Franco’s Fire and Cullen’s Cool Finish Sink Blackburn Rovers in Ewood Turnaround

Swansea City staged a stirring comeback at Ewood Park to claim a rare and richly deserved 2–1 win over Blackburn Rovers, just their third in 53 years at the venue. It was a night defined by moments: a thunderous Franco volley that evoked echoes of Van Basten’s iconic Euro ’88 strike, a slick second-half move finished by Liam Cullen, and a penalty shout waved away that, for once, tilted in Swansea’s favour.

Alan Sheehan’s side arrived with intent, dominating early possession and pressing high, but fell behind to a Todd Cantwell header after a clever cross from Ryan Alebiosu. The setback might have rattled lesser sides, but Swansea responded with poise and precision. Just before the break, Josh Tymon, marking his 100th appearance, delivered a pinpoint cross that Franco met with a first-time volley so pure it seemed to defy physics, arcing into the top corner and silencing Ewood.

The second half brought tactical clarity and confident substitutions. Ronald, Eom, Idah and Cullen all entered with purpose, and it was Idah’s sharp break and perfectly weighted pass that set up Cullen to sweep home the winner. Late drama came when Burgess clattered Cantwell in the box, but the referee waved play on. After a weekend of decisions going against Swansea, this one, arguably a penalty, went their way. Do these things really balance out over a season? On this evidence, perhaps just this once.

⚽ First Half: Franco’s Volley Turns the Tide at Ewood

Swansea started with intent, pressing high and controlling the ball with confidence. Blackburn looked passive early on, struggling to get out as the visitors dictated tempo and territory. Josh Tymon and Josh Key pushed forward, and Swansea’s shape allowed them to dominate the opening exchanges.

But control doesn’t always equal reward. Against the run of play, Blackburn took the lead. Ryan Alebiosu found space on the right and clipped in a cross that caught Swansea’s back line flat. Todd Cantwell rose to meet it and guided a header past Lawrence Vigouroux. It was Blackburn’s first real attack, and it ended with a goal.

Swansea didn’t panic. They kept playing, kept probing, and just before the break, they found the moment they’d been building towards. Tymon, making his 100th appearance, picked his spot and delivered a cross with whip and intent. Franco arrived late and met it with a volley so clean it felt like a throwback to Van Basten in ‘88. The ball flew into the top corner, a goal of pure technique and timing.

It was a strike that changed the mood. Tymon’s delivery was perfect, Franco’s finish outrageous. The goal didn’t just level the score, it underlined Swansea’s dominance. Blackburn had barely touched the ball since scoring, and Alebiosu’s early threat had faded.

As the half-time whistle blew, Swansea looked the stronger side. They’d responded to the setback with control and quality, and Franco’s goal gave them the platform to push on.

🔁 Second Half: Substitutes Strike as Swansea Seize Control

Swansea returned from the break with clarity and intent. The equaliser had shifted the momentum, and the second half became a showcase of smart decisions and confident execution. Four changes came early: Ronald, Eom, Idah and Cullen were introduced with purpose, and it didn’t take long for those moves to pay off.

The winning goal was a product of timing and trust. Adam Idah broke forward with power, driving into space and drawing defenders. His pass into the area was weighted perfectly, and Liam Cullen, arriving with composure, swept the ball past the Blackburn goalkeeper to give Swansea the lead. It was a well-worked move, simple in structure but clinical in delivery. The substitutes had changed the game.

Blackburn struggled to respond. Their rhythm was broken, and Swansea’s shape remained solid. The visitors managed the game well, controlling key areas and limiting chances. The home side pushed for a way back, but the final ball never came.

Late drama arrived when Burgess clattered Cantwell in the box. It looked a penalty: contact, timing, location. But the referee waved play on. No VAR, no review, no spot kick. For once, the call went Swansea’s way. After a weekend of decisions going against them, this one felt like a swing in the other direction. But does it really balance out over a season? That old cliché about decisions evening themselves out felt hollow. This one could easily have gone the other way.

Swansea saw it out with control. The final whistle brought relief and reward. A rare win at Ewood, built on tactical clarity, bold substitutions and moments of quality. No luck, no fluke, just a side that knew what it needed and delivered.

🔢 Swansea City Player Ratings

• Lawrence Vigouroux (GK) – 7
  Beaten by Cantwell’s header but stayed composed. Claimed crosses well and distributed cleanly.
• Josh Key (RB) – 7
  Energetic down the right. Supported attacks and recovered well defensively.
• Ben Cabango (CB, captain) – 7
  Led the back line with authority. Vocal, composed, and strong in duels.
• Cameron Burgess (CB) – 6.5
  Physical presence and decent positioning. Lucky to avoid conceding a penalty late on.
• Josh Tymon (LB) – 8
  Delivered the assist for Franco’s goal with a pinpoint cross. Marked his 100th appearance with impact.
• Marko Stamenic (CM) – 6.5
  Kept things tidy in midfield. Not flashy but effective in transitions.
• Gonçalo Franco (CM) – 8.5
  Stunning volley to equalise. Technically brilliant and a constant threat.
  ⭐ Man of the Match
• Ethan Galbraith (CM) – 6.5
  Neat touches and good movement. Faded slightly in the second half.
• Manuel Benson (RW) – 6.5
  First league start. Showed flashes of pace but lacked final product.
• Zeidane Inoussa (LW) – 6.5
  Worked hard off the ball. Pressed well and tracked back.
• Žan Vipotnik (ST) – 6
  Led the line but struggled to find space. Subbed early in the second half.

