15/04/2017 14:00 v Watford

Swansea City suffered another blow in their bid for Premier League survival as they were beaten 1-0 at Watford.

Paul Clement’s men had their moments at Vicarage Road, but they went down to a 44th-minute Etienne Capoue goal.

The Swans pushed for an equaliser in the second half but, a lack of quality in the final third means they have now lost six games in a row away from the Liberty Stadium.

They have taken only one point from their last six top-flight outings, a painful run at this pivotal stage of the campaign.

And in truth the best news for the Swans this weekend came for elsewhere, as their relegation rivals also dropped points.

The Watford loss means the Swans have 28 points from 33 Premier League games.

After that disappointing effort at West Ham, the Swans looked more competitive in the opening stages here.

Clement’s men had been short of attacking threat at the London Stadium, but they carved the first chance at Watford when Luciano Narsingh crossed for Gylfi Sigurdsson.

The Icelander’s first effort was blocked by Adrian Mariappa, then his follow-up shot was beaten away by Heurelho Gomes.

Next Sigurdsson whipped in a right-wing free-kick which Gomes flapped at. The ball looped up to Federico Fernandez at the far post but, with the angle tight, he could only head over the bar.

Gradually, Watford began to come into the contest.

M’Baye Niang’s free-kick was well gathered by Lukasz Fabianski, who then did well to push over Troy Deeney’s half-volley after the Swans had given away possession in their own half.

The Swans produced their best move of the opening period just after the half-hour mark, when a crisp passing move involving Fernando Llorente, Sigurdsson and Narsingh ended with a Ki Sung-Yueng shot which was saved by Gomes.

Sigurdsson’s long-range volley was also gathered by the Watford keeper before the home side grabbed the lead just before the break.

Alfie Mawson was caught in possession by Capoue, who saw his first shot saved by a sprawling Fabianski before steering the rebound into the net via the far post.

Clement’s side needed to find a response in the second half, and there were some early signs of promise as Kyle Naughton picked out Llorente and he nodded the ball down for Sigurdsson.

The skipper-for-the-day turned on to his left foot and let fly from 20 yards, but Gomes watched on as the ball flew wide of his left-hand post.

Watford responded, with Daryl Janmaat pushing forward from right-back before unleashing a 25-yard drive which Fabianski pawed to safety.

Clement decided to act just before the hour, sending on Borja for Narsingh and switching to two up front with Sigurdsson operating in behind.

Borja was quickly into the action, seeing a cross-shot blocked, before Naughton’s cross was scrambled to safety by Walter Mazzarri’s defence.

The Swans were gaining some momentum as the second half wore on, throwing men forward and forcing Watford back without creating any clear-cut opportunities.

Watford’s threat had faded, although substitute Stefano Okaka found the net with an acrobatic volley 12 minutes from the end only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.

Clement played his final card by sending on Jordan Ayew for Llorente.

Sigurdsson’s arcing free-kick had Gomes scrambling to claw the ball to safety, then Ayew's deep cross had Tom Carroll interested but his volley rolled wide.

When Sigurdsson headed wide from Borja's cross in stoppage time, the Swans were beaten.

 

WATFORD: Heurelho Gomes, Daryl Janmaat, Adrian Mariappa, Sebastian Prodl, Jose Holebas, Nordin Amrabat (Christian Kabasele, 64), Tom Cleverley (Valon Behrami, 88), Etienne Capoue, Abdoulaye Doucoure, M'baye Niang (Stefano Okaka, 78), Troy Deeney (capt).
SUBS: Costel Pantilimon, Isaac Success, Brandon Mason, Dion Pereira.

SWANS: Lukasz Fabianski, Kyle Naughton, Federico Fernandez, Alfie Mawson, Martin Olsson, Jay Fulton (Tom Carroll, 67), Ki Sung-Yueng, Leroy Fer, Luciano Narsingh (Borja, 58), Gylfi Sigurdsson (capt), Fernando Llorente (Jordan Ayew, 81).
SUBS: Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Mike van der Hoorn, Stephen Kingsley, Wayne Routledge.