SWANS GET STUNG!
Barnsley will be play-off opponents Cooper’s men beaten at Watford but post-season drama awaits:
SWANSEA City’s regular Championship season ended in defeat as they were beaten 2-0 by Watford at Vicarage Road.
The Swans created numerous chances against the Hornets in what was an entertaining contest.
However, second half goals from Andre Gray and Isaac Success earned Xisco Munoz’s men all three points.
Despite defeat, Swansea ended the campaign in fourth place which means they will take on Barnsley in the play-off semi-finals.
Steve Cooper selected a strong 11 to start against the Hornets, and it was perhaps an indication of how he would look to attack the play-offs.
Andre Ayew and Marc Guehi both returned to the fold after missing the 2-1 win over Derby County due to injury while Conor Hourihane and Jay Fulton were also drafted in.
The intent was there for all to see from the outset as Liam Cullen and Jamal Lowe both went close early on.
Swansea’s front three looked menacing, although the visitors were almost undone by a slick passing move that saw Ken Sema pick out Philip Zinckernagel in the box, but the Dane couldn’t test Freddie Woodman.
Cullen then showed great endeavour to create an opening for Ayew whose drilled effort struck the chest of Ben Foster in what was a lively start to proceedings in Hertfordshire.
Former Swans transfer target Sema caused real problems for the away side while Dan Gosling fired over from a corner as the chances kept on coming for both sides.
The ever-impressive Guehi produced a vital intervention to thwart Gray before Foster was called into action again to palm away Matt Grimes’ rasping effort.
The freedom both sides played with was refreshing, although the likes of Ryan Bennett, Guehi and Grimes had to be on their guard whenever Xisco Munoz’s side attacked with numbers.
After a frantic half an hour or so, the latter stages of the first half were less eventful, although Swansea continued to carry a threat while they looked fresher than they have done in recent months which no doubt bodes well for the coming weeks.
Swansea looked full of life in the opening stages of the second half and got into dangerous positions on numerous occasions.
However, after Cullen and Jay Fulton both failed to test Foster, Watford broke on the left flank through Sema whose cross was turned home by Gray.
It represented a real hammer blow for the Swans would have been more than pleased with their efforts until that opener on 56 minutes.
With just under half an hour to go, Steve Cooper sent on Wayne Routledge, Ollie Cooper, Korey Smith and Yan Dhanda which gave Ayew, Cullen, Lowe and Grimes the chance to rest up ahead of the play-offs.
In truth, Swansea’s final ball proved to be their downfall as Watford goalkeeper Foster enjoyed a far more comfortable ending to the game than he had done prior to Gray’s goal.
And Success drilled beyond Woodman in stunning fashion three minutes from time to clinch victory for the hosts.
The Swans will take on Barnsley at Oakwell on Monday, May 17 before hosting Valerien Ismael’s side at the Liberty Stadium five days later.
WATFORD: Foster; Navarro, Kabasele, Cathcart (C), Lazaar; Sanchez (Joao Pedro 65), Gosling (Wilmot 82), Zinckernagel (Hughes 65); Success, Sema (Masina 82), Gray (Deeney 71).
SUBS NOT USED: Bachmann, Troost-Ekong, Sierralta, Perica. SWANSEA CITY: Woodman; Roberts, Bennett, Guehi, Bidwell; Grimes (C) (Smith 65), Fulton, Hourihane (Whittaker 77); Ayew (O Cooper 65), Cullen (Routledge 65), Lowe (Dhanda 65).
SUBS NOT USED: Hamer, Latibeaudiere, Naughton, Manning. REFEREE: Geoff Eltringham