Swansea v Watford Competition - Sky Bet Championship Venue - Swansea.com Stadium Date - 5 November 2024 Kick off - 8pm Following their deserved 2-1 win at Oxford, next up for Luke Williams’ Swansea squad is a home match tomorrow evening against Watford. The Swans’ goal drought finally came to end as Zan Vipotnik and Florian Bianchini struck in the 2-1 victory at Oxford United. Vipotnik swept home the Swans’ first goal in 563 minutes of Championship football from close range following great work by Key, before fellow summer recruit Bianchini steered in his first for the club. Substitute Dane Scarlett's smart finish gave Des Buckingham's side hope of an unlikely late revival, but the Swans held on to end Oxford’s unbeaten home record in 2024-25. This was a first victory in seven league games for Luke Williams' team, but it is now eight matches without a win for Oxford. Later on Saturday afternoon, Vakoun Bayo scored four second-half goals in an astonishing individual display as Watford netted five times after the break to crush Sheffield Wednesday and end a run of five consecutive away league defeats. The Hornets had not won away from home in the Championship since their opening-day success against Millwall and were second best before the break - and fortunate to be going in level at 1-1 despite taking the lead through a neat close-range finish by Ryan Porteous. Michael Smith’s clever volley deservedly levelled for the Owls, but Tom Cleverley’s side destroyed their hosts in the second half. Penalties by Tom Ince and Bayo, in the space of six minutes, put Watford in control. Bayo then headed home home a fourth away goal before Pol Valentin offered the faintest hope of an unlikely comeback with a far-post volley that got the score back to 4-2 with eight minutes remaining. An exquisite chip completed Bayo’s treble and he took his season tally from one in 11 league games to five in 12 to seal an incredible victory and take the Hornets up to fifth in the Championship table. The Swans have played the Hornets on 55 previous occasions, winning 25, losing 19 and drawing 11. In last season’s corresponding fixture, Watford ran out 1-0 winners thanks to Sema’s 82nd minute goal: Turning to tomorrow evening’s match, I’m told that a low attendance figure is expected, not least because it is bonfire night. Additionally, Watford have sold fewer than 250 tickets. Hopefully, there will be fireworks on the pitch, most of them created by the Swans. I think that whichever side scores first will win: I’m going 2-1 to the Swans. Hope I’m right
Could go either way. My contact tells me Watford have been hit and miss, either playing well or terrible. Hopefully a home win but I think we can get a draw at least.
Liam Cullen and Kyle Naughton return to the Swansea City starting XI for tonight’s Championship clash with Watford (8pm). Naughton takes the place of Josh Tymon, who misses out through suspension, while Cullen comes in for fellow Wales international Joe Allen. The Swans are otherwise unchanged from the win over Oxford United, with Lawrence Vigouroux in goal. Naughton joins Harry Darling, Ben Cabango and Josh Key in the Swansea defence, with captain Matt Grimes and Gonçalo Franco linking up in midfield. Cullen takes up an advance role, with Ronald and Myles-Peart Harris occupying the flanks for the hosts. Žan Vipotnik leads the line for the Swans, while Kristian Pedersen is on the bench as he returns to the matchday squad after injury. Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux; Josh Key, Ben Cabango, Harry Darling, Kyle Naughton; Matt Grimes (captain), Gonçalo Franco; Ronald, Liam Cullen, Myles Peart-Harris; Žan Vipotnik. Substitutes: Jon McLaughlin, Kristian Pedersen, Joe Allen, Florian Bianchini, Nathan Tjoe-A-On, Cyrus Christie, Nelson Abbey, Aimar Govea, Azeem Abdulai. Watford: Daniel Bachmann (captain), Francisco Sierralta, Mattie Pollock, Tom Ince, Giorgi Chakvetadze, Ken Sema, Pierre Dwomoh, Vakoun Bayo, Festy Ebosele, Yasser Larouci, Edo Kayembe. Substitutes: Jonathan Bond, James Morris, Ryan Andrews, Antonio Tikvic, Kevin Keben, Imran Louza, Daniel Jebbison, Kwadwo Baah, Mamadou Doumbia.
If he could try again I'd buy him a big box of matches and a Jerry can full of roast the f#####s ! Early goals to settle nerves and careful with subs later on !
Couple of big chances there, so close with the offside. Perfect ball in but Vip too slow. Good signs though.
