Swansea City v Watford Competition - Sky Bet Championship Venue - Liberty Stadium Kick off - 3pm Date - 2 January 2021 Following their 0-0 draw at home to Reading when the Swans gave arguably their finest playing performance under Steve Cooper, next up for Cooper’s squad is another tough looking match against fellow promotion hopefuls Watford. On Wednesday evening, the Swans were forced to settle for a point as they failed to break down fellow Championship promotion candidates Reading. Steve Cooper's side played some pretty football to match the impressive looking new playing surface at the Liberty Stadium but could not conjure enough quality in the final third to claim victory. Reading goalkeeper Rafael Cabral made a succession of saves to keep Swansea at bay, with Andre Ayew going closest to finding a breakthrough. Veljko Paunovic's men finished up happy with the draw, which means they stay sixth in the table. The Swans continue to have the best defensive record in the EFL - this was their 13th clean sheet in 22 league games this season - but could not find the decisive goal that their performance deserved. The Swans, who slipped a place to third after Brentford's win over Bournemouth, will be frustrated to have missed a chance to close the gap on leaders Norwich City to just two points. Last Saturday, Ismailia Sarr got new Watford head coach Xisco Munoz off to the perfect start with a winning goal that ended Championship leaders Norwich City's five-game winning run. Spaniard Munoz, who was appointed after Vladimir Ivic's sacking, was in the Hornets dugout for the first time and watched on as his team produced one of their best displays of the season so far. Sarr scored the game's only goal six minutes before the break, converting Ken Sema's low cross at the far post. After Wednesday evening’s matches, Watford are 5th in the Championship table, well placed achieve their ambition of returning to the PL at the first attempt. The Swans have played the Hornets on 49 occasions, winning 22, losing 17 and drawing 10, The teams last met in a League match at the Liberty in a PL fixture in September 2017 when the Hornets ran out 2-1 winners: https://www.watfordfc.com/video/mat...wansea-1-2-watford-premier-league-201718#play Turning to Saturday, I think Watford will benefit from having no midweek fixture and will run out 1-2 winners. Hope I’m wrong
Thanks for your write up Taff...........................not thanking you for your score prediction. ! ! !
Cheers Victor - I think that they will benefit from having a week off, plus Bennett will be missing if his hamstring has gone .... That said, I hope I’m wrong ...
Thanks Taff. Another tough game in the space of 4 days. Hopefully we will see a repeat of Wednesday nights performance and that we can put away our chances. If we do its a 2-1 win to the Swans to start what hopefully will be a better year for all of us.
Thanks Taff for your many write ups throughout 2020. All have been excellently written and throughout enjoyable reading. As for the Swans v Hornets 3-2 Hornets. Head over heart. Sorry playmates.
Let us all hope that next time when we come down to Wales we are playing each other in the PL with a full house of fans. Best wishes to you all for 2021 and stay safe so that you can get back to the Liberty one day.
Thanks for your preview Taff apart from the final negative score....hopefully the players will continue their fine performance from Wednesday....and surely the Hornets goalie will not be as up for it as Readings was....two nil to Swans
Very sorry I’m pissed and thought the game was against Cardiff not Watford Very tight, always liked Watford as a club and get a good welcome threw so I’m really going for a hard fought 1-0
Such a difference between Jacks and Cardiff fans (not sure of their nickname, but I’m sure you could advise us of a few? ), but I suppose that’s as ignorant as expecting Watford and Millwall fans to be alike. Always had a soft spot for Swansea, because of similar history promotion-wise during my last 50+ years, the quality of their football in the last 20+ years, and the genuine friendliness of their fans. I agree with ofh (oldfrenchhorn) that next season this needs to be played in the Prem. As for the score, it’s so hard to say. Yes, we deservedly beat Norwich, but there was the fact the players had just sloughed off our previous manager Ivic, felt able to breathe, and so played to potential. The Swans won’t roll over though. I’m expecting a very good and close game of football, which could go either way, and if it does, the margin will only be one goal. Fence-sitting. 1-1. Happy New Year, to all the Swans and Hornets.
