Saturday 23rd September 2017 at the Liberty Stadium, Attendance: 20,372
For the first time in 34 years Watford left the Gower coast with 3 points, with a last minute strike from the Brazilian wiz-kid Richarlison. Not only did the Watford forward send the Watford Fans into pandemonium by scoring right at the death, but the goal resulted in three successive away wins on the bounce, a first for Watford in the top flight even including the golden era under Graham Taylor.
Silva's yellow army are clearly on the march, with 3 wins and 2 draws from 6 games, Watford find themselves in the lofty position of 6th in the Premier League. Prior to the game I was eagerly anticipating the Watford line up, I could be found outside the Liberty Stadium refreshing my iPhone constantly, my focus was on the centre back pairing. Injuries and suspensions left Watford having to field their 4th and 5th choice duo, of Kabasele and Mariappa in last Saturday's 6-0 thrashing by Man City.
About an hour before kick off, the line ups were out and the same centre back pairing was named, my first thoughts resulted in a sharp in take of air. Quickly looking at the Swansea line up I was unsure of what shape they would be playing, with only one 'out and out' centre forward in Bony, it wasn't abundantly obvious what shape Swansea would be playing. In years gone by Swansea have always played with quick wingers in Montero, Dyer, Routledge and Barrow, but the only forward support seemed to be two central players in Fer and Ayew.
Watford's Capoue was named for his first start of the season, with Chalobah picking up and knee injury. Watford started with a difference defence for the 6th time in as many games this season, showing the number of issues the horns have had to cope with already this season.
Minutes after kick off it was clear that this was a new Swansea team, starting with 3 centre backs, 2 wing backs and no wingers. The summer transfer window had not been the kindest to Clements the Swansea Manager, losing Gylfi Sigurdsson and Fernando Llorente, the Jacks best two players right at the end of the transfer window. Within the first 5 minutes Watford began passing the ball the crisply, and seemed more Swansea like, than the hosts themselves. Conversations around me quickly turned to Swansea's American Owners and their financial investment since they had bought the club, I was reminded about Swansea also losing their start centre back Williams to Everton in the prior season.
I like to think that Capoue was injured or Silva had decided to match the same shape as Swansea, either way the decision did seem strange as Watford were clearly on top and could have been 3-0 up. This view was also echoed by a pair of Swansea fans I met after the game whilst walking back to my car.
For the first time in 34 years Watford left the Gower coast with 3 points, with a last minute strike from the Brazilian wiz-kid Richarlison. Not only did the Watford forward send the Watford Fans into pandemonium by scoring right at the death, but the goal resulted in three successive away wins on the bounce, a first for Watford in the top flight even including the golden era under Graham Taylor.
Silva's yellow army are clearly on the march, with 3 wins and 2 draws from 6 games, Watford find themselves in the lofty position of 6th in the Premier League. Prior to the game I was eagerly anticipating the Watford line up, I could be found outside the Liberty Stadium refreshing my iPhone constantly, my focus was on the centre back pairing. Injuries and suspensions left Watford having to field their 4th and 5th choice duo, of Kabasele and Mariappa in last Saturday's 6-0 thrashing by Man City.
About an hour before kick off, the line ups were out and the same centre back pairing was named, my first thoughts resulted in a sharp in take of air. Quickly looking at the Swansea line up I was unsure of what shape they would be playing, with only one 'out and out' centre forward in Bony, it wasn't abundantly obvious what shape Swansea would be playing. In years gone by Swansea have always played with quick wingers in Montero, Dyer, Routledge and Barrow, but the only forward support seemed to be two central players in Fer and Ayew.
Watford's Capoue was named for his first start of the season, with Chalobah picking up and knee injury. Watford started with a difference defence for the 6th time in as many games this season, showing the number of issues the horns have had to cope with already this season.
Minutes after kick off it was clear that this was a new Swansea team, starting with 3 centre backs, 2 wing backs and no wingers. The summer transfer window had not been the kindest to Clements the Swansea Manager, losing Gylfi Sigurdsson and Fernando Llorente, the Jacks best two players right at the end of the transfer window. Within the first 5 minutes Watford began passing the ball the crisply, and seemed more Swansea like, than the hosts themselves. Conversations around me quickly turned to Swansea's American Owners and their financial investment since they had bought the club, I was reminded about Swansea also losing their start centre back Williams to Everton in the prior season.
