MX23RW : