Report | Blackburn Rovers 1 Swansea City 2
Swansea City secured just a third win at Ewood Park in 53 years as a stunning strike from Goncalo Franco and a fine Liam Cullen finish saw them come from behind to beat Blackburn Rovers.
Alan Sheehan’s side had trailed to a Todd Cantwell header in the first half, but got back on terms when Franco dispatched an unstoppable volley into the top corner just before the interval.
Wales international Cullen then completed the turnaround when he swept home from Adam Idah’s astute pass with 23 minutes remaining.
The Swans showed plenty of resilience to recover from the setback of falling behind, and then had the clinical touch in front of goal to convert in key moments and return to winning ways.
Franco and Manuel Benson had come into the Swansea team at the expense of Malick Yalcouye and Ronald, while Josh Tymon brought up a century of appearances for the club.
The visitors made the better start, having the lion’s share of possession and spending most of the time in the opposing half.
They won a series of early corners, with an offside against Tymon bringing that spell of pressure to an end.
At the other end, Ryoya Morishita’s cross nearly picked out Andri Gudjohnsen, but he could not make a clean connection at the near post.
Ethan Galbraith forced the first save of the game 17 minutes in when his firm drive from distance was parried by Balazs Toth.
Sondre Tronstad sent a volley well over the bar before the hosts took the lead in the 28th minute.
Ryan Alebiosu raced into space down the right, cut inside the cover and floated an awkward cross to the far post, where Cantwell arrived to meet it on the bounce and head into the net.
The goal unsettled the visitors and Taylor Gardner-Hickman thumped a strike over the bar after Ryan Hedges had driven the hosts upfield.
But Swansea could, and perhaps should, have been on terms after Tymon swung in an excellent delivery from a free-kick which was met by a thumping header from Cameron Burgess, but the ball flew the wrong side of the post.
However, they did equalise before half-time courtesy of a stunning strike from Franco, who walloped a first-time volley across goal and into the top corner from Tymon’s pinpoint cross.
Blackburn initially made the brighter start to the second half, with Lawrence Vigouroux making a fine diving stop as Cantwell looked for the far corner after a deflection had fallen kindly for Rovers in the Swansea area.
Augustus Kargbo then missed his kick as he attempted to turn in an Alebiosu cross during a decent spell for the hosts, just after Sheehan had sent on Ronald and Jisung Eom for Benson and Inoussa respectively.
Idah and Cullen soon followed in place of Vipotnik and Galbraith just beyond the hour mark, and moments later Eom blocked a pass and was suddenly running into the area with support.
He attempted to find Idah near the six-yard box, but the pass was telegraphed and easily picked off.
But Swansea made no mistake when presented with another chance a couple of minutes later.
Idah was the man to make the most of a loose touch from a blue and white shirt and took off upfield. The Republic of Ireland international took his time before calmly measuring a pass into the run of the oncoming Cullen, who sent a low first-time strike into the net.
There was still plenty of time left and, after Idah had seen a header blocked, Vigouroux make a tremendous save to tip Yuki Ohashi's goalbound header around the post inside the final 10 minutes.
Cantwell appealed for a penalty after a challenge from Burgess on the right side of the area which the referee waved away as the visitors claimed the spoils.
Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux, Josh Key, Ben Cabango (captain), Cameron Burgess, Josh Tymon; Marko Stamenic (Jay Fulton 84), Goncalo Franco, Ethan Galbraith (Liam Cullen 63); Manuel Benson (Ronald 56), Zeidane Inoussa (Jisung Eom 56); Žan Vipotnik (Adam Idah 63).
Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Malick Yalcouye, Ishe Samuels-Smith, Kaelan Casey.
Blackburn Rovers: Balazs Toth, Ryan Alebiosu, Yuri Ribeiro, Taylor Gardner-Hickman (Dion De Neve 89(, Sondre Tronstad, Todd Cantwell (captain), Andri Gudjohnsen, Lewis Miller, Sean McLoughlin, Ryan Hedges (Yuki Ohashi 71), Ryoya Morishita (Augustus Kargbo 46).
Unused Substitutes: Aynsley Pears, Harry Pickering, Sidnei Tavares, Scott Wharton, Axel Henriksson, Kristi Montgomery.
Referee: Leigh Doughty
Attendance: 11,013 (372 away)