The first 5 minutes extended to the first 15, Watford were clearly on top passing the ball around and getting into the space behind the Swansea wing backs, Watford were having particular luck down the right hand side with Femenia, Carrillo and Capoue in the driving seat. The first real chance came from the right hand side off some nice interplay, Carrillo released Femenia down the right hand side and galloped to the touch line and crossed to Gray, who had a rasping shot deflected for a corner which otherwise would have ended up in the bottom corner of the net.
Watford took the lead in the 13th minute, Capoue and Kabasele closed down a ball which had been played into front man Bony on the half way line, putting the Ivorian Internaltional under pressure, a loose pass bounced to Gray who released Carrillo once again down the right hand side. Carrillo quickly crossed first time, aiming once again for Gray, with the Swansea defence scrambling, Clucus could only slide tackle to try stop the cross, however Gray pounced on the ball and fired the ball high into the top corner of the net. Watford's pacey counter attack had worked and Gray celebrated his first goal for Watford, since his big money move from Burnley earlier this summer.
Not long after Watford had a goal disallowed, Carrillo made a lovely jinking dribble, all the way past several Swansea players, making it to the right hand side bye-line one again, and crossed deep into the Swansea box. The ball was half cleared to the edge of the box, and bounced up invitingly for Femenia to slice a shot at Fabianski, who managed to palm the ball to Richarlison. The young Brazilian neatly squared the ball the Carrillo, who was coming back from an offside position and tapped the ball into an empty net. The warning signs were clear, it wouldn't be long before the Swansea fans were heckling and booing their own players as Swansea seems to pass more backwards than forward in the first half.
Half time was clearly needed, just before the break Swansea's centre back Mawson sloppy allowed Gray in on a one on one chance from a poor back pass.
Gray hastley fired wide and should have done better from a tight angle. Clement clearly needed to change things and at half time, the former Bayern Munich coach changed the back 5 to a back 4, bringing on an extra forward in the form of the Chelsea Loanee and England under 21's starlet Abrahams, Clucus their big money summer signing was also swapped for Mesa. The change in formation and personnel had the desired effect and Swansea's fortunes changed quickly.
Gray hastley fired wide and should have done better from a tight angle. Clement clearly needed to change things and at half time, the former Bayern Munich coach changed the back 5 to a back 4, bringing on an extra forward in the form of the Chelsea Loanee and England under 21's starlet Abrahams, Clucus their big money summer signing was also swapped for Mesa. The change in formation and personnel had the desired effect and Swansea's fortunes changed quickly.
Watford surprisingly went the other way at half time, the impressive Capoue was subbed off for Udinese debutant Wague leaving most to think French midfielder must have picked up knock, during a first half crunching tackle that he had been booked for. Watford also changed shape in complete contrast to the Swans, and went from a back 4, to a back 5. The halftime changes completely changed the impetus of the game. The two managers could't have known they would be swapping tactics for the second half.
I like to think that Capoue was injured or Silva had decided to match the same shape as Swansea, either way the decision did seem strange as Watford were clearly on top and could have been 3-0 up. This view was also echoed by a pair of Swansea fans I met after the game whilst walking back to my car.
Straight from the kick off the Swans were on the front foot, attacking the space behind the full backs as Watford had done in the first half. Watford were clearly not as fluent as the first half, several fans around me were questioning the changes as the Swans began to press forward, Watford began to concede more and more fouls in the middle of the park as the horns began to lose possession and momentum in the game.
For all of Swansea's pressure, and little counter attack offered by Watford, there were few clear cut chances for Swansea. On the 53 minute Tammie Abrahams levelled the match quickly pouncing on a tame shot by Bony which was palmed alway by Gomes. It was not the former Brazilian international's finest moment, but Watford fans could not argue, from the way that Watford had started the second half. One fan sitting close to me said "You could feel it coming, I wonder why we changed shape?"
The rest of the second half continued in same fashion with Swansea slightly on top, but unable to create clear chances other than multiple long range free kicks played into the box, from silly fouls Watford had to concede as they were marginally outplayed in the midfield during in the second half.
A stand out smart tackle by Mariappa, was the highlight of a poor second half for Watford, denying Abrabham from close range. I have to give a shout out to Mariappa. This was the Jamaicans best game I have see in since he rejoined Watford for a second spell, with a number of leaping headers in the game. With Britos due back from suspension next week, I am not sure that this will be enough to avoid breaking up in the centre back partnership with Kabasele.
