Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Swansea City: New Swans boss Russell Martin loses first game

Sam Gallagher, who scored eight goals last season, celebrates Blackburn's opening goal

Swansea City made a losing start under new head coach Russell Martin as they were beaten at Blackburn Rovers in their Championship season opener.

Blackburn dominated from the start and led through Sam Gallagher's rebound.

Ben Brereton struck a second from a penalty conceded by Swans goalkeeper Steven Benda, who had brought Tyrhys Dolan down after giving the ball away.

Swansea hit back with Jamie Paterson's debut goal but missed a handful of chances to equalise.

This was a testing first examination for Martin, who had less than a week to prepare for the game at Ewood Park after leaving League One MK Dons to take charge of the Welsh club.

A mixed display suggested Swansea's players will need time to adapt to the former Scotland defender's adventurous, possession-based style of play.

Blackburn took advantage of their opponents' uncertainty, and they did so without last season's top scorer Adam Armstrong, who continues to be linked with a move to a Premier League club.

Even with Armstrong left out of the squad, Tony Mowbray's men started strongly with Dolan forcing Benda into the first of several saves on a busy afternoon for the Swansea keeper.

The Swans seemed nervous, giving the ball away as they played out from defence in an attempt to embrace Martin's approach.

Although there were bright moments - such as Ben Cabango's excellent pass finding Liam Cullen, whose shot was saved by Thomas Kaminski - the away side looked vulnerable.

Blackburn sensed as much and their pressure led to the opening goal in the 35th minute as Brereton's shot was stopped by Benda before Gallagher followed up to score.

Rovers missed chances to add to their lead before eventually getting a deserved second goal two minutes into the second half.

It was a shambolic goal to concede from Swansea's perspective as Benda dithered and lost possession to Dolan, who he then fouled to concede a penalty which Chile international Brereton converted.

Swansea responded well and pulled a goal back within five minutes, as Korey Smith teed up fellow former Bristol City player Paterson to score on his first appearance for his new club.

Cullen had a chance to equalise but saw his shot saved by Kaminski, while Matt Grimes curled a free-kick over the bar.

Blackburn also missed opportunities to restore their two-goal advantage, with Brereton hitting the post in added time, but they were worthy winners.

Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray said:

"I'm pleased. I think it materialised into the game we expected. The uncertainty with Russell taking over was whether he was going to try and implement how he's been playing at MK Dons, and he did.

"It's only been a short time and I'm sure they'll get better at what they do... and I think he's very brave with the group that he's got.

"We're a different team. We're young, energetic, athletic and we played on the front foot, and I felt we should have had more than one goal by half-time.

"We had enough opportunities for them not to be able to have a go at the end. It shouldn't have been as close as that but they're a good side, been in the play-offs the last two seasons."

Swansea head coach Russell Martin told BBC Radio Wales:

"I liked some of the stuff in the first half and I thought we had the best chance of the first half.

"There were a couple of scary moments but we've only had three days' work so it's never going to be perfect or the finished picture.

"But I really liked some of what I saw. I loved the boys' mentality to just try and do it and to not get spooked by a few moments.

"By the end of the game, it looked like how we wanted it to look with the other team holding on and us really going for it. That's testament to the guys' mentality."