Barclays Premier League:

Swansea City 1–0 Watford

A rare goal from captain Ashley Williams capped a significant day for Swansea City, and another colossal individual display from the skipper, as the Swans gained a crucial win over Watford at the Liberty Stadium last night.

Just hours beforehand, Francesco Guidolin had been confirmed as the new head coach of the club, and the Italian and his new assistant, Gabriele Ambrosetti, were in the stands to watch the Swans notch a first league win since Boxing Day.

And yet, in a clear show of support, it was the name of interim manager Alan Curtis that reverberated around the stadium as the Swans started brightly, with Gylfi Sigurdsson’s neat back heel putting Wayne Routledge through on goal, only for the latter to be flagged offside.

Jack Cork blazed over from 20 yards out and Leon Britton was denied by Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes after a neat one-two with Andre Ayew – but as so often the case, the Swans lacked a cutting edge to their neat build up play.

At the other end, the much heralded strike partnership of captain Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo were kept quiet early on, and it took more than 20 minutes for them offer a glimpse of a threat when Deeney robbed Swansea left back Neil Taylor of possession and crossed fof Ighalo, who couldn’t direct his header goalwards.

Ayew then exchanged passes with Sigurdsson but his low shot from the edge of the area was easily held by Gomes – but on 27 minutes, the Swans struck.

Sigurdsson’s cross was not properly cleared by the visitors, and the ball found its way to Ki on the right wing, whose out-swinging ball was headed into the corner by Williams for his first league goal since scoring at Everton on March 22nd, 2014.

A disappointing Watford offered little by way of response and sure enough, it took until the 45th minute for them to muster a shot on target, as Manual Jurado’s 25-yard effort stung the palms of Lukasz Fabianski.

Quique Sánchez Flores’ side did start with greater intent after the break, as Jurado curled an effort wide of the far post before their best chance – as Miguel Britos could only head Ben Watson’s in-swinging free kick onto the top of the net.

The Swans themselves were struggling to muster much by the way of chances in the second half, although Routledge went clear on the right, only for his low cross to fall just behind Ayew.

Jurado side footed another effort past the post and late on, the lively midfielder came within inches of the equaliser when he latched onto Neil Taylor’s poor headed clearance and volleyed narrowly wide. 

In injury time, Swansea substitute Bafetimbi Gomis so nearly sealed the win when he turned in the area only for his left foot shot to cannon back off the inside of the post, but there was still time for one more scare at the other end for the home side, as Deeney flashed a half volley wide of the top corner.

But the Swans held out amidst a huge roar of relief around the Liberty – with the Jack Army able to celebrate a result that puts their side back above Newcastle and out of the relegation zone ahead of a trip to Everton on Sunday.

Swansea City:  Lukasz Fabianski, Kyle Naughton, Federico Fernandez, Ashley Williams, Neil Taylor, Leon Britton, Jack Cork, Ki Sung-Yeung (Jordi Amat 86), Gylfi Sigurdsson, Wayne Routledge (Modou Barrow 66), Andre Ayew (Bafetimbi Gomis 82).
Subs not used: Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Marvin Emnes, Jefferson Montero, Angel Rangel.

Watford: Heurelho Gomes, Allan Nyom (Juan Carlos Paredes 73), Miguel Britos, Craig Cathcart, Nathan Ake, Etienne Capoue, Ben Watson, Valon Behrami (Obbi Oulare 87), Troy Deeney, Jose Manual Jurado, Odion Ighalo.
Subs not used: Giedrius Arlauskis, Sebastian Prödl, Almen Anya, Adlene Guedioura, Alemn Abdi.

Referee: Michael Oliver.
Assistant referees: Steve Childs and Jake Collin.
Fourth official: Neil Swarbrick.
Attendance: 20,430.