Swansea moved to within one point of the play-off places at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship with a third win in eight days over Bristol City at the Liberty Stadium.

Gary Monk's first goal of the season midway through the first half proved to be the difference for Roberto Martinez's side, who now sit firmly on the shoulder of sixth-placed Burnley who do not play until Monday.

The win was due reward for Swansea's cultured approach play, although they did have to survive a handful of scary moments as Gary Johnson's side, whose play-off challenge is already over, fought back well in the second half.

But in truth, Swansea should have had more than the one goal, with Jason Scotland and Darren Pratley both guilty of missing good chances after the break.

The home side - who were able to call upon the services of Angel Rangel despite his originally being set to miss the rest of the season with an Achilles injury - started at a good tempo but were unable to create a genuine early chance.

Scotland had two good runs, both of which were relieved by Bristol's defence, and the first genuine opportunity fell to the visitors, with Dorus De Vries saving well at his near post after Dele Adebola got his head to Lee Johnson's cross.

But Swansea's patient build-up play finally reaped its rewards as they opened the scoring with 25 minutes gone as Monk rose the highest to divert Andrea Orlandi's corner beyond Adriano Basso.

They nearly doubled their lead moments later, with Ashley Williams' effort being deflected wide by Liam Fontaine and Basso doing well to keep out Jordi Gomez's header from Orlandi's subsequent corner.

Bristol were not without their chances, though, with Monk doing well to prod the ball away with Jamie McCombe ready to score after De Vries had parried Michael McIndoe's low free-kick, while Johnson saw a close-range drive flash wide of the post.

Half-time substitute Gavin Williams almost kicked the second period off in style with a long-range drive that De Vries did well to tip over, while Nicky Maynard also went close with a strike that stung the palms of the Dutch keeper.

Swansea remained dangerous too, with Orlandi's drive fielded well by Basso while Pratley saw a header cleared off the line by Williams.

The chances continued to come, as 24-goal striker Scotland pulled a shot agonisingly wide after a mistake by Basso gave him possession and at the other end Adebola should have done better with a header after a deft Johnson cross.

Gomez missed from long range as the Swans looked for a clinching goal, a goal that Pratley should have got after breaking clear of the Bristol defence but he shot tamely at Basso.

Bristol were not finished, though, with Ashley Williams doing well to block a goal-bound effort from namesake Gavin, before Swansea held on.

Teams:

Swansea De Vries, Williams, Tate, Monk, Rangel (Serran 78), Britton, Orlandi (MacDonald 71), Gomez, Allen (Pratley 54), Dyer, Scotland.

Subs Not Used: Pintado, Bessone.

Booked: MacDonald.

Goals: Monk 25.

Bristol City Basso, McAllister (Sproule 73), Fontaine, McCombe (Williams 46), Iriekpen, McIndoe, Skuse, Elliott,Johnson, Maynard, Adebola.

Subs Not Used: Henderson, Styvar, Trundle.

Booked: McCombe, Adebola, Johnson, Sproule.

Att: 15,327

Ref: Lee Mason (Lancashire).