A late Daniel Ayala header gave Rovers a valuable three points at home to Swansea City.

Rovers looked to be set for a fifth successive draw until the defender came up with an 89th minute winner.

It moves up to seventh in the table, and outside the play-off spots on only goal difference ahead of Tuesday’s game with Blackpool.

The second half was a huge improvement on the first when Ewood was flat as Rovers sat off and showed Swansea too much respect.

But when the home crowd got more of what they wanted to see, they roared their side and Rovers’ pressure told in the final minute of normal time as central defenders Dom Hyam and Ayala combined from a Ryan Hedges cross to seal the victory.

Aynsley Pears impressed once again as Rovers kept a fifth clean sheet of 2023.

Rovers made four changes, with injuries forcing Joe Rankin-Costello and Scott Wharton out of the side, while Tyler Morton and Bradley Dack dropped to the bench.

There were recalls for Dom Hyam, John Buckley and Sam Gallagher plus fit-again Daniel Ayala.

Those changes saw a change in formation, Rovers reverting to a back five, with Sorba Thomas playing as a wing-back.

It was the first time since December 10 that Tomasson had gone with three central defenders as Rovers matched up the visitors.

Rovers were every bit a back five in the opening stages as Swansea, not unexpectedly, dominated the ball.

There was no shortage of height in the Rovers side, but it was from a set play that the visitors almost took a 15th minute lead. Ryan Manning’s delivery was met by Ben Cabango whose header hit the underside of the bar, with Aynsley Pears able to then save comfortable from Harry Darling’s follow-up.

It was a let-off for Rovers, with Thomas going into the book for his challenge that led to the free kick.

Rovers were certainly showing plenty of respect to the visitors in the way they had set up, and were struggling to find a way of getting up the pitch.

The home crowd were becoming restless, and wanted to see some urgency from their side.

That arrived in the 25th minute as Tyrhys Dolan took up the attack from a Ben Brereton knockdown to shoot just wide on his left foot.

There was little to get excited about though in a half where Rovers were struggling to get up the pitch.

Swansea had a half chance in the 38th minute, created by a switch of play to Joel Latibeaudiere whose pull-back found Jay Fulton arriving in the box, but on the stretch he couldn’t guide the ball on target.

It was a very flat opening 45 minutes, a smattering of boos greeted the half time whistle, with Rovers in serious need of some inspiration.

Things did improve at the start of the second half, Thomas playing higher up the pitch to get on to a Dolan pass, his cross just out of reach of Gallagher and then hit into the side netting from a tight angle by Brereton.

Rovers were more willing to press Swansea, pressuring them into mistakes in an encouraging period.

Wing-backs were getting much more involved, as on the hour Harry Pickering’s cross reached Thomas at the far post where he hammered a ball across goal that was cleared off the line by Harry Darling.

Rovers hadn’t quite found the chances to go with their pressure, but the home crowd were certainly getting behind them.

At the midway point of the half, Brereton got infront of his man to meet a Buckley cross on the stretch, but Andy Fisher was down sharply to his left to keep his effort out.

Rovers were still waiting for the standout chance as Bradley Dack was called for from the bench. He replaced Gallagher who moments before glanced a header wide from a Pickering cross.

Swansea had offered precious little in the second half, but sounded a warning in the 75th minute as Rovers backed off Joel Piroe’s swerving shot required good handling from Pears.

A tiring Brereton was then replaced by Ryan Hedges in the 78th minute.

The game was starting to open up as both sets of players tired, but little sign that either would break the deadlock.

Dack’s afternoon lasted just 13 minutes as he needed to be replaced after pulling up when trying to get on the end of a Thomas cross.

Rovers’ chance looked to have gone, but in the 89th minute they found a way through.

Hedges’ cross was turned on by Hyam into the path of Ayala whose header beat Fisher from close range.

Rovers then had to see through five additional minutes, but did so with few alarms to get back to winning ways.

Rovers: Pears, Carter, Ayala, Hyam, Thomas, Travis, Buckley, Pickering, Gallagher (Dack, 72 (Szmodics, 85), Dolan, Brereton (Hedges, 78)

Subs: Hilton, Brittain, Phillips, Morton

Swansea City: Fisher, Cabango, Wood, Darling (Sorinola, 90), Latibeaudiere, Fulton (Whittaker, 90), Allen (Cullen, 72), Grimes, Manning, Cundle (Cooper, 60), Piroe

Subs: Sondergaard, Walsh, Ntcham