Rovers succumbed to only their third league defeat of the season after Swansea City put their winless demons behind them, as 2 goals in 4 minutes saw them rally to victory, as all of the Blues’ efforts go to waste.
Prior to the tie, Tony Mowbray challenged his side to build on the Leeds result, whilst also putting in the same tenacity, work-rate and desire that had seen the Blues only lose 2 of the 13 league games they have played this season.
Tony Mowbray named an unchanged side for the first time this season, as he looked to keep the same formula which worked so well last time out, in the 2-1 victory over Leeds United.
Swansea took the kick-off as they looked to try and end their winless run which amounted up to 3 games.
Rovers started the livelier of the sides as they earnt a corner on the 3rd minute, which came as a result of Armstrong’s shot, which was deflected behind. Sadly, for Rovers lightning couldn’t strike twice in terms of early goals from corners, as Swansea did well to clear.
4 minutes after the corner, Bradley Dack had the ball in the back of the net, on his 50th Rovers start, after some good work by Elliott Bennett saw the ball slid into Dack’s path. Although Dack’s finish was a good one, the goal was dubiously ruled out due to a foul by Bennett in the build-up.
Swansea tried to strike back immediately, through a man who was apparently on Mowbray’s radar over the summer, Bersant Celina. The former Manchester City midfielder picked up the ball and tried his luck from 20-yards out, however his shot ballooned over the bar.
With 12 minutes gone, Rovers were forced into a change after Darragh Lenihan felt his hamstring go. After a diagnosis by Rovers’ physio, it was deemed that Saturday’s match winner could no longer continue, and he was soon withdrawn and replaced by Jack Rodwell.
7 minutes after the change, Rodwell’s defensive partner, Charlie Mulgrew, found his name in the book after he fouled fellow Scot, Oliver McBurnie, just inside the Rovers half.
On the 25th minute, an Elliott Bennett corner, aimed towards Danny Graham was cleared by the Swansea defence. Rovers soon recycled play, as the ball dropped to Amari’i Bell who did well to get beyond his marker and burst into the box. With Bell – who was hitting an appearance milestone of his own, due to this game being his 200th career start – deep in the Swansea box, his twisting and turning saw Kyle Naughton bite, as the English fullback fouled his Rovers counterpart and conceded a penalty.
The penalty, given by referee Geoff Eltringham, saw skipper, Charlie Mulgrew, who was making his 100th league start in English football, take ownership of the ball. The Scot, who had recently converted a spot-kick against Israel over the international break, stepped up before calmly slotting the ball past Kristoffer Nordfeldt as Mowbray’s men took a 1-0 lead.
Swansea’s attempt at retaliation, came on the 34th minute, after former Rover, Martin Olsson, combined well with Scottish forward, McBurnie to give Swansea a chance at striking back immediately. The Swede turned on the afterburners as he stormed down the wing and got himself into a crossing position, which allowed him to deliver an inviting cross into the box. The cross was slightly behind McBurnie, who met it at speed, causing the ball to loop up into the air, and fall into the gloves of the onrushing David Raya.
With half-time only 3 minutes away, Swansea tried to counter from a Rovers attack, which saw the away side outnumbered at the back. Daniel James was the player who got away from the Rovers midfield, as he found himself out wide, looking to put in an early cross for McBurnie. That cross did not materialise however, as Elliott Bennett showed off his tenacity, pace and work-rate on his 400th career appearance, as he tracked back into his right-back position and put in a meaty challenge on the youngster, which resulted in a Swans free-kick and a Bennett yellow card.
The subsequent free-kick was crossed in by Bersant Celina and was cleared only as far as former Rovers loanee, Matt Grimes, who tried his luck with a volley from 20-yards out. Although the idea was good, the execution was not, as Rovers were awarded a goal-kick.
After 3 minutes were added onto the end of the period, Geoff Eltringham called an end to a solid first-half, which saw Rovers come off as leaders.
The break would have no doubt seen contrasting team-talks from both managers. Swansea’s Graham Potter would have been frustrated with his sides’ display, as they had given Rovers too much room to manoeuvre in order to cement their game plan, something Swansea had failed to do during the first-half.
Tony Mowbray in contrast, would have been pleased with his sides’ first-half performance, even though their goal came from the penalty spot. Despite that, Rovers’ all-round play would have pleased the experienced manager, as his players had shown signs of what they were capable of, both going forwards and going backwards.
Although both sides re-emerged after the break, Swansea reappeared with 2 alterations to their side as Martin Olsson and Tom Carroll were both taken off, and were replaced by Leroy Fer and Jay Fulton, respectively.
The second-half was started by Rovers as Mowbray’s men looked to try and potentially see out their third on the trot.
