Relegation appears a two-horse race
starting the run that led Monk to lose his job and which has only rarely relented since.
One can only hope this latest 1-0 defeat in Hertfordshire can prove the bookend to the process started 19 months previously and that better is to come.
But the only men who can get Swansea out of this mess are the players. The majority of them are not Premier League rookies, they have performed at this level or higher before.
They need to stand up – not just individually but as a collective, as a team – and not just say they believe, but actually show it in their performances and get the job done.
They cannot wait for it to happen. They have to make it happen and It has to happen and it has to happen now, starting against Stoke.
For all the criticism they have received this season and the frustration felt at their struggles, they have to know they still have a supporter base, a city and a community desperately wanting them to succeed, wanting to acclaim them for saving Premier League status.
As unlikely as it seems, they can still end this most bitterly disappointing of seasons as heroes. SWANSEA City saw their winless run extend to six games as Etienne Capoue profited on Alfie Mawson’s error to give Watford a 1-0 win on home soil.
It is the latest heavy blow to the Swans chances of remaining in the top-flight next season and time is fast running out for Paul Clement and his squad to haul themselves out of the bottom three.
The only small mercy for the Welsh club was that Hull, their nearest rivals, also suffered defeat at Stoke.
It ensures Swansea remain just two points from safety, although Crystal Palace’s draw at Leicester moved them further away of those chasing them. The Eagles are now seven points clear of Swansea and five above Hull IS IT NOW BETWEEN SWANSEA AND HULL? It is certainly starting to look that way. Few would give Sunderland or Middlesbrough much chance of getting out of it now, while Palace are starting to disappear from view after another valuable point to back up wins over Chelsea and Arsenal and move level on 35 with Bournemouth.
Much can still change of course, but Marco Silva’s men look to be the obvious rival that Swansea can realistically look to haul in. WHAT CAN HAPPEN IN THE NEXT WEEK? Swansea City could climb out of the bottom three. If they win against Stoke and Hull cannot do better than a draw at home to Watford, the Swans will have their heads above water.
However, is Swansea drop points and the Tigers can continue the excellent home form, they have shown under Portuguese boss Silva, then the gap Swansea would need to overhaul could rise to five points. KEY NEXT FIXTURES Monday Middlesbrough v Arsenal Saturday Bournemouth v Middlesbrough Hull v Watford Swansea v Stoke Sunday Liverpool v Palace REMAINING FIXTURES Hull Pos: 17th Played: 33 Pts: 30 Sat Apr 22 – Watford (h) Sat Apr 29 – So’ton (a) Sat May 6 – Sunderland (h) Sat May 13 – Palace (a) Sun May 21 – Spurs (h) Swansea Pos: 18th Played: 33 Pts:28 Sat Apr 22 – Stoke (h) Sun Apr 30 – Man Utd (a) Sat May 6 – Everton (h) Sat May 13 – Sunderland (a) Sun May 21 – West Brom (h) Middlesbrough Pos: 19th Played: 31 Pts: 24 Mon Apr 17 – Arsenal (h) Sat Apr 22 – Bournemouth (a) Wed Apr 26 – Sunderland (h) Sun Apr 30 – Man City (h) Mon May 8 – Chelsea (a) Sat May 13 – So’ton (h) Sun May 21 – Liverpool (a)