Swansea City 1-0 Rotherham United: Andy Rinomhota own goal puts Swans on brink of safety

Swansea City are on the brink of finally securing their Championship status for another season after easing to a 1-0 victory over already-relegated Rotherham United at the Swansea.com Stadium

The hosts dominated possession from start to finish, but found chances frustratingly hard to come by at times, against a Millers side that hadn't registered an away success all season.

But the Swans did enough to seal three points deep into the second half when substitute Liam Walsh's corner was headed into his own net by Cardiff City loanee Andy Rinomhota.

The result means the gap between the Swans and the relegation zone now stands at nine points, although Huddersfield Town's vastly inferior goal difference means safety is now more or less assured.

There are three games still to go of course, and despite not being mathematically safe, many will perhaps be already turning their attention to the summer, and what's likely to be an extensive rebuild of this squad. Uncertainty also still lingers over many of the club's out-of-contract stars, although Williams indicated this week that decisions on who will stay are inching closer.

For the Swans boss, the immediate brief doesn't really change. Having overseen a solid start to his Swansea reign, he will demand his side now keep up some momentum and finish the season on a high.

The Swans boss was clearly impressed by what he saw during the superb victory over the Potters in midweek, opting for an unchanged line-up against a Rotherham side that previously hadn't enjoyed league success on the road since November 2022.

The hosts duly showed some encouraging signs of continuing the momentum gained here on Wednesday night. Liam Cullen might well have followed up his opener from that night inside eight minutes, but saw his low effort denied by goalkeeper Viktor Johansson after Jamie Paterson had pinched the ball from Hakeem Odoffin.

But despite giving the distinct impression of being in control, Swansea gave the Millers number one little else to do for much of the opening 20 minutes.

Former Swan Sam Clucas might have made things interesting at the other end had he kept his volley on target in a rare Rotherham opening, but could only fire wide, much to the delight of the home crowd. On this evidence, the midfielder clearly remains an unpopular figure these parts.

In all honesty, the vitriol aimed his way was about as lively as the atmosphere got as an increasingly flat contest headed towards the interval.

Paterson should have livened things up on the stroke of half-time. But after setting himself up for a one-on-one effort with the keeper by pinching the ball off Cameron Humphreys, his rasping effort was palmed away by the keeper.

Johansson had to be alert just moments later, parrying away Ronald's stinging shot on the edge of the area to bring the curtain down on what was a slightly frustrating first half for the hosts.

Swansea still remained in control after the break, but similarly struggled to really test Johansson as the contest approached the hour mark.

Harry Darling directed a tame header straight at the Millers keeper from a Paterson corner, while Ronald hit a similarly weak low effort into his arms moments later.

Rinomhota sent a speculative shot high and wide at the other end as the visitors showed some sign of vaguely threatening to test Carl Rushworth, who would end the day without a save to make.

Even so, Swansea's sluggishness in the final third didn't go unnoticed by Williams, who threw on Aimar Govea and Walsh in an attempt to make their dominance of the ball count.

And the two substitutes were at the heart of the opening goal, which finally arrived 17 minutes from time.

Govea did well to win a corner after weaving his way into the Rotherham box, with Walsh's resulting setpiece headed into his own net by Rinomhota at the near post.

Millers substitute Tom Eaves very nearly snatched a point for the visitors deep into stoppage-time, but could only head wide as the Swans eased their way to back-to-back league wins for only the second time since October.

Swansea City: Rushworth; Key, Darling, Cabango, Tymon; Fulton (Walsh 73), Grimes; Ronald (Govea 73), Cooper (Lowe 65), Paterson; Cullen

Subs: Fisher, Yates, Patino, Kuharevich, Humphreys, Abdulai

Rotherham United: Johansson; Revan, Odoffin, Peltier (Ferguson 86), Humphreys, Bramall; Rathbone, Rinomhota, Clucas (Appiah 62), Cafu (Wyke 86); Nombe (Eaves 72)

Subs: Phillips, Seriki, Hatton