Not long into the second-half, on the 49th minute, Swansea had the first couple of shots of the half as Daniel James tried his luck from the edge of the area. The Swansea-born winger cut inside from the left and tried his luck, but saw his first shot blocked, before his follow-up ended up in the stands.
With almost an hour gone, Rovers made their second change of the game, as former Swan, Danny Graham departed to a standing ovation from all 4 corners of the Liberty Stadium, before being replaced by Nottingham Forest loanee, Ben Brereton.
After some good attacking moves by Rovers, which saw Swansea defend well, the home side soon found the equaliser that their second-half pressure and step-up in performance, arguably deserved. Substitute Jay Fulton picked the ball up from around 20-yards out, before finding half-a-yard of space and leathering a shot towards goal on the 64th minute. The midfielder’s powerful shot cannoned off the post, before hitting the diving David Raya, and trickling across the line and into the back of Rovers’ net to draw the home side level.
From the kick-off, Rovers tried to get back ahead as Dack and Reed combined well. Dack’s powerful run forwards saw him pick out Reed who tried to cross the ball into the path of Ben Brereton, but the centre-forward couldn’t reach the cross, as Swansea were awarded a goal-kick.
On the 68th minute, all of Rovers’ hard-work was undone, as Swansea found themselves ahead, after a good move by Daniel James and Connor Roberts saw the latter sweep the home side ahead. Some good quick passing between the youngsters saw James set up Roberts who opened his body up before seeing his strike towards goal zip past the despairing Raya in the away goal, as Swansea took a 2-1 lead.
Tony Mowbray retaliated to the goal by introducing Joe Rothwell in-place of Corry Evans, for Rovers’ final change of the evening.
With under 15 minutes left to play, Daniel James nearly put the home side further ahead, after the ball got played out to him, which gave him the opportunity to cut inside and try his luck at goal. His cut inside, and subsequent shot bypassed everyone in Rovers yellow, before hitting the crossbar and ending up behind the goal.
On the 82nd minute, some good play by Rovers saw Elliott Bennett go within inches of converting. Some good build-up play between Dack, Armstrong and Rothwell saw a ball floated into the box, aimed at the far-post, which gave Bennett the time to ghost in. The number 31, tried to get on the end of the cross, but could only get half a touch on it, as Nordfelt comfortably claimed.
2 minutes after Nordfelt claimed the ball, Ben Brereton tried to test the Swede with a swivelling shot from just inside the area. The ‘keeper was wrongfooted due a deflection, however he was not troubled as Rovers earnt a corner.
From the corner, Rovers created a passage of play that resulted in many crosses being lofted into the penalty area. One cross eventually fell to the feet of Dack, whose effort from around the penalty area, was well saved by Nordfelt.
Nordfelt’s involvement in the game was not done there, as from his save, he quickly released his side on the counter-attack, as they burst forward and grabbed a third that put the game to bed, courtesy of Bersant Celina. Some quick passing by Swansea culminated in Leroy Far playing in Celina who deftly chipped the ball over the onrushing David Raya as the game was put to bed.
Soon after the goal, Swansea withdrew Oliver McBurnie and replaced him with Courtney Baker-Richardson for the final few minutes.
After 4 minutes of added time were played, the game was ended by Geoff Eltringham, as a disappointing second-half for Rovers, saw the 450-odd Rovers fans head to the exits frustrated with their team’s failure to hold onto the lead.
Although Rovers started the better of the side, in the first-half, following the goal and especially in the second period, Swansea showed their ability and showed why they were a Premier League side last season, by taking the game away from Rovers. Even though Rovers had to live with losing Darragh Lenihan at an early stage, that change – which saw the introduction of Jack Rodwell – didn’t seem to have directly fazed Rovers defensively, however the supporters will be hoping that the Irishman will be fit for Saturday. In terms of going forwards, bar the penalty, the Blues didn’t create as much, in terms of out and out shots on goal, as would have been expected, especially with the firepower at their disposal, with the likes of Dack, Graham and Armstrong, but to name a few.
Despite picking up only their third defeat of the league campaign, Rovers find themselves in 7th place, with only goal difference separating them and Derby County, who occupy the final playoff space. Mowbray’s men remain on 21 points from the 14 games they have participated in, however their goal difference has slipped to -2.
The difficult fixtures do not stop there for Rovers as their next game sees them down in the Midlands on Saturday 27th October, a game which sees them being hosted by free-scoring West Bromwich Albion. Following on from their away trip to Darren Moore’s side, Rovers return to Ewood Park on 3rd November, where they play hosts to Queens Park Rangers, a side who have turned their season around, following a shaky start to their campaign. Once Steve McClaren’s side leave Ewood Park, Rovers’ attentions switch to Paul Warne’s Rotherham United, who make the short trip across the Pennines to Ewood Park, on 10th November.
