NEW SWANS BOSS OFF TO FLYING START
New man at Swans helm off to a stunning start:
IT just all seemed to be drifting away. This season, this fight, this club’s special time in the Premier League, all ebbing away with the minutes and seconds remaining at Vicarage Road.
That nagging knowledge of things not being good enough seemed to be unpicking at any final grabs at optimism that a change of manager might have brought to those keen for any sign of hope.
In a symbol of the season, Watford had not been particularly impressive despite their lead and yet Swansea still could not find a way of making that matter one bit.
The game, the season, the belief all drifting away.
And then all pulled back from the brink.
Only time will tell whether the final four minutes in this match end up being the turning point Swansea supporters have longed for this term. It will only be later down the line that any of us know whether this was a fleeting moment of hope not destined to last.
But seeing the goals from Jordan Ayew and Luciano Narsingh turn defeat into victory – the first time Swansea have won from a losing position this season – at least stopped the drift.
In a season short on smiles, the scenes at the final whistle were a joy to behold. With all the frustration, anger, in-fighting and accusations, the pure euphoria as Narsingh finished with 90 minutes on the clock and then the final whistle was a blissful return to better times, even if just for a few moments.
Players celebrated with wild abandon with each other and the new staff. At full-time many of those players handed shirts over to supporters who have deserved better this year and finally got a glimpse of it here. Carvalhal, stood next to a passionately delighted Lukasz Fabianski who had made a game-turning save from Andre Gray just moments before Ayew’s 86th minute leveller, pumped his fists emphatically and roared his debut delight. The roars of approval were returned.
It is only the start, said Carvalhal afterwards. It seemed to be both a warning and a promise.
And clearly, if those celebrations are to mean more or to not look premature, then much, much more is needed.
But at least it feels that Swansea are no longer drifting after grabbing control of things here. Off the bottom – for the time being, at least – and suddenly safety doesn’t look as impossible as it so recently did. Plenty more are being dragged in and will see their confidence and mentality tested.
Swansea seem like they are at least prepared to fight again and a manager all too ready to lead it with almost aggressive confidence and positivity.
It paid off here, throwing on attacking players – including rookie striker Oli McBurnie, who made a real difference – as he sought a win, even when some may have settled for a point when Ayew’s close-range strike had cancelled out Andre Carrillo’s 11th minute header.
The rewards were the first time Swansea have come from behind to win on the road since beating Arse- nal at the Emirates in March 2016. The task is still huge, though it is worth knowing they are actually a point better off than they were at the same stage last year.
The difference here is the lack of creative players, of a talisman – difference-makers the departed Paul Clement had called them after missing them. This match told nothing different about the vital need to use January to bring them in.
Possession was fine once more but an inability to get behind or even ask questions of a Watford defence saw it inevitably given up when Swansea ran out of sideways passes or gave the Hornets a bit too much sight of the ball.
It gave Watford some hope and eventually gave them their opener as a run behind Kyle Naughton – disappointing defensively but having been asked to push forward by Carvalhal – saw Richarlison shoot at Fabianski and his save invite Carrillo to head home.
Carvalhal tinkered, admitting his tactics didn’t pay off, but he made posuitive changes with what he had. He spoke often to Renato Sanches who kept going, wasted some balls, but kept involved. It was notable he made a key defensive contribution with the score 1-0 in the final 20 minutes and then was involved in the comeback.
Swansea hadn’t really tested – a frustrated Marco Silva repeatedly stated they had not had a shot on goal aside from Ayew’s early crack of the crossbar – but they finally got behind. Substitute Luciano Narsingh crossed, McBurnie won an important header and Ayew – just about onside – prodded home.
Swansea were revived, were no longer drifting. Again they pushed, won a free-kick and Sanches swung in brilliantly. That alone was impressive given Swansea’s set-piece problems, but the poor clearance was met by Nathan Dyer’s volley and Narsingh picked up the loose ball to finish impressively. Cue celebrations. Will it cue even more?
Only time will tell. But it at least feels like Swansea could stop the drift.