A first Swansea City victory at Ewood Park in 52 years ended Rovers’ hopes of racking up four consecutive victories for the first time this season, as a fine defensive, counter-attacking performance from Michael Duff’s side saw his team win their first game in two.
After coming from behind to beat Millwall, 2-1 in midweek, Jon Dahl Tomasson was forced into one change, as Dom Hyam was ruled out for an extended period of time, which meant that Scott Wharton came in for his first start of the campaign. Harry Leonard also returned to the first-team matchday squad, available from the bench, whilst Sammie Szmodics captained the team for the first-time.
Despite the adverse weather conditions in Blackburn, it was the Swans who got the game underway as they were aiming to outdo what their South Wales neighbours, Cardiff City had done, and win at Ewood Park this season.
The opening minutes was all Rovers, as Tyrhys Dolan managed to tee-up Callum Brittain with a fine cross inside 30 seconds, but the full-back couldn’t notch a second successive goal as his effort skewed past the far upright.
In the 13th minute, Rovers were again forwards as they worked a short corner well, before Szmodics’ effort was cleared off the line by well-placed Swansea defenders.
Three minutes later, Liam Cullen tried his luck from range for the visitor’s first chance, but his effort lacked the required accuracy.
After Szmodics was threaded through by Joe Rankin-Costello, Carl Rushworth did his name proud by rushing out to claim the ball and clear the danger.
In the 22nd minute, Rovers were saved by the offside flag after the defence were caught napping, as Jamal Lowe tapped the ball home inside the six-yard box. A Jerry Yates cross was nodded back across the face of goal by Jamie Paterson towards an offside Lowe, who saw his celebrations cut short by the assistant’s flag.
Four minutes later, and it seemed that Rovers’ defence hadn’t learnt as Lowe again had the ball in the net, but was once again ruing the assistant’s flag, as the Swans supporters would have been forgiven for thinking it wasn’t going to be their day. Josh Tymon’s straight ball down the left bypassed James Hill and Hayden Carter as Lowe broke through and finished past Leopold Wahlstedt, before vocalising his anger at the assistant who again raised his flag.
Minutes later, the away fans were celebrating for a third time, but this time for a goal that counted as Liam Cullen broke the deadlock with a fantastic finish from the top of the box. The Swans academy graduate received the ball and cut back onto his left-foot before seeking out the bottom left-hand corner as the ball bypassed Sondre Tronstad who threw himself in-front of the effort, as Wahlstedt was left stretching, as the visitors took a 1-0 lead, despite Rovers dominating most of the opening 20 minutes.
Swansea remained on top after kick-off as Jamie Paterson’s effort bounced past the post, as Swansea came forwards in search of a second.
In the 32nd minute, Hayden Carter was booked, which meant that he would miss Rovers’ next league fixture, away at Norwich City, next weekend.
Five minutes later, Rovers saw another booking come their way as Joe Rankin-Costello caught Matt Grimes and conceded a free-kick.
In the 41st minute, Arnór Sigurðsson had a shot blocked before the Swansea defenders cleared the ball behind for a corner.
Just before three minutes of time were added onto the end of the first-half, Leo Wahlstedt managed to deny Swansea a second goal as he denied Jerry Yates.
The third minute of added time saw Rovers come forwards again as James Hill’s cross was cleared out to Szmodics, whose effort veered wide of the mark, as referee Stephen Martin soon brought the first period to an end moments later.
Jon Dahl Tomasson would have been frustrated with the manner of the goal that his side had conceded. The boss would have also been wondering how they had failed to take the lead early on given the high quality of chances they had created, particularly early on in the game. He would have wanted his side to play with more conviction and speed to try and pull apart a resolute Welsh rearguard.
Michael Duff would have been pleased with his side’s efforts as they managed to stifle Rovers, before taking the lead and showing their quality in-front of goal, even with the two disallowed efforts. The former Barnsley manager would have wanted his side to continue their fine efforts, but also remain wary of the quality that Rovers possessed within their ranks.
Just before Rovers got the ball rolling at the start of the second-half, Jon Dahl Tomasson made a double change as Dilan Markanday and Andrew Moran replaced Callum Brittain and Arnór Sigurðsson for the second 45 minutes.
