Rotherham United 1-2 Swansea City: Jerry Yates scores winner in battle of managerless clubs

Charlie Patino's goal was his third for Swansea since joining on a season-long loan from Arsenal

Swansea City won their first match after sacking head coach Michael Duff as they overcame a spirited effort from 10-man Championship strugglers and fellow managerless club Rotherham United.

The Millers had Daniel Ayala sent off in the 17th minute as the centre-back received two yellow cards in quick succession, one for delaying an opposition throw and the second for a foul on Charlie Patino.

Swansea took control from that point and, after missing a handful of chances, they led somewhat fortuitously as Jamie Paterson's cross hit a seemingly unsuspecting Patino and the ball trickled into the net.

Rotherham equalised in similar fashion in the second half as Sean Morrison's long throw was flicked on by Hakeem Odoffin and the ball bounced in off Sam Nombe.

But Swans substitute Jerry Yates finished neatly from a Josh Key cross to restore the visitors' advantage and secure a much-needed victory.

Rotherham sink to the bottom of the Championship, eight points adrift of safety, while Swansea climb to 16th place.

While this was Swansea's first match under interim boss Alan Sheehan, it was a fourth for Rotherham under the temporary stewardship of Wayne Carlisle.

Neither man knows how long his tenure will last, though the Swans have identified Tottenham assistant coach Chris Davies as a leading candidate to succeed Duff, and former Wigan manager Leam Richardson has been linked with the Millers vacancy.

One of the reasons for Duff's departure was the way in which he had overseen a move away from the possession-based style of play with which Swansea have become synonymous in recent years.

Most importantly, though, the results were not good enough. Swansea had been winless in five matches, Rotherham in seven, and neither side had tasted victory since October.

The home side looked to get on the front foot in the opening stages but were soon reduced to 10 men as Ayala picked up two cheap bookings for time-wasting and a trip on Patino, who he had tried scything down seconds earlier.

Daniel Ayala was sent off by referee Josh Smith on his sixth appearance for Rotherham since joining the club in October

Swansea missed a glorious chance to take the lead when Yannick Bolasie, making his first start since joining the club on a short-term contract, headed over from a fine Jay Fulton cross.

Jamal Lowe then had a powerful 20-yard effort tipped over by Viktor Johansson as the visitors started to dominate.

Harry Darling was the next to threaten as he headed straight at Johansson from a corner and also had a 25-yard effort pushed away by the Rotherham keeper.

Johansson's best save of the first half was to keep out a deflection from team-mate Lee Peltier at point-blank range, but he was beaten on the cusp of half-time.

Paterson swung in a left-footed cross from the right and, although Patino did not seem to know much about it, the ball bounced off the Arsenal loanee and bobbled into the net.

Swansea tried to press home their advantage as Darling tested Johansson with another long-range effort, but Rotherham fired a warning shot when Nombe struck narrowly over from a tight angle.

The hosts were level five minutes later as substitute Morrison launched a long throw into the penalty area, where Odoffin's flick-on hit Nombe and crossed the line despite the despairing save of Carl Rushworth.

Rotherham were only level for nine minutes, however, as Key's low cross from the right was not dealt with by Peltier, whose sliding intervention only served to pop the ball up to Yates, and the striker calmly steered into the bottom corner against his former club.

Swansea had to deal with a barrage of Rotherham long balls in the closing stages and they coped well with the aerial bombardment to hold on for a precious win.

Interim Rotherham boss Wayne Carlisle told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"Obviously disappointed with the result. Performance-wise, we started brightly and we went down to 10 men but even then I thought we stayed in the game.

"I thought we came out for the second half well-organised and with a good shape. We tried to get ourselves up the pitch and we did cause them some problems.

"[The red card] changed the course of the game, it was absolutely massive. I'll never criticise my players publicly - Daniel [Ayala] was man enough to hold his hand up and say that he got that wrong and should know better."

Interim Swansea boss Alan Sheehan told BBC Radio Wales:

"It's a really difficult week when you lose a manager, the human side of it when a manager loses his job, but overall the feeling now is proudness of the players, staff and the football club coming together, galvanising each other and getting a well-deserved victory.

"We knew it was going to be a difficult game. They (Rotherham) have been in really good form here and picked up points against some really good teams.

"I thought we controlled large amounts of the game, a lot of possession, a lot of shots, and on another day it could have been more."