Preview | Watford v Swansea City
Swansea City will look to end their search for another away win when they take on Watford at Vicarage Road this afternoon (3pm).
Despite improved performances on their travels, the Swans have been frustrated at not putting more points on the board; with their most recent away win coming at Oxford just before the turn of the year.
They take on a Watford team winless in their last three but who are firmly in the play-off picture and boast one of the best home records in the division.
Team news
Zeidane Inoussa is facing a long spell on the sidelines as he recovers from a stress fracture in his back.
The Sweden winger has missed the last three games with the problem and, having seen a specialist, it has been confirmed he will be out for an extended period of time.
Chelsea loanee Ishe Samuels-Smith is back in training after being sidelined following a calf injury, while Ethan Galbraith is in contention to feature against Watford on Saturday after his half-time substitution at Hull City last time out.
Pre-match views
Vitor Matos: “Watford are a good team. They have really good players, decisive players, who are really effective in the last third.
“They have scored 24 goals in open play, which says a lot about them. It shows it’s a game where we need to be 100 per cent focused with 100 per cent concentration on the little details which will make a difference ,and that's what we expect from ourselves.
“It is all about performance, it’s not about being home or away. It's about which kind of problems come up in the game and how we can handle those kind of problems.
“Of course, emotionally it's different because if you are at home you are in your stadium with your fans, but that doesn't change what the game is.
“What is important is that we understand what we need to improve and that we keep pushing ourselves to make those steps.
Javi Gracia: "They are a well organised team, playing 4-3-3 with good movement.
“But, at the same time, I can say many good words about my team and my players.
“I’m an optimist and facing Swansea, I’m motivated to get the result all the players and fans want.”
Meet the officials
Matt Corlett is the referee for Swansea City’s Championship fixture at Watford this afternoon.
The Bootle official first took up the whistle when he was 14 and – having reached EFL level as an assistant referee – elected to focus on refereeing in 2016.
He has worked his way up to EFL level, and took charge of the memorable National League play-off final between Notts County and Chesterfield in 2023.
Saturday’s fixture at Vicarage Road will be his third Championship game, with Corlett having overseen Watford’s win at Norwich and Wrexham’s win at Derby in recent weeks.
So far this season, in all competition, he has taken charge of 21 games, handing out 84 yellow cards and one red.
Corlett will be assisted by Lee Venamore and Andrew Dallison, while Dean Whitestone.
Remember the last time?
Swansea City suffered a first defeat in four games as Moussa Sissoko’s first-half effort gave Watford the spoils at Vicarage Road.
The former Tottenham midfielder swept home the winner for the Hornets after the Swans had given up the ball in their own half.
That proved one of only two shots on target for the home side, but the Swans were unable to make the most of a number of promising attacking situations.
Liam Cullen and Zan Vipotnik went agonisingly close to scoring, while Jisung Eom found the side-netting.
Prime numbers
3 - Watford have only won three of their last 10 league meetings with Swansea (D2 L5), although one of those victories did come in this exact fixture last season (1-0 at Vicarage Road in March 2025).
59 - This season’s reverse fixture between Watford and Swansea ended in a 1-1 draw (August 2025). Only once previously have they drawn both meetings in a league campaign, doing so in 1966-67 in the third tier, 59 years ago.