Swansea City 1-0 Blackburn Rovers: Michael Obafemi header gives 10-man Swans victory

Michael Obafemi rises high to head home just his second goal for Swansea

Blackburn Rovers missed the chance to close the gap on Championship leaders Fulham as they were beaten 1-0 by 10-man Swansea City.

Michael Obafemi's first-half header - from a Jamie Paterson cross - was the difference as Blackburn lost for only the second time in 14 league games.

Swansea held on for a timely victory despite having Ryan Manning sent off just after half-time.

Russell Martin's team climb to 16th, while Blackburn stay second.

There was frustration for Rovers, who have won just one of their last four, as they failed to narrow the five-point gap on Fulham, with Darragh Lenihan coming closest to levelling when he hit the woodwork.

Tony Mowbray's team have played two more games than the Cottagers and Bournemouth, who are a point behind them in third.

Only Fulham have scored more often in the Championship than Blackburn this season, yet Rovers have been a little short of goals since the turn of the year.

With Chile striker Ben Brereton Diaz starting on the bench after his latest trip to South America and Sam Gallagher missing through injury, Ryan Giles and Ryan Hedges were handed debuts in the visitors' attack.

Blackburn were on the front foot in the early stages, and might have gone ahead had John Buckley made a better connection with Ryan Nambe's cross.

Swansea began shakily, but seized the initiative with their first attack of any note.

Paterson had sat out Swansea's previous five league games after telling Martin he was not in the right frame of mind to play because of issues over his contract situation.

The former Bristol City forward has barely trained in recent weeks, yet such is Swansea's need for some attacking inspiration that Martin put him straight back into his side.

That decision was swiftly justified as Paterson crossed perfectly from the left for the unmarked Obafemi to head home his first goal at this ground since joining from Southampton last August.

Paterson's night might have got even better when Obafemi found him just outside the area, but his first-time shot sailed into the away end.

Blackburn were unfortunate not to level when Lenihan headed Joe Rothwell's free-kick onto the upright.

They only had themselves to blame for not converting the rebound, as Buckley shot wastefully over from point-blank range.

Giles then drew a sharp save from Swansea's former Rovers keeper Andy Fisher before Hedges dragged wide, leaving Mowbray to rue the fact that his team trailed at the break.

Ryan Manning saw red after Darragh Lenihan went down clutching his head, despite appearing to be caught in the stomach

Manning was dismissed eight minutes into second half, when he was given a second yellow for a high boot on Lenihan having been booked just before the break for a foul on Nyambe.

Blackburn dominated possession and territory from that point on, yet struggled to create chances until the closing stages, when Giles crossed from the left and the sliding Lenihan shot wide at the far post.

The Rovers captain came close again as he shot over after a corner was only half-cleared, before Fisher gathered Scott Wharton's header to ensure Swansea claimed just a second victory in nine Championship games.

Swansea head coach Russell Martin:

"I'm delighted with the win, although I couldn't have as little ball as we had in the last half hour every week. The way they dug in, the resilience they showed - I just feel pride.

"Michael Obafemi deserved that today. I'm really pleased for him. It takes some people longer than others to feel settled and to understand what they're part of. He's been on the pitch more because he's deserves to be.

"We didn't start the second half anywhere near well enough which was frustrating, but they found energy and dug in. A big mention to the guys who came on the pitch as well. They helped us finish the game incredibly well.

"The fans, the way they reacted to Pato (Pateron) coming back in, helped everyone. It certainly helped him and it certainly helped the team."

Blackburn head coach Tony Mowbray:

"The game went as we thought until the sending off - we created chances on the back of their possession.

"A really disappointing goal - we don't lose goals like that normally. It's a good goal from their perspective, but we should have defended it better.

"After the sending off they were difficult to break down with a deep block. We had prepared for Swansea, who keep the ball off you. The game changed and we were a bit naïve - young players making poor decisions.

"We have created chances. Buckley missed an open goal almost and Lenihan should have scored."