Report | Swansea City 2 Blackburn Rovers 1
First-half goals from Joe Allen and Jamie Paterson saw Swansea City complete a first-ever league double over Blackburn Rovers with victory at the Swansea.com Stadium.
Luke Williams’ side had by far the better of the opening half, and deservedly led after Allen netted his second goal of the season from close range early on, before Paterson fired home his seventh this term after fine pressing work in midfield.
Sammie Szmodics pulled a goal back for the visitors in the second half but, as at Sunderland a week earlier, Swansea saw the game out to claim the three points.
It ensured back-to-back league wins for the first time since October, and gave head coach Williams his first home league win in charge in SA1.
It was all built on an opening half where Swansea’s energy and intensity reflected Williams’ pre-match message to give the home fans a performance to rally around.
The Swans starting line-up had been unchanged from the win at Sunderland, but had Josh Key, Jamal Lowe and Bashir Humphreys fit enough to take places on the bench.
And they got the dream start as they took a seventh-minute lead through Allen.
Carl Rushworth saw Przemyslaw Placheta running into space at a goal-kick and the Poland international quickly seized on a loose header to surge deep into Blackburn territory.
A piece of trickery and a ricochet allowed him to get into the area on the byline and, when his cross was cut out, it fell for Allen to bundle home from close range.
Josh Tymon then had a shot blocked away for a corner as the Swans made all the running, before Matt Grimes so nearly picked out Ronald’s run from wide into a central area.
The pace of Ronald and Placheta was causing all manner of problems, and Kyle McFadzean went in the book for a late lunge on the Brazilian.
Blackburn had been on the back foot, but Swansea were fortunate Szmodics – the Championship’s top scorer – could not turn in Callum Brittain’s shot at the far post.
The Swans made the most of the miss by doubling their leading the 19th minute.
Good pressing work from Grimes saw the midfielder win the ball, it ran for Paterson who drove forward to send a left-footed strike beyond Aynsley Pears.
McFadzean nearly put through his own net under pressure from Liam Cullen as Blackburn’s discomfort continued.
Swansea continued to threaten, Allen firing over when unmarked at a corner, before Placheta was crowded out following another surge into the box.
Brittain saw his firm strike well held by Rushworth, before Ben Cabango’s knockdown from a corner could not find another white shirt at the other end.
Rushworth was in fine form, and he again showed great reactions and handling to get down and deny Tyrhys Dolan’s effort from eight yards as the hosts retained their two-goal lead at the interval.
Blackburn made a double change at the break, bringing on Arnor Sigurdsson and Yasin Ayari for Andy Moran and McFadzean as they changed shape.
But the pattern remained the same, and Pears had to be alert to gather in Placheta’s rising outside-of-the-foot effort.
Blackburn threw numbers forward as they sought a way back into the game, but when they did Swansea’s pace in wide areas offered the hosts a ready outlet.
That threat was highlighted when Placheta set up Ronald on the counter, but the Brazilian had strayed offside.
Kyle Naughton then showed all his experience to make a crucial last-ditch tackle after a lofted pass had picked out the run of Sam Gallagher.
But the visitors pulled one back when Szmodics turned in his 19th league goal of the campaign after a corner had come through to him near the penalty spot.
And the Swans suffered a further blow when Paterson limped off with 20 minutes to go, with Lowe taking his place.
The visitors pressed again, a deflection sending John Buckley’s shot wide, before Rushworth gathered in Dilan Markanday’s low drive.
Jerry Yates, on for Placheta, was then unable to take a gilt-edged chance to restore the two-goal cushion as his effort was smothered by Pears after Swansea had won the ball and Liam Cullen released him into space on the right side of the area.
The Swans were left needing to see out nine minutes of stoppage time to secure the win but they showed the resolve to get the job done.
Swansea City: Carl Rushworth, Ben Cabango, Joe Allen (Jay Fulton 65), Matt Grimes (captain), Jamie Paterson (Jamal Lowe 71), Josh Tymon, Przemyslaw Placheta (Jerry Yates 65), Liam Cullen (Charlie Patino 82), Nathan Wood, Kyle Naughton, Ronald (Ollie Cooper 82).
Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Josh Key, Harry Darling, Bashir Humphreys.
Blackburn Rovers: Aynsley Pears, Callum Brittain. Harry Pickering (Ben Chrisene 66), Dominic Hyam (captain), Sammie Szmodics, Sam Gallagher, Tyrhys Dolan (Dilan Markanday 66), Scott Wharton, John Buckley (Zak Gilsenan 94), Andy Moran (Yasin Ayari 46), Kyle McFadzean (Arnor Sigurdsson 46).
Unused Substitutes: Leo Wahlstedt, Connor O'Riordan, Jake Garrett, Billy Koumetio.
Referee: Rebecca Welch
Attendance: 15,369