Joel Piroe's second goal of the game was his 20th of the season
Derby County were plunged deeper into the relegation mire as Joel Piroe's two goals inspired Swansea City to victory.
The Dutch forward struck twice in quick succession in the first half with two stylish first-time finishes.
Tom Lawrence's penalty brought Derby back into the contest soon after but Swansea had the better of the second half with Hannes Wolf hitting the bar.
An eighth successive away defeat keeps Derby 23rd in the Championship and nine points adrift of safety.
Swansea's fourth win from five, meanwhile, moves them up to 13th in the table.
In the build-up to this match, Derby boss Wayne Rooney had said everyone could now "see a future" for the Rams after Chris Kirchner was finally named as the preferred bidder to take over the Championship club.
And although the US businessman's accepted bid ends over six months of uncertainty at Pride Park, it looks increasingly like the club's future will be in League One.
Even before Piroe opened the scoring in the eighth minute, there was a celebratory atmosphere at the Swansea.com Stadium as the home fans were still savouring their 4-0 win at Cardiff City a week earlier - the first time a team had won both south Wales derbies in a league season.
Piroe's first goal was beautifully taken, opening his body as he strode into the box to meet a Wolf cross from the left and curling a first-time left-footed shot into the far corner.
His second was striking in its similarity, again hit first time with his left foot, arcing just inside the far post.
Derby might have unravelled at that point but, to their credit, they responded by winning a penalty as Luke Plange was brought down by Andy Fisher. The Swansea goalkeeper almost redeemed himself by saving Lawrence's spot-kick but, despite getting a hand to the ball, he could not keep it out.
All that action was crammed into the opening 22 minutes and, after a somewhat lethargic remainder of the first half, there was more urgency from both sides after the break.
Derby winger Malcolm Ebiowei went close with a curling effort from the edge of the penalty area, while Wolf forced Ryan Allsop into a save with a low drive.
The Austrian then struck the bar with a clipped shot inside the box following some fine link-up play with Michael Obafemi.
Derby struggled to muster much quality in their search for a late equaliser, leaving Fisher with little to do in the Swansea goal until he had to palm away a header by Festy Ebosele in added time.
Bartosz Cybulski was then bundled over as he competed for the rebound but referee Tim Robinson ignored Derby's appeals for a penalty, much to Rooney's fury on the touchline.
Cardiff's win at Reading at least meant the Rams did not slip further away from safety but, now with only five games left to haul themselves out of the bottom three, it looks like time is running out for Rooney and his players.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsSwansea
Formation 3-4-2-1
33Fisher5Cabango26Naughton22Latibeaudiere23Christie6Fulton8Grimes13Wolf17Piroe12Paterson9Obafemi
- 33Fisher5Cabango26Naughton22Latibeaudiere23Christie6Fulton8GrimesBooked at 68mins13WolfBooked at 84mins17PiroeSubstituted forSmithat 76'minutes12PatersonSubstituted forNtchamat 60'minutes9ObafemiSubstituted forJosephat 90+4'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Manning7Smith10Ntcham14Joseph15Ogbeta18Hamer45Congreve
Derby
Formation 4-2-3-1
31Allsop2Byrne41Cashin33Davies26Buchanan5Bielik42Thompson32Ebiowei11Morrison10Lawrence48Plange
- 31Allsop2Byrne41Cashin33Davies26BuchananSubstituted forEboseleat 45'minutes5Bielik42ThompsonSubstituted forCybulskiat 84'minutes32Ebiowei11MorrisonBooked at 81mins10Lawrence48PlangeSubstituted forKnightat 73'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Forsyth16Stearman21Roos36Ebosele38Knight46Richards49Cybulski
Referee:Tim RobinsonAttendance:18,374Match StatsHome TeamSwanseaAway TeamDerbyPossessionHome55%Away45%ShotsHome10Away8Shots on TargetHome3Away3CornersHome3Away4FoulsHome11Away9Live TextPost update
Match ends, Swansea City 2, Derby County 1.
90'+4'Full Time
Second Half ends, Swansea City 2, Derby County 1.
90'+4'Substitution
Substitution, Swansea City. Kyle Joseph replaces Michael Obafemi.
90'+3'Post update
Attempt saved. Festy Ebosele (Derby County) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Malcolm Ebiowei with a cross.
90'+2'Post update
Foul by Michael Obafemi (Swansea City).
90'+2'Post update
Eiran Cashin (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+1'Post update
Attempt missed. Ryan Allsop (Derby County) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Tom Lawrence with a cross following a corner.
90'+1'Post update
Corner, Derby County. Conceded by Cyrus Christie.
89'Post update
Attempt missed. Tom Lawrence (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
84'Substitution
Substitution, Derby County. Bartosz Cybulski replaces Liam Thompson.
84'Booking
Hannes Wolf (Swansea City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
84'Post update
Foul by Hannes Wolf (Swansea City).
84'Post update
Malcolm Ebiowei (Derby County) wins a free kick on the right wing.
81'Booking
Ravel Morrison (Derby County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
80'Post update
Cyrus Christie (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
80'Post update
Foul by Ravel Morrison (Derby County).
80'Post update
Attempt blocked. Krystian Bielik (Derby County) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Tom Lawrence.
80'Post update
Corner, Derby County. Conceded by Jay Fulton.
76'Substitution
Substitution, Swansea City. Korey Smith replaces Joël Piroe.
75'Post update
Jay Fulton (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Source: bbc.com