Swansea City virtually secured their position in the group stages of the Europa League with a coast against Petrolul Ploiesti at the Liberty as they take a 5-1 lead to Romania next week.

As with the last round of the competition, the game was all but over as a contest before the ninety minutes were up and it was only an easing off of the way they were playing that prevented the Swans scoring even more as they coasted past the Romanian cup holders with some ease.

Tonight the game was over within half hour as two goals from Wayne Routledge and one from Michu gave the Swans a three goal lead inside twenty five minutes and it was never really a contest from the first whistle. An own goal and a Pozuelo strike had the Swans five up on seventy minutes but the goal of the night came from Grozav to pull one back for the visitors but it will be nothing more than a consolation in a week's time as the Swans pretty much secured their place in the next stage of the competition.

Both Bony and Routledge also hit woodwork during the game as the Swans dominated from the early stages with their usual brand of passing football just too much for Petrolul who tried to play football themselves around the Swans but in truth were a couple of classes below us which is a fantastic position to be in when we are watching games like this.

Of course there will be harder games than this in this European campaign but this afternoon I heard Talksport predicting a semi final place for us in the competition and whilst that may seem a long way off at the moment , it is clear that Michael Laudrup is taking the competition seriously as he picked an exceptionally strong side for the tie which was watched by 12,500 people.

Routledge, Pablo and Michu and Shelvey were at the heart of all three goals in the first half. Routledge grabbed the first via a deflection when he shot home from Shelvey's free kick whilst it was again Shelvey's cross that was met by Hernandez who saw his shot saved but the save fell direct to Michu for the second. And it was Pablo's cross that was met by Routledge for the third who directed a perfect header into the net. Game over.

The fourth was a little bit farcical as Bony met a Michu pass but looked to have had his effort stopped by the keeper who pushed it into the net and Pozuelo combined with Michu to slot home calmly for the fifth and showing his credentials for a starting spot after two hugely impressive European outings at the Liberty.

Grozav's bicycle kick was his sixth of the Europa League campaign but it won't mean much this time next week but I guess gives them a little hope for the home tie but the Swans will have too much for them as they did tonight.

Another good night at the Liberty.

Photo: Action Images

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