Rotherham United vs Swansea City; Sky Bet Championship
Rotherham United vs Swansea City. Sky Bet Championship.
New York Stadium.
Rotherham United 1
- F Ladapo (65th minute)
Swansea City 3
- C Hourihane (28th minute)
- M Grimes (38th minute)
- J Fulton (74th minute)
Rotherham 1-3 Swansea: Conor Hourihane scores as Swans cut Norwich's lead to four points
Report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Rotherham and Swansea at the New York Stadium as goals from Conor Hourihane, Matt Grimes and Jay Fulton help the Swans cut leaders Norwich's advantage to four points
Saturday 30 January 2021 18:13, UK
Swansea kept up their promotion charge as three strikes of real quality saw them claim a 3-1 win at relegation-battling Rotherham.
The Swans made it nine games unbeaten in all competitions as goals from Conor Hourihane, Matt Grimes and Jay Fulton gave them victory at the New York Stadium.
Freddie Ladapo had halved the deficit for Rotherham but defeat leaves them still in the drop zone.
The only chance of a scrappy opening 20 minutes was carved out by Rotherham full-back Wes Harding who cut in onto his stronger right foot and saw his effort deflected just wide for a corner.
Swansea showed their first sign of class as they took the lead after 28 minutes through Aston Villa loanee Hourihane.
The move started with Andre Ayew picking out Connor Roberts. His cross was only half cleared and the Republic of Ireland international lashed the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Jamal Lowe had a good chance to double the lead but his strike from the edge of the box was pushed wide by Jamal Blackman.
But from the resulting corner, after 38 minutes, they did go two up with Grimes firing in from just outside the box.
The in-form Matt Crooks tried to get Rotherham back into the contest before the break but the shot at the end of his mazy run was just over the bar.
The Millers made attacking changes at the interval with Ladapo brought on to partner Michael Smith up top and Ryan Giles adding more threat down the left.
Ladapo snatched at his first half-chance after Richard Wood had burst forward from defence.
Rotherham's defence had to scamper to crowd out a dangerous counter-attack led by Lowe but the ball eventually fell to Roberts whose effort was easily gathered by Blackman.
The Millers went direct to get a goal back after 65 minutes, with Harding's long throw causing Swansea's defence issues and Ladapo was on hand to head past Freddie Woodman from close range.
The home side were energised by the goal and continued to threaten as Giles found Crooks with a left-wing cross, but his header was easily gathered by Woodman.
Swansea needed a third to regain their control on the game and it came in the 74th minute with Fulton netting with his first touch after coming on.
Fulton was on hand to finish clinically with the outside of his right boot after being found by a left-wing centre from Jake Bidwell.
Rotherham continued to make life uneasy for the Welsh side with Clark Robertson heading against the woodwork.
Swansea had a chance to make the scoreline more secure but Blackman forced Lowe's header over the top of the bar.
What the managers said...
Rotherham's Paul Warne: "I thought we played all right first half. They didn't really cut us open. You're fearful because Swansea are a really good team. Hourihane's first goal was a great finish. I think the second goal was avoidable but it was another great strike. You go in at half-time and just tweaked it a little bit. We weren't overly disappointed with our performance. I didn't think there was much in it.
"If ever we needed a crowd in it was today. The game was pretty close but we didn't have enough of an injection of pace or win enough second balls. It was just two little bits of quality and sometimes you just have to hold your hands up. I thought our lads gave a good account of themselves second half. We were just done by a little bit of extra quality."
Swansea's Steve Cooper: "It was really pleasing. To score three goals and get three points away from home is a good return. We scored three brilliant goals. They were class finishes and from good moves. It is how we want to play the game. We are disappointed with the goal we conceded, it was the only real chance Rotherham had in the game.
"Fair play to the lads. They calmed down and got the third goal. When you concede a goal it can go either way. You can let it bother you or you can quickly dust yourself off. That's what we did. It was timely because I thought the game died off then and we saw it out comfortably."
