A superb turn out from the Jack Army considering the clubs position on and off the pitch was heartwarming to see. With Martyn Margetson standing alongside interim manager Alan Sheehan just before the game started - the England International coach was making a statement of solidarity for the start of another new era at Swansea City.

The home ends were looking sparce for what was a real relegation battle. A delayed start of three minutes due to the officials having communication difficulties wasn’t helpful. The Swans started off with a bended knee, not seen for a while by the players, Rotherham did likewise. The game started with Rotherham pressure, this game was going to be end to end. The immediate impression was the lack of a positive attitude from the Swans. They weren’t able to capitalise on a mess up at the back, with players short on closing down, almost a lethargic attempt that could have been so much more with effort.

Once again the communications issue raised its head on five minutes, it really was affecting the flow of the game. On the restart Rotherham had a few early opportunities which were defended well by the visitors. A Tiehi strike was fierce in the eighth minute but Carl Rushworth saved well. This was followed by a free kick which sailed high over the bar. The Swans were losing the midfield battles down to a lack of tenacity that was being shown by the Millers. They were certainly having the best of the first third of the game.

The first opportunity of note was a corner, which again displayed the Swans lack of determination in the air. This followed a superb cross by Yannick Bolasie on the left but no Swans player was in a dangerous position, again too far away from the open space they should have been in. The bizarre refereeing decision of the day came when Josh Smith sent off Daniel Ayala for a second yellow card offence. He was right taking the laws of the game in to consideration, but where is the flexibility ? Lowe got the same treatment later in the half.

Josh Key had a poor effort fly over the bar, and from the aftermath of the sending off, Harry Darling was booked. Then absurd decision number two came when Josh Key was hauled down in the home sides penalty area. From my position it was a clear a penalty you will see. A Fulton cross was mistimed by Bolasie who headed over the bar. As you would expect the Swans were now dominating territory.

A superb cross field ball from Jamie Paterson to Bolasie was passed across the box but again no Swans player was available. Another Swans corner was headed wide by Harry Darling but the Rotherham players still looked the stronger and more determined. They were far more dangerous on the break. Key then got a cross in which was met by a weak header from Bolasie. Then Jamal Lowe thundered in an effort which was well saved by Johansson. This was a good reflection on the Swans from last week. Corners followed for the visitors. More good goalkeeping from Johansson ensured parity was met on thirty minutes. The Swans pressed with more crosses and poor headers. Bolasie out muscled as was Lowe. He then had a cross shot deflected for a corner. From that set piece Darling headed straight at the Millers keeper. It was a golden opportunity.

Then another as a Darling pile-driver was then saved excellently by Johansson.

A whipped in cross followed on forty three minutes, it was deflected by Lee Peltier and again the Milkers keeper made a remarkable save. The crosses continued, and at last the Swans breached the home sides defence, Lowe caused confusion and Patino deflected the ball in to the net via his back. Then three minutes added time was played from the officials communication issues. Peltier challenged the referee that Patino’s effort was handball, as did the Rotherham staff, it counted for nothing. The referee was having a real stinker. But it looked like in off the midfielders back (below)

From the restart another Darling effort was saved, the resulting corner was disappointing.

A rare effort from Rotherham’s Rathbone was scooped wide by Rushworth. The Swans were loose in their passing which was giving the Millers confidence. The pattern of numerous corners continued from the first half with little impression on the scoreline. Again Nombe looked dangerous and shot another effort just wide. The warning signs were now loud and very clear. The Swans then applied more pressure, a trio of shots blocked within the same move which ended with a Jay Fulton effort straight at the keeper. This was looking better. The away sides possession stats improved as the Millers defended admirably. Again we witnessed poor crosses from the Swans after patient build up work.

A penalty appeal from the home side was waved away by the referee as we went in to the final twenty eight minutes of the game. Their persistence paid off when a Morrison long throw earned a goal from Nombie. Once again a winning position had been given up by Swansea City. It was coming, we said it was coming, and it did.

Jamal Lowe earned a corner on the Swans left, it was another decent delivery but no effort to meet the ball was made. The Swans looked more urgent since the equaliser, so it begs the question why now ? Rotherham sensed blood , they had far more aggression and determination about them, they were being direct and again looked very dangerous. Two corners followed for Rotherham luckily for the Swans they didn’t capitalise. Another corner for the Swans on seventy two minutes, after good work from Lowe followed. Darling’s header at goal was again well saved. It has to be said Darling gets in dangerous positions, as he did last week against Hull City. But his heading accuracy has to be questioned.

On seventy three minutes the five hundred plus Swans celebrated a Jerry Yates poachers goal after Key crossed, Peltier made a mess off his clearance and Yates capitalised. At last some direct action in the penalty box without a slow passing build up worked. However, Rotherham weren’t finished. They again pressed the Swans as Morrison again whirled in another long throw. From there another Rotherham corner followed. The Millers preferring out swinging corners. These were being easily dealt with by the Swans defence.

For the final ten minutes the game it was a battle of wills, the landscape of the match was now down to who wanted it more. The Swans pressed, the Millers defended and looked for an opportunity on the break, they had the pace for sure. The Swans were happy to pass the ball around and defend their lead. A dangerous thing to do.

Long balls forward from Rotherham encouraged the home side to press the Swans. More attacking substitutions from manager Wayne Clarke. This produced an opportunity for an equaliser. It was headed wide. The resulting corner was well dealt with by Yates. More defensive work was required by the Swans as the pressure again increased. With seventy two percent possession from the Swans going in to the final minutes they were being tested. Now with three attackers on the pitch the home side were throwing everything in to the final knockings. The Swans pressed when they could as Liam Cullen and Bashir Humphreys replaced Paterson and Josh Tymon.

The last five minutes was taken up by added time. The Swans living dangerously when Tiehi headed goalwards causing Rushworth issues. Then a break from the Swans saw Jamal Lowe flash a shot just wide. The Swans did make hard work of this game, they could have finished off Rotherham by five goals easily. Poor finishing and chaotic decision making in dangerous positions ensured this game went down to the wire.

The Swans are now up to sixteenth. It’s a win for Sheehan who did a wonderful choreographed celebration including a leap, a kick and an under arm fist pump. Is that the future ? From his one game in charge he has a one hundred percent record, we move on to Stoke City away on Tuesday night. The £20 derby.

⚽️ Rotherham United: Johansson; Peltier, Odoffin, Ayala, Revan; Tiehi; Appiah (Morrison 46), Lindsay (Hall 76), Rathbone (Kelly 85), Bramall; Nombe (Hugill 76)

Subs: Phillips, Lembikisa, Eaves, McGuckin.

⚽️ Swansea City: Rushworth; Key, Cabango, Darling, Tymon; Fulton, Patino (Walsh 67), Grimes; Bolasie (Yates 60) Paterson; Lowe

Subs: Fisher, Naughton, Humphreys, Cullen, Parker, Cooper, Congreve

Att: 9,400 (505 away)

Referee : Josh Smith : 2/10 : Rubbish.

Photograph Swansea Independent

ReslovenSwan1 added 18:53 - Dec 9 Today was pretty much a back to the wall must win game. I did not see today game and to get an impression of the key players do a rough name count of any report like this. including booking etc. A rough activity guide. I do this to see how Swansea loan players are "getting stuck in" In this report Darling 9 Grimes 0. I hope the next manger will grab this by the throat and change captains.

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