Five minutes into the second period, the goalscorer Cullen was booked for dissent after throwing a second ball onto the pitch before a Rovers goal-kick.
The 54th minute saw Rovers hit the Swans on the break as Moran and Szmodics combined, but the skipper’s effort was off-target.
After a Rovers mistake at the back, Scott Wharton fed the ball to Jamie Paterson which put Wahlstedt in jeopardy before he bailed his defender out with an excellent save with his feet.
On the hour mark, Szmodics was booked after tripping Jamal Lowe.
During the stoppage, Rovers made a third and fourth change as Adam Wharton and Harry Leonard were introduced for the booked Joe Rankin-Costello and Tyrhys Dolan.
A fourth Rovers booking materialised in the 63rd minute when Scott Wharton fouled Jerry Yates.
Five minutes later, Markanday and Hill combined before finding Szmodics at the near-post, but the skipper’s effort was easy for Rushworth to claim.
In the 71st minute, the academy combined, as Adam Wharton threaded a ball through to Harry Leonard before the attacker found Szmodics, but again Rushworth couldn’t be beaten.
Swansea’s first change of the game came in the 73rd minute as Jay Fulton replaced Arsenal loanee, Charlie Patino.
Two minutes later, Adam Wharton and Leonard combined again but the attacker’s effort trickled past the far upright.
In the 77th minute, Jay Fulton was booked for time-wasting four minutes after his introduction.
Harry Pickering managed to get the ball down the left in the 79th minute as he found Harry Leonard in the box with a fine cross, but the attacker couldn’t generate the required power to threaten an equaliser.
Harrison Ashby was soon booked, moments later, after the Newcastle United loanee fouled Andy Moran.
In the 83rd minute a second Swans change saw Oli Cooper replace Jamie Paterson.
Dilan Markanday saw his left-footed effort in the 87th minute deflect behind for a corner which the hosts cleared after subbing on Ben Cabango for Jerry Yates during the stoppage.
Andy Moran became the fifth Rover to be booked after he caught Harry Darling late.
As the 90th minute ticked over on the clock, Mr. Martin added a minimum of six minutes onto the end of the game, to counter act Swansea’s timewasting.
In the 91st minute, some fantastic play by Rovers saw Rovers switch the ball into the path of Hill who produced a fantastic cross onto the head of Leonard who forced Rushworth into another save.
Moments later, Pickering’s cross fell to Moran whose curling effort forced Rushworth into a diving save.
The final act of the game came in the 94th minute as the ball fell to Sondre Tronstad whose effort summed up Rovers’ afternoon, as the ball deflected off Harry Leonard and went behind for a goal-kick.
Despite Rovers’ pressure for most of the second period, they were unable to make their home advantage count, as the referee soon brought the tie to an end, in disappointing fashion for Rovers as they fell to a fourth home defeat of the campaign, which is only two behind the number they lost last season.
A desperately disappointing afternoon for Rovers saw them fail to score at home for the first time this season. Whilst Rovers threw a lot at Swansea, they were ultimately haunted by their lack of a prolific threat, despite them creating a myriad of chances. Although Rovers were lacking any sort of attacking ability, as they proved to be too slow in their build-up, Swansea showed brilliant resilience and rearguard action as they executed the perfect ‘smash and grab’ counter-attacking performance to deny Rovers a fourth consecutive win.
Rovers’ defeat sees them sat in 12th position after 14 games, with 19 points on the board. The Blues are sat four points behind 6th position. To compare to last season after the same number of games, Rovers were 7th on 21 points, which arguably shows the quality of the division.
Looking ahead, Rovers now arguably face their toughest challenge of the season next up, as they travel to London to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday 1st November at 7:45pm, in the Fourth Round of the Carabao Cup. After the cup exploits, attention returns to the league as the Blues make the early trip to Norwich City on Sunday 5th November at midday, in a game which will be live on Sky Sports. A TV double header concludes with the hosting of Preston North End on Friday 10th November, with the Sky Sports showing beginning at 8pm.
