Rovers’ clean-sheets continued, as did their positive form as a 88th minute Daniel Ayala winner, saw Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side beat Swansea City, 1-0 at Ewood Park, to stretch Rovers’ unbeaten run to seven in all competitions.
After Ben Brereton Díaz salvaged a point for Rovers with a late free-kick, to draw 1-1 away against West Bromwich Albion, Jon Dahl Tomasson made four changes from his midweek team, as Daniel Ayala, Dom Hyam, John Buckley and Sam Gallagher all returned to the team, with the injured duo of Joe Rankin-Costello and Scott Wharton dropping out, whilst Tyler Morton and Bradley Dack were offered a rest and were available from the bench. With his return to the side after injury, Dom Hyam was making his 200th career league start. The Blues also switched to a 5-4-1 system, as Sorba Thomas filled in at right-wing-back, whilst the impressive Hayden Carter partnered the two returning central defenders
As referee Thomas Bramall held the whistle, he soon got the game underway after Swansea City were in-place for the kick-off. The Swans, who lost their last game at Ewood Park during the opening weekend of 2021-22, were looking to make it back-to-back victories after winning in midweek against Blackpool in Wales.
A quiet first-half saw it’s first action in the 14th minute as Sorba Thomas was booked for a strong challenge in the left-hand channel of his side’s own half. The free-kick nearly had damning consequences, as the cross into the box was met by Ben Cabango, who saw his header crash back off the bar, before Aynsley Pears collected the loose ball.
The 26th minute saw Rovers craft something in an attacking sense as Ben Brereton Díaz combined with Tyrhys Dolan to set the number 10 up for a chance that was dragged across the face of goal.
In the 39th minute, Joel Latibeaudiere and Jay Fulton combined, as the former set up the latter, but the midfielder’s effort landed way wide.
Joël Piroe managed to get Swansea’s second opportunity of the game as he cut onto his left peg before shooting at goal. Rovers were set to be in trouble by the Swans’ top-scorer, but for the block of Daniel Ayala which diverted the ball out for a corner, that Rovers dealt with.
An underwhelming – almost boring – first-period ended after Lewis Travis was booked just before two minutes of time were added onto the end of the first-half, which soon passed by quickly, as Thomas Bramall called time on the first 45.
Jon Dahl Tomasson would not have been pleased with what he had seen from his side who had not even racked up a shot on target during the first-half. The Dane would have been quick to address his side’s timid display at the break and would have called for more urgency and initiative.
Russell Martin’s reaction at the break would have been to encourage his side. Whilst they had held most of the ball and created the odd chance, they hadn’t really penetrated as much as they had done in the first-half of their previous game – the 2-1 win over Blackpool – where they tallied 83% possession and 11 total shots during the opening half in midweek. Martin would have wanted his side to return to that level in this second-half.
Once both teams returned to the field, it was Tyrhys Dolan who got the game back underway, as Rovers looked to try and earn their first league victory since New Year’s Day.
Rovers started the second-half brightly as just four minutes in Sorba Thomas found Brereton Díaz, but the Chilean couldn’t angle his first-time weak-footed effort towards goal.
Joel Latibeaudiere was booked in the 52nd minute after tripping Hyam in his own half.
Rovers came agonisingly close to taking the lead in the 59th minute as Harry Pickering’s cross was half-cleared by the visitors, only as far as Sorba Thomas to volley the dropping ball, but the loanee’s strike was blocked and cleared.
The hour mark saw Martin looked to his bench as Oli Cooper replaced Liam Cundle in Swansea’s first change of the game.
Latibeaudiere was again proving to be the provider, as he set Piroe up, but the Dutch attacker failed to test Pears, as he hit the side netting in the 65th minute.
Two minutes later, John Buckley looked to slip in Brereton Díaz, but the pass had too much on it, as former Rover, Andy Fisher smothered the ball as the attacker tried to beat the goalie.
Rovers hit the Swans on the break in the 69th minute, as Sam Gallagher tried to find Brereton Díaz with a cross, but the retreating Welsh defence intercepted and cut out the ball, despite conceding a corner.
The home crowd got behind their team as they roared them forward in the 72nd minute, as Harry Pickering’s deep cross met Hayden Carter, but the in-form defender couldn’t net his first Rovers senior goal as the header fell off-target.
Jon Dahl Tomasson made his first change during the stoppage in play, as Bradley Dack replaced Sam Gallagher for the final 17 minutes.
Russell Martin made one of his own, as Liam Cullen replaced Joe Allen, with the Swans looking to go more attacking.
Piroe tried his luck from distance in the 75th minute, but Rovers’ goalie Pears was alert and got behind the shot to hold onto the effort.
Rovers were forced into a second change as their attacking options dwindled, with Brereton Díaz hobbling off, to be replaced by Ryan Hedges.
As the Blues took the game by the scruff of the neck and kept pushing for a late winner, their attacking options were hit by a further blow as a substitute was substituted, with Bradley Dack being unable to continue in the 86th minute, as Sammie Szmodics took his place.
Despite all the late huffing and puffing, which mainly came in Blue and White, the home side were treated to a goal and what would eventually be all three points as Daniel Ayala became the hero of the hour as he nodded home an 89th minute winner. Ryan Hedges’ cross was flicked on by Hyam at the near-post, as Ayala stooped in to provide a nodded finish as the home crowd went wild at 1-0.
With delirium around Ewood Park, nervousness suddenly engulfed the stadium as five minutes of added time were allocated onto the end of the first period.
Alongside the addition of time, Swansea also made a double change as Morgan Whittaker and Matthew Sorinola were introduced, as Harry Darling and Jay Fulton made way.
The 92nd minute brought mass appeals from the Rovers bench and crowd for a penalty as Szmodics was hauled down inside the Rovers penalty area, but despite the protests being waved away, Swansea worked the ball up to the other end of the field as Piroe teed up Sorinola who couldn’t keep his shot down.
The game’s final act saw Rovers’ goalscorer, Daniel Ayala and Tyrhys Dolan both booked within minutes of each other for separate incidents, as the curtain closed on a tie that will not be remembered for being a classic or a standout on any future season review DVDs.
Whilst the game won’t be remembered in a few weeks for its cutting-edge football, it could be remembered as being a key result and three points that might serve Rovers well in the future, depending on what they get out of this campaign. The side were able bounce back, after a very poor first period and produce an attacking second-half display that had intent, aggression and initiative, despite netting so late on. Whilst the joy of the points will remain strong, there will be some sweating in Blackburn around the fitness of Bradley Dack and Ben Brereton Díaz. Although the pair did walk off, seven games in the space of a month might see them miss a couple of games over the course of the next 30 days.
Three points were incredibly crucial for Rovers tonight, as they moved back into 7th place, despite remaining with a negative goal-difference of -3. The Blues are sat on 49 points, sitting on the doorstep of the playoffs courtesy of goal-difference.
The turnaround is pretty quick for Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side, as they return to action at Ewood Park on Tuesday 21st February, to dance with Blackpool at 7:45pm. Following that tie, the Blues make a long trip down to London to face Queens Park Rangers on Saturday 25th February for the 3pm kick-off. Three days later, on Tuesday 28th, the FA Cup Fifth Round takes priority, as Rovers travel to the King Power Stadium to face fellow former Premier League champions, Leicester City at the 7:30pm start time, in a game that will be viewable via BBC iPlayer.
