Swansea City 3-0 Blackburn Rovers – Luke who? The Swans are back to winning ways

Swansea City returned to winning ways at the Swansea.com Stadium this afternoon with a hugely improved performance under the temporary leadership pf Alan Sheehan following the sacking of Luke Williams at the start of the week.

This performance was far from the dismal, dull football that we had become accustomed to under Williams and it was a deserved three points for a side who simply wanted it on the day.  Whether that was because the team felt that they had a point to prove or whether Sheehan had instilled a belief that was missing for so long under Williams it did not matter, the simple fact was the Swans took the three points and now have a ten point cushion ahead of the relegation places.

Reality is that a few performances like this and any fears of relegation will be long gone at the dot com with the three points today secured by goals from Vipotnik, Peart-Harris and Cullen’s second half goal sealing the deal after we had a two goal advantage at the interval.   Whilst the decision to relieve Williams of his duties maybe caught some off guard, today it proved to be a very good decision and there will be little doubt that in the corridors of power this evening there will be some pats on the back being given knowing that the decision was ultimately the right one, no matter how difficult they may have felt that it was at the time.

The Swans managed fourteen shots on goal during the game – figures that felt like it could take a month of performances to achieve and conceded the majority of possession to the visitors but it was a statistic that haunted Williams for so long that his side was capable of dominating possession but ultimately doing nothing with it.

The Swans were grateful for a couple of early saves from Vigouroux when he tipped a header wide and then saved when a shot was straight at him but that was the only work he had to do on an afternoon where there was only one winner once the first goal was sealed.

And that first goal came from Vipotnik as he converted Josh Tymon’s cross from the left hand side of the park.   You could class there was an element of good fortune in it as the striker first stood on the ball but as he fell backwards he had enough composure to prod home the ball from close range to give the Swans the lead.   The relief around the Swansea.com Stadium was evident but the nerves would very much remain given the Swans generous nature in defence in recent weeks.

As the game headed towards the interval those nerves were reduced slightly as the Swans doubled their advantage in stoppage time.   And it was the result of a quick break that they took advantage.   A clearance helped by Peart-Harris saw Vipotnik tangle with the Blackburn player on the halfway line but as everyone expected some level of whistle, Peart-Harris picked up the ball and outpaced the defender to slide the ball past the keeper and into the corner of the net.   Blackburn protested but it was to no avail as the goal was given and the Swans were well on their way towards their deserved prize.

The second half was not so much a possession after that but it was made so much easier thanks to the second goal and it really only ever looked like the Swans who would score again as Blackburn appeared to be a beaten side.

Both Vipotnik and Franco had come close before the Swans got the third goal that their play deserved when Cullen swept home a Ronald cross from the left and any fears of another second half capitulation from the Swans were well banished by this point as thoughts turned to a move upwards in the table after such a dismal six weeks of form.

There was time for appearances from several substitutes including Josh Ginnelly who almost teed up a fourth with pretty much his first touch but the defenders sliced clearance went over the bar to just deny the Swans an unprecedented fourth goal.

If Alan Sheehan has any desires to be considered for the managerial vacancy permanently then performances like this will do that desire no harm at all.   The team appeared to be a distant memory from the dull football served up by Williams and whilst it is just the first ninety minutes it has certainly relaxed some of the anger that has circled over the club since the links of Williams and West Brom and another dreadful transfer window in January.

The search though for Luke Williams’ successor will continue with ten days now before the next game at Preston but for today we can celebrate the three points gained at home and enjoy the moment, they have been few and far between since the turn of the year.

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