Rob Davies
Alan Sheehan earned the Swans some breathing space after Jerry Yates scored a second half winner against ten man Rotherham United yesterday afternoon.
The Swans weren’t at their best but on a day where points were desperately needed in order to avoid being dragged within two points of the bottom three, the team got the job done. Just.
The cause was helped when Daniel Ayala was booked twice within the first half hour earning him an early bath before Charlie Patino flicked in the opener.
Rotherham did level after the break to bring a nervy second half but Key’s cross was not dealt with leaving Yares with a simple finish in front of the Swansea City fans.
Sheehan made four changes to the side that drew at home to Huddersfield last weekend, bringing in Bolasie, Patino, Darling and Key in what looked a sensible setup on paper.
Rushworthย
Key – Darling – Cabango – Tymon
Fulton – Grimes – Patino
Paterson – Lowe – Bolasie
It’s probably fair to say that Rotherham started rhe better with their own plight even more perilous than our own. No manager but they have earned credible draws against Leeds United and Ipswich Town at home in recent weeks.
After drawing at Birmingham City last weekend their caretaker manager kept faith with his side and midfielder Tiehi, who had fhe first opportunity of the game but his fierce effort was well held by Rushworth.
Experienced defender Ayala received his first booking for walking away with the ball after Swansea were awarded a throw in. His next one came soon after as Patino tried to get away but two digs later he was on the floor and Ayala was dismissed.
From that point on it looked a very different game to what we’d seen prior with the Swans dominating possession and stretching the pace thanks to the speed of Bolasie and (to an extent) Key.
Indeed Viktor Johanssen in the home goal made some great saves, thwarting Lowe and preventing an own goal before Patino slammed wide on the follow up with his right foot.
But he made no mistake with his next effort as a whipped in cross found rhe Arsenal loanee and he shouldered the ball into the corner for the opener.
That was a huge relief for all involved even though the team had hardly been convincing but the result was all that mattered.
In the second half Rotherham fired a warning shot with Nombe firing over after a bouncing ball wasn’t dealt with before a typical Millers long throw from Sean Morrison brought the equaliser.
His throw from the left side was flicked on and bounced off Nombe for the equaliser in a game that Rotherham hadn’t really been in since rhe dismissal.
The game became far more open that it really should have against ten men without Rotherham really threatening for a second goal before Key’s delightful ball set up Yates.
The returning right back marauder down the wing, whipped the ball to the middle of the box and the defender couldn’t deal with it. Yates was the beneficiary and slipped home as the ball broke to him.
From that point on it was a case of Millers pressure without too much in terms of penetration and thankfully the three points came home to South Wales.
A scrappy affair in the North but Sheehan will be grateful after a turbulent week that a win is on the board after a run of just one in eight.
Next up a trip to Stoke with Sheehan again taking the reins as the manager hunt continues.
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