Goal-shy Swansea fall to defeat away at Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn made it five successive home wins in the Sky Bet Championship with a 1-0 victory over goal-shy Swansea.

John Eustace’s men were aiming to match a record set by Rovers’ title-winning side in 1994-95 by stretching their perfect Ewood Park start and Tyrhys Dolan’s second goal of the season was enough to end a two-match losing streak and move them back into the top six.

Andi Weimann should have added a late second in what was an unconvincing performance but Blackburn maximised the time they were in the ascendancy, which they have done clinically all season at home.

Swansea had enough of the ball and play but could not apply the finishing touch, with Florian Bianchini and Goncalo Franco both missing gilt-edged opportunities either side of the break.

They are now winless in four and have failed to score in four of their five away games.

Owen Beck returned from suspension for Rovers, who also handed a start to Todd Cantwell. Swansea drafted in Bianchini and Liam Cullen, who scored the winner in the corresponding match last season.

Rovers raced out of the blocks and nearly went ahead in the opening three minutes but Cantwell struck the sidenetting.

They did take a deserved 13th-minute lead when Cantwell’s corner was met first time by Dolan. His shot into the ground bounced beyond Lawrence Vigouroux, potentially via a slight Makhtar Gueye deflection.

The Swans should have levelled on the half hour when Josh Key sent in an excellent low cross that Bianchini could not connect with at the far post.

Ronald missed a presentable opportunity soon after when he failed to direct a Matt Grimes free-kick on target.

Swansea’s slow start to the first half cost them dearly and they almost saw history repeat itself but luckily for them, Ryan Hedges blasted wide within seconds of the restart.

But Luke Williams’ side looked increasingly threatening and Cullen should have done better than heading over Ronald’s inviting cross.

The visitors passed up a glorious opportunity in the 61st minute when Azeem Abdulai’s cross was headed by Ronald into the path of Franco, who lashed a half-volley beyond the far post from close range.

Blackburn substitute Weimann should have wrapped up the points with his first involvement but shot straight at Vigouroux.

Harry Darling saw a late header saved by Aynsley Pears before Swansea went agonisingly close to equalising when Key’s injury-time cross drifted across goal.

Weimann still had the chance to force a sprawling save from Vigouroux but it did not matter as Rovers secured another home victory.