A bizarre own goal from Ryan Andrews, owing to miscommunication between him and Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann was not enough for Swansea City to take all three points away from Vicarage Road. The Swans have now lost 25 points from winning positions this season. Here are Last Word on Football’s key takeaways from the draw with the Hornets in the EFL Championship.
Swansea City Draw 1-1 With Watford: Key Takeaways
Swansea Misfiring Attack
It was a night to forget for Swansea’s front three. Manager Luke Williams has a lot of work to do in South Wales to make his new team as productive in front of goal as his previous team Notts County.
Jerry Yates is yet to become Williams’ new Macaulay Langstaff. He struggled to make an impact and dropped far too deep at times. He had the lowest number of touches, nine, of any player who started the match and was substituted in the 60th minute.
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After some previously fantastic performances, Ronald had perhaps his worst in a Swans shirt on Wednesday night. The Brazilian squandered the highest value xG chance of the game, 0.56, as he raced through on Daniel Bachmann’s goal after winning the ball in the opposition half. The winger completed zero dribbles in five attempts and miscontrolled the ball four times, which was the most of any player on the pitch.
Przemysław Płacheta was his team’s most productive attacker on the night making the most progressive carries, four, and the most progressive pass receptions, six, out of his teammates. However, the Pole showed a lack of composure when bursting into the box in the 73rd minute, choosing to shoot wide when teammates Liam Cullen and Jamal Lowe were free in the six-yard box.
Ben Cabango Jekyll And Hyde Performance
Swansea have conceded the joint-second-least number of corner goals in the Championship this season but conceded one on Wednesday night in the 57th minute of the match after an early warning sign in the first half.
For both of Watford’s corner chances, Ben Cabango was at fault. Tasked with marking Ryan Porteous, Cabango lost the Scotsman on two occasions and was punished on the second when Porteous converted from a Wesley Hoedt flick on at the far post.
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Welsh international Cabango missed a golden chance in added time at the end of the first half, having his headed effort tipped onto the bar by the Watford goalkeeper following a cross from Jamie Paterson.
The Swansea centre-back, corners aside, had a fantastic game defensively. He made one tackle, three interceptions, and three blocks, including a crucial block against a Yaser Asprilla effort late on.
What’s next for Watford And Swansea?
The result failed to make much of an impact for either side, Swansea remained in 15th place, and Watford fell from 12th to 13th.
Valérien Ismaël is under increasing pressure after this result confirmed his side’s third consecutive match without a win. Luke Williams will be the happier of the two managers as his side have now gone three matches unbeaten, which is his best streak since he took charge.
The Hornets lost at home to Coventry City on March 9, and face a trip to Birmingham City on March 16. The Swans travel to Ashton Gate for a March 10 12:30 kickoff against Bristol City, with the chance of leap-frogging them in the table with a victory.
(All statistics from FBref.com)