It was good to see Pereyra back in a Watford shirt, coming on for Carrillo in the second half, who with Femenia had been the standout players for Watford. But it was not until Deeney was brought on in the 85th minute that things began to change. I'm not sure if the the crowd changed when Deeney was brought on for Grey, or whether Deeney change the game, but the momentum seemed to swing back to Watford, within minutes Deeney had a great chance to score from inside the box, but was denied by Fabianski, I was right behind the goal and was sure that Deeney was going to score, I couldn't help but wish for a cleaner strike of the ball.
With the final whistle looming, minutes later Watford counter attacked to win the game. In typical Swansea style, the move started by jacks attempting to pass the ball around at the back, Deeney's harassing paid off and poor pass from Mesa was blocked and fell into the path of pacey Brazilian Richarilson. Instantly the Watford faithful were off their feet, Richarilson still had a lot to do, as the young Brazilian raced toward to the Swansea box he began to lose his balance, it looked like a poor dribbling touch had pushed the ball in favour of the Swansea Defender Mawson. A weak tackle, combined with Richarlison wanting the chance more than the centre back let an off balance Richarlison in one on one with Fabianski. With the outside of his foot Richarlison hit a looping shot, Fabianski falling falling to his knees could only push the shot upward through his hands, at that moment I thought Richarlison had missing the chance. But with the drama of the game in the last minute, the ball clipped the bar and bounced downwards, it was not until the ball rippled into the net that the Watford Faithful knew the ball crossed the line, making the last minute goal all the sweeter!
A yellow card ensued for Richarilson, as he whipped off his shirt and ran across and behind the goal to celebrate with the fans. Such was the delight, those with an eagle eye would have spotted the already substituted Gray back on the pitch celebrating with all of the players on the pitch, showing that the connection between this group of player must be strong. During the celebration Deeney could be seen ushering the crowd to sing up, and giving hand gestures of 5 minutes left. Kabasele notable with both index fingers to the forehead as if to say keep our head let's see the last 5 minutes out. The Watford contingent helped the yellow army over the line and didn't stop singing till well after the players had left the pitch.
On the way home, listening to the Radio there were multiple Swansea fans ringing moaning about the poor performance, and particularly the lack of decent wing back and no wingers. Several fans moaned about the lack of signing, with most agreeing that Bony was a poor signing, as he is an individual and will not work for the team, and will simply be judged on the goal that he gets. One of the Swansea caller inadvertently praised Watford, starting off with stating that Swansea should be beating teams like Watford, and if we had their wing back we might have stood a chance.
Femenia was the deserved man of the man, key interceptions, lovely interplay, good crossing and a constant up and down threat. Carrillo was a close second whilst he was on the pitch with amazing runs that left you wondering how he wasn't tackled. Everything good that Watford did in the first half involved Gray in one way or another, it a pity that it seems Silva will only be playing one up front for the foreseeable future. I could not help but think that Deeney and Gray could be strong combination on the pitch at the same time.
Lee Mason, the referee was generally good on the day, he had a tendency to give fouls to attacking team falling over under harassment from the other side, even though often it did not seem like a foul. There were a few funny decision,(as with most refs) and all slide tackles resulted in players being told off or booked. Unlike most ref's Mr Mason was not timing bookings or afraid to book in first half. Capoue was yellow carded for a seemingly 50:50 challenge where both players were stretching for the ball.
Overall Watford deserved the win, the first half was completely dominated by the golden boys and they should have created a larger lead than the single goal. Swansea came back in the second half and could have taken the spoils, although realistically didn't create many chances. Watford came back in the last 5 minutes and Extra Time. Richalison's Goal catching the eye, pace on the other wing with Carillo, a cameo sub appearance from Pereyra and Deeney making a difference even if it was for 5 minutes from the bench a the end.
Swansea Line Ups:
Fabianski,
Olsson, van der Hoorn (Abraham 45), Fernandez, Mawson, Naughton,
Fer, Clucas (Mesa 45), Carroll, Ayew,
Bony (Renato Sanches 85)
Subs
Abraham, Narsingh, Nordfeldt, Routledge, Rangel, Renato Sanches, Mesa.
Watford Line Up
Gomes,
Hobelas, Mariappa, Kabasele, Femenia,
Doucoure, Capoue (Wague 45), Carrillo (Pereyra 74), Cleverly, Richarlison,
Gray (Deeney 86)
Subs
Jamatt, Deeney, Success, Wague, Watson, Karnezis, Pereyra.
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