Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Ewood Park , Blackburn
TV: Sky Sports+
T. Cantwell 28'
G. Franco 44'
L. Cullen 67'
S. McLoughlin 36'
S. Tronstad 79'
T. Cantwell 87'
V. Ismael 88'
J. Tymon 72'
C. Burgess 75'
Full time

Swansea Strike Late to Down Blackburn at Ewood Park

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Swansea City claimed a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Tuesday night, overcoming an early deficit and showcasing clinical finishing to secure three vital points in the Championship regular season.

Blackburn, desperate for momentum after a sluggish campaign, started brightly and took the lead in the 28th minute. Todd Cantwell, a new arrival this summer, made his mark with a well-placed header from the center of the box, capitalizing on a sweeping move that caught the Swansea defense flat-footed. The hosts looked to build on their advantage, pressing high and creating several half-chances, but Swansea regrouped quickly and began to assert themselves as the half progressed.

The visitors found their equalizer just before the break. In the 44th minute, Gonçalo Franco burst into the box and slotted home a composed finish after a slick passing sequence, drawing Swansea level and silencing the home crowd. The goal shifted the momentum, with Swansea emerging from halftime with newfound urgency.

Blackburn’s frustration grew in the second half as Swansea controlled possession and probed for openings. The breakthrough came in the 67th minute: Liam Cullen, fresh off the bench, rose highest to meet a pinpoint cross and powered a header past the Blackburn keeper, completing the turnaround for the Swans. Cullen’s impact was immediate and decisive, rewarding manager Luke Williams’ tactical gamble.

The closing stages saw Blackburn push desperately for an equalizer, but Swansea’s back line held firm despite late arguments and fouls disrupting the rhythm. Standout performances from Franco and Cullen underlined Swansea’s attacking depth, while Cantwell’s early goal offered a silver lining for Blackburn in an otherwise frustrating evening.

For Swansea, the win propels them to seventh in the table, consolidating their playoff ambitions and highlighting their ability to grind out results away from home. Blackburn, meanwhile, remain mired in the lower reaches of the standings, with manager John Eustace facing growing pressure to spark a revival.

The match was marked by its intensity, tactical shifts, and a handful of contentious moments, including late fouls and on-pitch arguments as the stakes ratcheted up. Both sides demonstrated their attacking intent, but it was Swansea’s resilience and opportunism that proved decisive.

For extended highlights and all key moments from this Championship clash, see the official recap on Sky Sports.

Team Lineups

Blackburn
4-2-3-1
COACH
Valérien Alexandre Ismaël
22
Balázs Tóth
4
Yuri Ribeiro
15
Sean McLoughlin
12
Lewis Miller
2
Ryan Alebiosu
5
Taylor Gardner-Hickman
6
Sondre Tronstad
19
Ryan Hedges
10
Todd Cantwell
25
Ryoya Morishita
11
Andri Guðjohnsen
Swansea
4-3-3
COACH
Alan Michael Anthony Sheehan
22
Lawrence Vigouroux
14
Josh Tymon
15
Cameron Burgess
5
Ben Cabango
2
Josh Key
30
Ethan Galbraith
6
Marko Stamenić
17
Gonçalo Franco
27
Zeidane Inoussa
9
Žan Vipotnik
21
Manuel Benson

Blackburn Substitutes

1 Aynsley Pears
G
3 Harry Pickering
D
7 Augustus Kargbo
F
8 Sidnei Tavares
M
14 Dion De Neve
D
16 Scott Wharton
D
18 Axel Henriksson
M
23 Yuki Ohashi
F
31 Kristi Montgomery
M

Swansea Substitutes

1 Andrew Fisher
G
4 Jay Fulton
M
8 Malick Yalcouyé
M
10 Ji-sung Eom
F
16 Ishé Samuels-Smith
D
20 Liam Cullen
F
26 Kaelan Casey
D
33 Adam Idah
F
35 Ronald
F