ALBION were sunk by a solitary late goal from Wilfried Bony to endure more frustration in their quest to end their winless Premier League sequence.
The two teams looked destined to share a goalless stalemate only for the home side to enjoy a break from a corner which led to Bony firing home from close range.
Salomon Rondon went agonisingly wide with a header from a James McClean cross moments later as the Baggies battled for an equaliser.
But it wasn't to be and despite watching his new team enjoy plenty of the game, Head Coach Alan Pardew was left a frustrated man.
Claudio Yacob returned to the starting line-up while Chris Brunt was back in the fold after recovering from a calf problem to claim a place on the bench.
And he was joined there by 16-year-old striker Rahaan Tulloch, another of the Club's Academy starlets to receive a nod of approval from the first-team management.
It proved a cat-and-mouse first-half with both teams enjoying periods of domination but without anything to show for their endeavours.
The closest shave came in Albion's area however when a 39th minute Tom Carroll free-kick glanced off the head of Jake Livermore and bounced away off the outside of Ben Foster's far post.
Albion introduced James McClean for Sam Field at the interval and as the game went into the last 20 minutes Oliver Burke took over in the wide right position in place of Hal Robson-Kanu.
But despite attacking intent from both teams, the game refused to yield a goal until the Swans grabbed their crucial break.
After two corners in quick succession, the second Swans delivery in the 81st minute saw the ball bobble in the Baggies penalty area with Bony quickest to react and slam home.
Rondon almost managed an instant riposte for the visitors but lifted his header over the bar from close range, meaning Albion suffered defeat in South Wales for the fourth year running.
ALBION: Foster, Nyom, Hegazi, Evans (c), Gibbs, Livermore, Yacob, Field (McClean HT), Robson-Kanu (Burke 78), Rodriguez (Brunt 81), Rondon.
Subs: Myhill, Krychowiak, McAuley, Tulloch.