Tyrhys Dolan (right) scored his second Championship goal of the season against Swansea
Blackburn Rovers moved into the Championship play-off places as Tyrhys Dolan's early strike was enough to see off Swansea City at Ewood Park.
The hosts burst out of the gates and took a deserved lead when Todd Cantwell's corner picked out Dolan, who shot low into the ground and past Lawrence Vigouroux.
Swansea improved after falling behind, but rarely troubled Aynsley Pears in the Blackburn goal despite having over 65% of the ball.
Wales striker Liam Cullen headed over the bar before Matt Grimes' late effort was blocked, as Swansea could not find a reply.
Rovers rise to sixth with victory, while Swansea - who are now the joint-lowest scorers in the division and winless in four games - drop to 13th.
Blackburn made three changes from their defeat by Plymouth last time out, including a return for Cantwell, who was heavily involved early on.
The former Norwich and Rangers man almost put Rovers ahead when Dolan's cross was flicked to the back post by Ryan Hedges, but Cantwell could not add the finishing touch.
Dolan then saw an effort from the edge of the area go narrowly over the crossbar, before he had better luck from Cantwell's corner.
The 22-year-old shot into the ground and although the strike may have taken a flick off Makhtar Gueye, it was Dolan who wheeled away in celebration.
Swansea, who handed a first league start to summer signing Florian Bianchini, responded well after going a goal down without really threatening the Blackburn goal.
Harry Darling's long-range free-kick was comfortably saved by Pears before Ronald should have done better with a header from Grimes' delivery.
Bianchini's first league start lasted just 53 minutes, as Swansea brought on Azeem Abdulai to provide a second-half spark.
The Swans continued to look the most likely to score next, but time was against them as the returning Cullen headed over and Goncalo Franco fired wide.
Swansea kept pushing for an equaliser, as Grimes saw an effort blocked and Pears saved from a Darling header.
But the efforts proved to be in vain, as Blackburn held on for a fifth win from 10 Championship games.
Blackburn Rovers head coach John Eustace told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"I'm very proud of the efforts today, it's been two weeks that we've been angry and frustrated with how we ended before the international break.
"So it's been a tough two weeks but we've done a lot of hard work on the training field and you could see that today.
"We fully deserved the win. Swansea had lots of possession but I don't think Aynsley [Pears] had a save to make and that's what we were working on."
Swansea City head coach Luke Williams told BBC Radio Wales:
"I'm disappointed with how we started the game, we were slow and second in most of the duels and we paid the price for that. We got to grips with the game too late.
"The problem is so obvious, it's not a quality problem, we are creating enough openings, but the fear of missing is creeping in rather than the excitement of scoring.
"I can try to instil belief in the players, but there are some bits I can't quite do."
