Dan the business to nick it at death

BLACKBURN defender Daniel Ayala headed the winner right at the death to give his side their first win in five outings.

It was tough on hardworking Swansea, who looked set to gain a gutsy point, even though Rovers pressed hard after the break.

But, with a minute to go, Ayala dived full stretch to nod home a set-up by Dominic Hyam.

It was his first goal of the season and manager Jon Dahl Tomasson said: “Big Dan did it for us.

“He scored a goal in training like that so I was hopeful he would repeat that – and he did. He’s a quality player.

“It was a big win for us, coming after good away points at Watford and West Brom, but we were too passive in the first half.

“We put that right, went on the front foot, pressing and being aggressive. It paid off.”

Furious Swansea boss Russell Martin said: “It was inexcusable to lose.

“We didn’t deserve to. We had good openings in the first half but we didn’t score and we paid the price for that.” Swansea started well and had their moments to rock Rovers in the first half.

But then Blackburn stepped up the pressure, with Ben Brereton Diaz spurning three chances.

Yet Swansea so nearly roared into an early lead when Ben Cabango headed powerfully against the bar from a Ryan Manning freekick. In plunged Harry Darling but his header lacked power and was kept out by Aynsley Pears.

Blackburn face Blackpool on Tuesday with concerns are injuries to Bradley Dack and Brereton Diaz who both came off early. BLACKBURN: Pears 6; Thomas 6, Carter 6, Ayala 8, Hyam 6, Pickering 6; Travis 7, Buckley 6; Gallagher 5 (Dack (73) 6) (Szmodics (86) 5), Dolan 7, Breretondiaz 7 (Hedges (78) 5) SWANSEA: Fisher 6; Cabango 7, Darling 7 (Sorinola (90) 5), Wood 6; Latibeaudiere 6, Fulton 6 (Whittaker (90) 5), Allen 6 (Cullen (72) 6), Grimes 6, Manning 8; Cundle 5 (Cooper (60) 6), Piroe 6 STAR MAN: Ryan Manning – All-action defender played a key role in Swansea holding out for so long.

Thomas Bramall 6