The Russell Martin era at Swansea City provided an early taste of things to come with what can only be described as a complete change of tactic from Steve Cooper’s ideas of last season. From the off with keeper Steven Benda playing almost at centre back, and far too forwards the scene was set for a frustrating first half.

Swansea City showed no ability to be able to keep the ball in the first half, rarely threatening the Rovers goal, with a distinct lack of pace and awareness when in the opponents half. Time and time again the swans gave away possession to a more spirited Blackburn side who seemed determined to impose themselves on the game from the off. Ryan Bennett and Joel Latibeaudiere were both guilty, but it wasn’t just those two defenders. The weakness in the swans midfield was incredibly alarming for anyone expecting a Russell Martin revolution from the off. It just didn’t happen. A total lack of composure, awareness and it has to be said ability presented Rovers with opportunity after opportunity. Had it not been for the guile of Steven Benda the score could have been three or four by the time the referee blew up for half time.

From another mistake Blackburn scored the opening goal, Benda made a fine save to deny Brereton Diaz, but Sam Gallagher fired in the rebound expertly. It was no more than Rovers deserved, and no more than the swans deserved as well.

Any swans fans watching this game would surely agree this was potentially the worst display seen in many years, to be continually dictated to by an under strength and young Blackburn side was not only surprising, it was embarrassing at times. When venturing forwards Naughton when in possession turned the ball backwards continually - when clear attacking opportunities were available. This sort of summed up the whole half for Swansea City.

It took until the last minute of the half before the swans threatened, and cheered on by an estimated 1,100 away supporters a corner from Grimes saw frantic defending and snatched opportunities from Lowe and Smith. It may well have given the travelling support some hope, but it also gave Martin and his coaching team much to think about as the first forty five came to a very welcome close. Everything you don’t want your team to be was exactly what Swansea City were during the first half, it surely couldn’t get any worse ?

Wrong, it did, within two minutes of the restart more ridiculous play by Naughton turning his back on Rovers pressure saw Benda with the ball at his feet. Believing himself to be some form of rejuvenated centre half he lost the ball, brought down his opponent and the penalty was given. Breton Diaz scores the resultant penalty kick. It was a shambles.

And then yes, then it was time for Swansea City to show up. After fifty minutes the swans started to play, pressing forwards, albeit frantic in their passing, a decent move ended up at the feet of new boy Jamie Paterson who scored on his debut to make it 2-1. Sadly within a minute of the swans goal Korey Smith, who was one of the few influential swans players went down unchallenged, and that was the end of his game. Yan Dhanda replaced him.

Swansea seemed to lose their flow after that, again indiscriminately giving the ball away in midfield, and breaking down moves when it seemed easier to not do so. Pace again seemed to be the issue as Dhanda tried to put Lowe away on the left flank and yet the swans support sang loudly and proudly. It spurred on the swans with Cullen again firing a shot at the Blackburn goal which was superbly saved by Kaminski. If there was any self belief in this swans side it had to come in the final twenty five minutes.

Again frustratingly Cabango, Latibeaudiere and Dhanda all misplaced passes through to Lowe and Cullen, the Rovers defence reading the play comfortably. Latibeaudiere giving the ball away again saw another effort saved by Benda and a Rothwell free kick got the same treatment. Paterson was then brought down in midfield by Buckley causing the new swans player some pain. Going in to the final ten minutes the swans remained patient, with little flair up front they pressed forwards slowly with Bidwell in a more advanced position. Unfortunately mistakes and even more misplaced passes prevented any hope of an equaliser.

Yan Dhanda came alive on 81 minutes running at the centre of the Blackburn defence before being brought down. Grimes took the free kick on the edge of the area, as Davenport took up ‘ drought excluder’ duties in the home sides wall. Predictably for the swans the kick went over the bar. Content to play the game out Rovers slowed down play as the swans now faced up to a five man defensive back line. More inaccurate passing slowed the swans down with Blackburn putting all ten men and the keeper behind the ball. It all became quite passive and gentle.

Seemingly wandering blIndy in to a 2-1 loss the swans defence again presented the home side with an opportunity. Rothwell firing just wide. It was the story of the game, Swansea give the ball away, Blackburn take advantage and miss, but when they needed to they scored the necessary goals. Morgan Whittaker came on for Cullen and immediately dug out a decent cross which Bidwell failed to connect with. It was at least a chance. The resultant corner was cleared by Rovers and another midfield error by the swans saw Blackburn fail to score via Butterworth. Benda saved at his near post. The remaining six minutes of injury time ticked away with Rovers hitting the post, and Swansea looking demoralised and lost. So that’s the story of the first defeat the swans have had in eight opening day years, and that win in 1971 is the only time the swans have won at Ewood Park.

In summary
Swansea City were today untidy and messy in almost everything they did. Passing was incredibly poor and defensively they seemed lost and totally out of sorts. Failing to string passes together and play the Russell Martin way they gave the home side a string of chances. A more prolific team would have absolutely buried the swans today. The swans seem devoid of pace and strength on the ball, and without the commitment or individuality to get anything from this game. To play the way Martin wants will take more than a few days training we know, but he needs the players and it’s fairly certain he doesn’t have those players at his disposal at this level. What was missing was that word again, commitment, there just seemed nothing in the legs of the side Martin selected today. It is worrying, but it’s very early days, it’s just that today’s opponents were no great shakes, and far tougher will come.

Match Facts
Blackburn Rovers: Kaminski; Nyambe, Lenihan (C), Ayala, Pickering; Travis, Buckley (Butterworth 80); Rothwell; Gallagher (Davenport 72), Dolan (Carter 83), Brereton Diaz.

Subs not used: Eastham, Magloire, Garrett, McBride.

Yellow cards: Pickering 16, Buckley 78, Ayala 81, Rothwell 90+2

Goals: Gallagher 35, Brereton Diaz 47

Swansea City: Benda; Cabango, Bennett, Latibeaudiere; Naughton, Smith (Dhanda 55), Paterson, Grimes (C), Bidwell; Lowe, Cullen (Whittaker 86).

Subs not used: Defreitas-Hansen, McFayden, O Cooper, B Cooper, Joseph.

Yellow cards: Latibeaudiere 38, Cabango 87

Goal: Paterson 52

Referee: David Webb

Photographs open source

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