03/11/2011 15:00 v Blackburn

25th May
First team

The Swans came unstuck at the hands of Yakubu and Blackburn Rovers as they succumbed to a 4-2 defeat at Ewood Park.

The Nigerian striker was too hot for the Swans to handle as he netted all four goals on a difficult afternoon for Brendan Rodgers’ side.

Yakubu opened the scoring in the 20th minute when he fed Gael Givet down the left wing, before receiving the return pass inside the area and sending a precise shot well beyond the reach of Michel Vorm.

However, Rodgers’ men responded well and equalised 15 minutes later. Leroy Lita was in for the injured Danny Graham and made the most of his opportunity by nodding home Mark Gower’s deep cross.

Nevertheless, Rovers regained the lead deep into first-half stoppage time with an unmarked Yakubu on hand to head in at the far post after Simon Vuckevic kept a corner alive.

It was from another corner that the striker completed his hat-trick 12 minutes after the break, as he provided the finishing touch after Chris Samba headed Morten Gamst Pedersen’s corner directly into his path.

The Swans did not give up, though, and pulled a goal back when substitute Luke Moore fired home, but were reduced to 10 men when Joe Allen was dismissed for a second bookable offence later on.

And Yakubu had the last word when he tucked away a penalty to complete the victory after Vuckevic had been brought down.

BLACKBURN ROVERS: Paul Robinson, Scott Dann, Chris Samba, Gael Givet, Jason Lowe, David Dunn (Radosav Petrovic, 75), Mauro Formica, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Junior Hoilett, Yakubu (Jason Roberts, 87), Ruben Rochina (Simon Vukcevic, 40).

SUBS NOT USED: Mark Bunn, Grant Hanley, Adam Henley, David Goodwillie.

SWANS: Michel Vorm, Jazz Richards, Ashley Williams, Garry Monk, Neil Taylor, Joe Allen, Leon Britton, Nathan Dyer (Wayne Routledge, 46), Mark Gower (Luke Moore, 61), Scott Sinclair, Leroy Lita.

SUBS NOT USED: Gerhard Tremmel, Fede Bessone, Vangelis Moras, Kemy Agustien, Stephen Dobbie.