Dominant Swans down Rovers to give Sheehan first win

First-half strikes from Zan Vipotnik and Myles Peart-Harris would give the home side a comfortable advantage at the break, before Liam Cullen’s 10th of the season saw the Swans win for only the second time in the calendar year.

In an impressive attacking performance of high quality, the scoreline did not flatter the Swans with an array of chances created and most noticeably confidence restored to a team that had lost their way since the Christmas period.

In the first match since the dismissal of head coach Luke Williams, Swansea Interim boss Alan Sheehan came into the match with play-off chasing Rovers looking to improve on a record of seven defeats in their last nine league fixtures since the turn of the year.

A 3-1 collapse against StokeCity last weekend at the Bet 365 stadium proved to be the final nail in Williams’ coffin despite full back Josh Tymon putting the Swans ahead in the second half scoring his second goal in the last three games.

In response, Sheehan called for “fight and energy” to give his side the best chance of getting a result against the side lying in fifth place in the table with the Irishman under no illusions of the challenge Rovers would possess. 

Starting his second caretaker spell in the Swans dugout, Sheehan named a side showing four changes. In a change of shape, Josh Key, Harry Darling, Peart-Harris, and Vipotnik all came back into the X1, with Kyle Naughton, Hannes Delcroix, Ji-sung Eom and Ollie Cooper dropping to the bench. 

In a similar managerial situation, Blackburn meanwhile, had responded well to the shock departure of head coach John Eustace with Interim boss David Lowe picking up impressive victories over fellow play-off hopefuls West Bromwich Albion and struggling Plymouth Argyle to maintain momentum.

They made two changes to their side that beat the Pilgrims with top scorer Andreas Weimann and winger Ryan Hedges recalled.

It would be the away side who would enjoy the better of the early proceedings. Lawrence Vigouroux called into action in the third minute to make a smart save from Weimann’s header after a neat cross saw the Austrian’s effort tipped wide.

The Swans would grow into the half but would struggle for an end product in the opposition’s final third. Both Key and Tymon finding good positions but would be unable to find an attacker in the Blackburn penalty area.

Rovers would be however threatening on the counter attack and Weimann would be guilty of poor finishing when well-placed in the 35th minute. Callum Brittain finding space on the right before teeing up the forward on the edge of the six-yard box only to tamely shoot into Vigouroux’s grateful hands.

It would be the Swans though who would take the lead minutes later. Vipotnik first to react to a loose ball in the Rovers penalty area after a cross had failed to be dealt with to poke past a helpless Aynsley Pears in the Blackburn goal.

With their confidence growing, the Swans would double their advantage in first-half stoppage time. Peart-Harris latching onto a through ball on the left-hand side of the penalty area before outmuscling his marker to drill a low effort perfectly past Pears into the bottom corner, much to the jubilation of the home faithful.

The Swans would start the second-half as they would finish and nearly found a third within the opening minutes. Franco driving through midfield before playing a neat one-two with Vipotnik before drawing a save low from Pears. With Blackburn only half-clearing, the rebound would fall to Key but the former Exeter full back’s deflected shot would always be rising away from goal.

Swansea would not be denied on the hour mark though as the visitors defense faltered once more. Peart-Harris finding room on the left before cutting inside to pick out an unmarked Cullen to fire home his 10th league goal of the season.

Now dominating the midfield battle, O’Brien and Franco would combine before the Portuguese’s piledriver would almost make it four. With their tails up, the Swans would see further chances through Tymon saved by Pears, whilst Cabango and Vipotnik would both narrowly miss the target with the Rovers goal gaping.

Blackburn substitute Buckley would shoot wide from range in a rare forage in the Swans final third of play. But it would be an off colour performance from the visitors whose play-off challenge would falter as Swansea would get back to winning ways to earn the three points.

Swansea City lineup

Lawrence Vigouroux, Josh Tymon, Josh Key, Harry Darling, Ben Cabango (captain), Ronald (Ji-Sung Eom 88), Gonçalo Franco (Jay Fulton 85), Lewis O’Brien, Myles Peart-Harris (Josh Ginnelly 80), Liam Cullen (Ollie Cooper 80). Žan Vipotnik (Florian Bianchini 80).

Blackburn Rovers lineup

Aynsley Pears, Callum Brittain, Yuri Ribeiro, Dion Sanderson, Dominic Hyam,

Lewis Travis (captain), Adam Forshaw (John Buckley 56), Ryan Hedges (Augustus Kargbo 56), Tyrhys Dolan (Joe-Rankin Costello 78), Andreas Weimann (Emmanuel Dennis 56), Makhtar Gueye (Cauley Woodrow 87).

[Lead image: Swansea City FC]