Swans and Hornets come up short in drab affair
Swansea manager Bob Bradley celebrated his first Premier League point since taking over in charge at the Liberty Stadium, but it could so easily have been three had the Swans have found their shooting boots in the second half.
Although Watford were happy to defend deep and play on the counter attack, they were almost made to pay in the final throes. Unfortunately for Bradley, Gylfi Sigurdsson missed two golden chances to win the game and present Swansea with only their second win of the season.
Although Watford came into the game with confidence on their side, it was Swansea who started the better. Borja had a fourth minute shot blocked before Jose Holebas was forced into a hurried clearance with the £15m forward about to strike.
Bradley was living every moment of his first game in charge, on Welsh soil. He covered every inch of his
technical area, constantly prompting a side that looked eager but shorn of confidence. Watford sensed the home side's vulnerability in the 15 minutes leading up to half time and threw greater numbers forward. Etienne Capoue struck a free kick over the top, from 25 yards and Deeney was denied at the last moment too.
Bradley continued to instruct his side from pitchside, but with little reward. Watford might not have been firing as they have done at times this season, but they were equal to anything their hosts threw at them.
On the one occasion Swansea actually found themselves in a position of real promise, Borja's overhead kick, from a Kyle Naughton cross, drifted harmlessly wide of the far post. Watford were happy to once again play on the break. And when Ighalo twisted his way into a scoring position on the hour, Swansea did well to avert the potential danger.
Bradley threw on Fernando Llorente to provide the increasingly isolated Baston with some much needed help down the middle. The Spaniard almost made an immediate impact. Barrow forced his way down the right and when the ball was worked inside, Llorente, from a tight angle, saw his shot deflected for a corner.
Watford thought they should have had a penalty moments later when Ighalo made his way into the box. Referee Paul Tierney waved away the visitors' appeals for handball.
Both sides had suddenly awoken and Sigurdsson should have done far better after Barrow, once again, caused trouble down the right. Sadly, for Swansea the Icelandic midfielder's scuffed attempt from no more than eight yards, was comfortably saved. Sigurdsson came much closer eight minutes from time when he struck the outside of the post from 20 yards. Bradley could scarcely believe his side's misfortune.
Adlene Guediora's run from deep ended with a shot just over and as the game finished at a break-neck pace, Swansea had two further opportunities to win it. Unfortunately, it was not to be and although it was a first point in five league games, it will be seen as two points lost.
Teams
Swansea: Fabianski, Naughton, Van der Hoorn, Mawson, Kingsley, Britton, Ki Sung-yeung, Barrow, Sigurdsson, Routledge, Baston (Llorente 68).
Subs not used: Nordfeldt, Amat, Taylor, Fer, Rangel, Cork.
Watford: Gomes, Zuniga (Amrabat 63), Prodl, Kaboul, Britos, Holebas, Pereyra, Behrami, Capoue (Guedioura 78), Deeney, Ighalo.
Subs not used: Pantilimon, Mariappa, Sinclair, Watson, Kabasele.
Referee: P Tierney (Lancashire)
Attendance: 20,694