🔄 Substitutes

• Adam Idah (on for Vipotnik) – 7.5
  Created the winner with a driving run and smart pass. Changed the tempo.
• Liam Cullen (on for Galbraith) – 7.5
  Scored the winner with a composed finish. Made an instant impact.
• Ronald (on for Benson) – 6.5
  Added pace and width. Helped stretch Blackburn late on.
• Jisung Eom (on for Inoussa) – 6.5
  Kept possession well and linked play. Quiet but effective.
• Jay Fulton (on for Stamenic) – 6.5
  Came on to help close the game. Brought experience and composure.

🎙️ Manager Reactions: Mentality Praised, Frustration Boiled Over

Alan Sheehan hailed Swansea’s performance as a triumph of mentality and execution. “We showed real character,” he said, pointing to the team’s response after going behind and the impact of the substitutes. He praised the squad’s togetherness and tactical discipline, calling it a proper team performance and highlighting the belief that carried them through the second half.

Sheehan’s tone was measured but proud. He referenced the quality of Franco’s goal and the composure shown by Cullen, noting that the win was built on more than just moments. It was about structure, control and mindset.

In stark contrast, Valérien Ismaël cut a frustrated figure. He admitted Blackburn lost control after the equaliser and criticised the team’s inability to respond. “We didn’t manage the game,” he said, lamenting missed chances and defensive lapses. His annoyance was clear, especially around the penalty shout involving Burgess and Cantwell. “It was a clear penalty,” he insisted, calling the decision inexplicable and suggesting it changed the outcome.

Ismaël’s post-match tone reflected a side that had let the game slip. Sheehan’s reflected one that had seized it.

🧑‍⚖️ The Referee: Calm Control, Controversial Call

Referee Darren Bond kept a low profile for much of the match, allowing play to flow and avoiding unnecessary interruptions. His positioning was sharp, and he managed the tempo well, letting both sides compete without over-involvement.

But the game’s key flashpoint came late. Burgess collided with Cantwell in the box, and Blackburn’s bench erupted. Contact was clear, timing questionable, and location inside the area. Bond waved play on. No VAR, no review, no penalty. It was the kind of moment that lingers—especially for the side on the wrong end of it.

Bond’s overall control was solid, but that single decision shaped the narrative. Swansea benefited, Blackburn boiled over.

👀 A View from My Seat: Belief, Bite and a Proper Away Performance

From the moment the teams emerged, there was a quiet confidence about Swansea. Not arrogance, not swagger—just a sense that they were here to play, not just survive. The shape looked right, the energy was there, and even after going behind, the body language didn’t change. That’s rare. Especially away from home.

The early exchanges were all Swansea. Josh Key and Josh Tymon pushed high, the midfield rotated well, and Franco looked sharp from the first touch. When Blackburn scored, it felt like a sucker punch. Alebiosu’s cross was clever, Cantwell’s header well-placed, but it came out of nowhere. One attack, one goal. You could feel the frustration ripple through the away end.

But what followed was impressive. No panic, no hoofing it long. Swansea kept playing. Tymon, on his 100th appearance, was relentless down the left. His cross for Franco’s equaliser was inch-perfect, but the finish was something else. From the stands, it looked like he’d hit it too early. But the ball flew, dipped, and buried itself in the top corner. You could hear the gasp before the cheer. It was a goal that changed the mood—not just on the pitch, but in the stands.

Second half, the changes came early. Idah, Cullen, Ronald, Eom. All with purpose. Idah’s run for the winner was direct and decisive. Cullen’s finish was calm, clinical. From our angle, you could see it unfolding before it happened. That’s the joy of being there. You don’t just see the goal—you feel the build-up, the tension, the release.

And then came the penalty shout. Burgess on Cantwell. From the away end, it looked soft. From the home end, it looked stonewall. The referee waved it away, and you could feel the temperature rise. No VAR, no review, just a decision. For once, it went our way.

The final minutes were tense but controlled. Fulton came on and did what he does—calm things down, win a few fouls, take the sting out. Cabango led well, Vigouroux stayed composed, and the shape held. When the whistle blew, it wasn’t just relief. It was satisfaction.

The away support was small but loud. You could hear every chant, every cheer, every groan. And when Cullen’s goal went in, the eruption was pure. These are the moments that make the journey worth it. The long drive, the early start, the cold seats. It all fades when you win like this.

On the way home, the mood was light. People talking about Franco’s volley, Cullen’s finish, the referee’s call. It wasn’t just a win—it was a performance. One that felt earned. One that felt like it belonged to the fans as much as the players.

🧩 Summary: A Statement Win, but Consistency Must Follow

This was a performance to be proud of. Swansea showed character, control and quality in key moments. The goals were well-crafted, the substitutions smart, and the mentality spot on.

But if this side wants to challenge at the top, this can’t be the exception. It has to become the norm. The Championship is wide open this season. No team has found rhythm, and consistency is the currency that will decide who rises.

Swansea have the tools. Now they need the habit.

📅 Next Up: Leicester City (H) – Saturday 4 October, 3pm

Back at home. Back with momentum. Leicester City visit the Swansea.com Stadium this Saturday, and the mood has shifted. After a gritty win at Ewood, Swansea are looking up again.