Report | Blackburn Rovers 1 Swansea City 0

Swansea City suffered late heartbreak as Daniel Ayala headed in a 90th minute winner for Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.

The Swans had started brightly with early chances for Joel Piroe, while Ben Cabango headed against the woodwork and Jay Fulton steered a good opportunity wide, but they were unable to find the breakthrough as the first half ended goalless.

The home side created more chances in the second half and Andy Fisher made a good save from Ben Brereton-Diaz.

Piroe had a few more half-chances later in the game but it was the home side who would take the points when Ayala was able to head in after a cross had been flicked on and fell for him in the final moments.

Russell Martin made two changes to the side who beat Blackpool last time out with Joe Allen and Joel Latibeaudiere named in the starting XI. Ollie Cooper and Matty Sorinola dropped to the bench and were joined by new goalkeeper Andreas Sondergaard.

The Swans started well, and carried a real threat from set-pieces in the opening exchanges. Ben Cabango’s header clattered the crossbar from a Ryan Manning delivery in the 16th minute having already gone close with a header earlier in the game.

Harry Darling was fastest to react to the rebound but his headed-effort was saved by Aynsley Pears.

Piroe also had a couple of early chances. Good defending by Hayden Carter denied him a headed goal in the opening minute while a bit of individual skill ended with a right-footed shot being blocked.

Much like in the reverse fixture at the start of the season, Rovers were content to defend deep, be compact, and look to hit the visitors with fast counter-attacks.

But they only managed one break in the opening 20 minutes. Ben Brereton Diaz’s pace and trickery got the better of Cabango, but Nathan Wood put in a strong challenge to sweep up any potential danger.

Tyrhys Dolan went close to an opener midway through the first period when he was allowed to run unchallenged into the Swans’ box. He tried to find the inside of the far post with his left-footed effort but dragged it wide.

This chance sparked a more even, scrappy period of the game. Both sides got into some good areas but weren’t able to fashion any chances of note, but the Swans fierce pressing was allowing them to remain largely in control of proceedings.

Darling went on a strong run out of defence but ran out of steam as he reached Blackburn’s 18-yard-box and lost the ball, while an attempted one-two between Jay Fulton and Luke Cundle was easily cut out.

The half ended as it had started, with a flurry of Swans chances. Fulton could have done better when, he was found at the edge of the box by Latibeaudiere after Darling’s sweeping diagonal pass. The Scot stabbed at the chance with his right boot when it may have been easier to have a go with his left.

Brave play out of the back by the Swans, centred around the calmness of  Fisher with his feet, allowed the side to work the ball into space down the pitch and get it into Piroe. His curled effort was deflected for a corner, which was cleared as far as Allen at the edge of the box. His volley was blocked.

At the other end, Brereton Diaz won a corner for Blackburn which was dealt with by the Swans defence and signalled the end of the half.

The home side started the second half with attacking intent, working the ball wide to Sorba Thomas on their right wing with purpose.

The Wales international drilled one excellent ball across the box very early in the second period but Sam Gallagher was unable to get a touch despite launching himself at it.

His next cross was floated and Fisher was able to claim it, while the third was cut out by Darling. 

Rovers kept coming though. Gallagher completely miscued a header from close range which ended up setting up Thomas at a narrow angle. He fizzed a shot goalward but Ryan Manning did enough on the goal line to clear it.

The match opened up as the two sides looked for a winner. Some nice work down the Swansea right released Latibeaudiere to the by-line but his ball across the face of goal left Piroe with a lot to do even on his favoured left foot. He was only able to find the side-netting.

Fisher was the first keeper to make a save in the second half, getting quickly down to his left to stop and hold Brereton Diaz’s effort after he was found by John Buckley. Carter also headed over under pressure from Darling.

Having seen out that pressure, the Swans fashioned a couple of chances he should have done better with.

The ball was played through to him, but he needed a touch too long on the ball which meant the shot was no longer on and his attempt to slide the ball into the overlapping runner was overhit and collected by the keeper.

Pears was quickly in the action again, coming off his line to claim a high ball after the Swans delivered a free-kick into the box.

But it was to be late heartbreak for the Swans as they struggled to clear their lines. Dominic Hyam’s ball bounced to Ayala who was alone in the box and bundle a diving header into the net.

The Swans created a final chance in the five minutes of injury time with Piroe and substitute Matty Sorinola getting forward. The latter took the shot but was only able to lift it over the crossbar and into the stands.

Blackburn Rovers: Aynsley Pears, Harry Pickering, Daniel Ayala, Dominic Hyam, Sam Gallagher (Bradley Dack 73) (Sammie Szmodics 86’), Tyrhys Dolan, Sorba Thomas, Hayden Carter, John Buckley, Ben Brereton Diaz (Ryan Hedges 79), Lewis Travis (captain).

Unused substitutes: Joe Hilton, Tyler Morton, Callum Brittain, Ash Phillips.

Swansea City: Andy Fisher; Nathan Wood, Harry Darling (Morgan Whittaker 90), Ben Cabango; Joel Latibeaudiere, Jay Fulton (Matty Sorinola 90), Joe Allen (Liam Cullen 72), Matt Grimes (captain), Ryan Manning; Luke Cundle (Ollie Cooper 60’); Joel Piroe.

Unused substitutes: Andreas Sondergaard, Olivier Ntcham, Liam Walsh.