Swansea City defeat Bristol Rovers in latest Fairwood friendly

Swansea City came out on top over the course of two hour-long friendlies against Bristol Rovers at Fairwood in their penultimate run-out before the start of the new season.

The Swans were 3-2 winners over the course of the 120 minutes, winning the first hour 2-1, before drawing the second 1-1.

Joel Piroe had fired the Swans ahead from the spot, and a fine finish from Cameron Congreve quickly doubled their advantage.

Aaron Collins pulled one back through a penalty for Rovers, and there were no further goals until Liam Cullen converted from inside the box after the teams began to make changes.

Ryan Loft got one back for the League One visitors late on, levelling up the second of the hour-long games, but leaving the Swans ahead on the cumulative score.

In sweltering heat the Swans made a bright start. Michael Obafemi flashing a strike wide of goal from the edge of the area, before Congreve worked room for a cross that was blocked.

And the Swans were soon awarded an eighth-minute penalty after Piroe was fouled as he reacted to a block from Matty Sorinola’s pull-back.

The Dutchman picked himself up off the floor and fired the spot-kick under the keeper to give the hosts a lead their fast start more than merited.

It was 2-0 just a couple of minutes later. Swansea pressing and harrying Rovers relentlessly until Congreve won the ball and fired a fine left-footed strike into the bottom corner.

But the visitors pulled one back from the spot in the 14th minute. Collins finding the net after being brought down in the box by Harry Darling.

Swansea responded, working a lovely move from one end to the other with Congreve and Piroe involved, but Sorinola was on his heels as the final ball found space at the far stick.

At the other end Collins saw a shot saved by Andy Fisher, while Harvey Saunders fired wastefully over after getting in down the left side of the box.

The next chance fell to the hosts, Congreve picking off a loose pass but firing straight at the keeper, and Jay Fulton then came close to feeding Sorinola in on goal after good work by Piroe down the left.

John Marquis headed straight at Andy Fisher from a corner, before Congreve saw an effort cannon off the crossbar after a slick move from back to front.

The Swans still led at the hour break, and nearly extended their lead when Joel Latibeaudiere was worked into space on the right, with the keeper tipping his rising drive around the post.

Swansea were then denied a penalty when the referee awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box despite Obafemi being fouled well inside the area.

Piroe saw his effort from the set-piece diverted wide before the Gas had a goal ruled out for an offside against Jordan Rossiter.

But it was the hosts who struck first in the second hour-long contest to extend their cumulative advantage. A lovely move saw Olivier Ntcham’s crossfield pass find Lincoln Mcfayden, and his early cross was superbly finished by Cullen.

Jordon Garrick nearly extended the advantage further, cutting in after driving into the box and curling a left-footed strike just wide of the far post.

Ntcham was the next to go close, lofting a volley onto the top of the bar from Garrick’s lay-off following a clipped Mcfayden cross.

Loft then levelled up the second contest as Rovers broke and he calmly finished with his left foot after being played in from a long ball over the top, but the Swans were 3-2 winners over the full two hours.

Swansea City: Andy Fisher (Steven Benda 61); Joel Latibeaudiere (Jordon Garrick 76), Nathan Wood (Brandon Cooper 91), Harry Darling (Nathanael Ogbeta 91), Kyle Naughton (Ryan Manning 76); Matt Grimes (Ollie Cooper 91), Jay Fulton (Dan Williams 91); Cameron Congreve (Jamie Paterson 61), Joel Piroe (Olivier Ntcham 76), Matty Sorinola (Lincoln Mcfayden 76); Michael Obafemi (Liam Cullen 76).