigurdsson who scored the winner to the delight of the travelling support.

“The whole key to it all was us coming together as a group and working together,” said Monk after the game.

“I made it clear to the players this week to go up here and show exactly what we’re about.

“We had a game plan to try and work to and to a man they were very, very good.”

2015/16 – Chelsea 2 Swansea City 2

The Swans almost secured a second consecutive famous away scalp on the opening days when they left Stamford Bridge desperately unlucky not to have secured the win that our performance deserved.

We were given very little chance of getting anything at Chelsea despite an 8th placed finish the season before.

Oscar’s free-kick put the Blues ahead before Andre Ayew stabbed a close-range equaliser after keeper Courtois had kept out Bafetimbi Gomis’s header.

Federico Fernandez put Willian’s cross past his own keeper before Courtois was sent off after bringing down Gomis.

New signing Asmir Begovic came on but failed to stop Gomis’s spot-kick.

We tried desperately to make the extra man count but could not get the goal that our play deserved although Gomis did have a goal ruled out – unsurprisingly for offside.

Swansea manager Garry Monk: “I thought our performance warranted at least that point. We went for it and showed our attacking prowess.

2016/17 – Burnley 0 Swansea City 1

Burnley picked up 33 points at Turf Moor last season but it was Leroy Fer who scored the only goal to start their Premier League return with a home defeat last season.

It was the first time Burnley had been beaten in 2016 and we could consider ourselves a little unlucky not to have more as Llorente and Fernandez missed good chances for the Swans – now under the management of Francesco Guidolin.

Having said that the home team had plenty of chances with defender Michael Keane close to opening the scoring when Fabianski failed to collect a corner, but the ex-Manchester United player could not get a touch from almost on the line.

Burnley striker Andre Gray, who scored 23 goals in the Clarets’ Championship-winning campaign last season, spurned several opportunities on his Premier League debut.

Guidolin said after the game “It’s a good start against a good team at a difficult ground but we are happy, because this was an important victory and we’re more confident for the future” – the confidence was misplaced as Guidolin never tasted victory again in the Premier League

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