HALF-TIME: Blackburn Rovers 2, Swansea City 1 (From Lancashire Telegraph)

HALF-TIME: Blackburn Rovers 2, Swansea City 1

4:08pm Saturday 3rd December 2011 in Sport By Matt Baxter

DESPITE boos from home fans after their opening goal and again after the ensuing Swansea equaliser, Rovers end the second half 2-1 up after a late goal from Yakubu.

With neither side in strong form Steve Kean will surely be hoping to build on the result as he looks to alleviate pressure on him to go.

The opening minutes saw Swansea testing Rovers’ defence for weaknesses, with plays between Scott Sinclair and Leroy Lita. With much of the home side’s efforts put into fending off their attacks they committed little in the way of replies of their own.

With poor displays of passing and build-up play, the few chances Blackburn did create often came from Paul Robinson kicks from goal.

However, things took an unexpected turn with a rare burst of pace from Givet on the left, beating the Swansea defence. With a cross to Yakubu from the edge of the box, the striker put the home side 1-0 up on the 20th minute.

However, despite their lead, a roar of boos rose from home fans in what has probably been their most vocal point this season.

Now in the lead, Rovers started building confidence; getting the ball forward to Yakubu and Hoilett for chances at goal. Just before the half-hour mark, a throw from Pedersen fell at the feet of Mauro Formica, only to have his shot blocked off.

This was to last only minutes as hostility from fans was taken up a notch after Swansea gained the equaliser. A floating cross from Gower was met with a header from Leroy Lita; beating Robinson as it floated across goal 35 minutes in.

Five minutes to half-time Steve Kean withdrew Rochina in place of Simon Vukcevic after a possible injury complaint.

The little confidence Blackburn gained from their goal seemed to evaporate after a series of assaults from the Swans put the pressure very much back on them in the dying minutes of the half.

With two minutes to the end of half Blackburn once again took the lead after a cross into the box saw a Vukcevic shot meet the head of Yakubu for his second goal of the game.

This time the goal was met with cheers from fans no doubt glad to be going into the second half in the lead.

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