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.
Nuno Espirito Santo acknowledged no one at Nottingham Forest expected to be third in April but backed his team to embrace the challenge after they started a huge week with victory at Tottenham.Forest had slipped to sixth in the Premier League after weekend wins for Champions League qualification rivals Manchester City, Chelsea and Aston Villa, yet responded with aplomb in the capital.Early efforts...
Chris Wood’s 19th goal of the season fired Nottingham Forest back up to third in the Premier League with a 2-1 win at Tottenham.Forest had slipped to sixth after the weekend’s results, but Nuno Espirito Santo savoured a sweet three points against old club Spurs after early goals from Elliot Anderson and Wood in the capital.It brought Ange Postecoglou’s team back down to earth aft...
Leeds boss Daniel Farke saluted his players for holding their nerve after a 6-0 home win against Stoke helped seal promotion back to the Premier League.Joel Piroe scored four goals, including Leeds’ fastest-ever league hat-trick, with strikes in the sixth, eighth and 20th minutes and added his fourth before half-time after Junior Firpo had put Farke’s side 4-0 up in 26 minutes.Willy Gn...
Burnley captain Josh Brownhill sent the Clarets back into the Premier League with both goals in a 2-1 win over Sheffield United that also saw Leeds promoted and left the Blades relying on the play-offs.Scott Parker made it three promotions with three different clubs in the space of six seasons as Burnley extended their unbeaten league run to a club-record 31 games, bouncing straight back to the Pr...
Burnley captain Josh Brownhill joked the Clarets had “bored our way to the Premier League” after a 2-1 win at home to Sheffield United confirmed their return to the top flight at the first attempt.Scott Parker’s side have conceded just 15 goals in 44 matches and victory over their promotion rivals ensured they could not be caught with two matches remaining.“I’m speech...
West Brom have announced the departure of Tony Mowbray after the club’s play-off hopes were all-but ended by a 3-1 Championship defeat at home to relegation-threatened Derby.The visitors twice punished the Baggies from set-piece situations when Ebou Adams and Jerry Yates struck from corners in the first half.Adam Armstrong’s goal halved the deficit and made for a nervy final 20 minutes...
Ian Holloway emphasised his pride in his resurgent Swindon side, despite Will Wright’s own goal against Bromley ending their slim play-off hopes.Danny Imray nutmegged Tom Nichols on the byline and fired a low ball into the box which bounced off the hapless defender’s shin in the 88th minute, condemning the Robins to a 1-0 loss.Kabongo Tshimanga had earlier missed a first-half penalty f...
Grant McCann admitted the task ahead for him is to keep his players calm after Doncaster put themselves within touching distance of promotion with a 3-0 win over Colchester.Goals from Harry Clifton, Jordan Gibson and Patrick Kelly saw Rovers power into top spot in League Two.It means a victory over promotion rivals Bradford this weekend will see them promoted to League One but McCann is determined...
Leeds boss Daniel Farke saluted four-goal Joel Piroe after his side thrashed Stoke 6-0 at Elland Road to stand on the brink of Premier League promotion.Piroe fired Leeds’ fastest-ever league hat-trick with strikes in the sixth, eighth and 20th minutes and added his fourth before half-time after Junior Firpo had put Farke’s side 4-0 up in 26 minutes.Willy Gnonto headed Leeds’ sixt...
Tony Mowbray felt West Brom “lacked a bit of courage on the ball” as their play-off hopes were all-but ended by a 3-1 home defeat to relegation-threatened Derby.The visitors twice punished the Baggies from set-piece situations when Ebou Adams and Jerry Yates struck from corners in the first half.Adam Armstrong’s goal halved the deficit and made for a nervy final 20 minutes until ...
- 1 Jordan Bowery earns Mansfield a point at Rotherham
- 2 Arteta makes exciting Arsenal transfer claim
- 3 Grant McCann to keep Doncaster players calm despite being on brink of promotion
- 4 Four Tottenham stars could leave this summer
- 5 Big Brother legend Chanelle Hayes flaunts weight loss in red bikini
- 6 Man Utd & Man City join PSG in race for Akliouche
- 7 PL side eyeing summer move for Rashford
- 8 Mentality and spirit unbelievable – Daniel Farke praises promoted Leeds players
- 9 Newcastle continue to impress in absence of Eddie Howe with Crystal Palace rout
- 10 Man City in pole position to secure Morgan Gibbs