Jerry Yates grabbed the crucial goal as Swansea City returned to winning ways with victory over 10-man Rotherham United at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.

The Swans had taken the lead on the stroke of half-time through Charlie Patino, with the hosts already a man light after Daniel Ayala was sent off following two bookings in quick succession.

The visitors had control of the contest only to be pegged back when Sam Nombe converted from a long throw just past the hour mark.

But Swansea took the three points as substitute Yates pounced on a defensive error to find the bottom corner.

It gave Alan Sheehan a win in his first game in caretaker charge, with the Irishman, players and staff sharing the victory with the 495 travelling Jacks in attendance.

Sheehan had made four changes from the draw with Huddersfield as Yannick Bolasie was handed a first Swansea start, with Josh Key, Harry Darling and Patino also coming into the XI.

Kyle Naughton, Bashir Humphreys, Liam Walsh and Liam Cullen all dropped to the bench.

The Swans had to deal with a number of high balls into the area early on, with Ben Cabango and Darling dealing well with the bombardment, while Key made a vital intervention at the far post to nod away a Nombe cross.

Carl Rushworth then saved Christ Tiehi’s half-volley but the Swans began to settle into the contest and pose some questions of their own.

Their cause was helped when the hosts were reduced to 10 when Ayala – having already failed to trip Patino – pushed the Swansea midfielder to the deck to receive a second booking in just the 17th minute.

The Swans began to dominate possession, and a patient move ended with Bolasie heading over at the far post after being picked out by a Jay Fulton cross.

Bolasie was soon worked into space again on the left, but his low cross was cleared before  Cabango headed a corner wide of the target.

Jamal Lowe was the next to have a chance, closing down a defender to win the ball and fire a powerful shot that Viktor Johansson did superbly to tip over.

Swansea were building pressure and Key tricked his way to the byline, only for his pull-back to Patino to be cut out.

Darling then headed straight into Johansson’s gloves from another corner from close range.

The centre-back soon tried his luck from distance, with Johansson saving at full stretch to tip his effort round the post.

Johansson was in fine form and made another magnificent stop, adjusting to claw away Lowe’s header from a Key cross.

But there was nothing the Millers keeper could do about Patino’s goal.

A cross from Jamie Paterson for Bolasie was missed by the winger, but it went on to strike Patino and roll into the bottom corner of the net to give the Swans the interval lead.

The visitors were soon on the front foot again after the restart, Bolasie having a cross cut out before a Josh Tymon pass just could not find Paterson.

Johansson then palmed a long-range Darling strike over the bar before Nombe fired over from distance for the hosts.

The Swans had looked comfortable but when they failed to deal with a long throw into the box, it was turned in by Nombe - despite Rushworth’s best efforts - to level the scores.

Matt Grimes then made a fine covering tackle after Hakeem Odoffin had found space inside the Swansea area.

Lowe then swept the Swans back up the field to win a corner, from which Darling’s header was saved by Johansson.

But the visitors regained the lead 17 minutes from time. Key’s cross was not dealt with by the Rotherham defence and the ball popped up for Yates to fire left-footed into the bottom corner.

There were a few nervy moments in the closing stages, but the Swans emerged with three valuable points.

Swansea City: Carl Rushworth, Josh Key, Jay Fulton, Ben Cabango, Harry Darling, Matt Grimes (captain), Jamal Lowe, Jamie Paterson (Liam Cullen 90), Josh Tymon (Bashir Humphreys 90), Yannick Bolasie (Jerry Yates 58), Charlie Patino (Liam Walsh 67).

Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Kyle Naughton, Ollie Cooper, Sam Parker, Cameron Congreve.

Rotherham United: Viktor Johansson, Cohen Bramall, Daniel Ayala, Jamie Lindsay (Grant Hall 77), Ollie Rathbone (captain) (Georgie Kelly 84), Lee Peltier (Tom Eaves 90), Hakeem Odoffin, Christ Tiehi, Sebastian Revan, Sam Nombe (Jordan Hugill 77), Arvin Appiah (Sean Morrison 46).

Unused Substitutes: Dillon Phillips, Dexter Lembikisa, Ciaran McGuckin.

Referee: Josh Smith

Attendance: 9,414 (495 away)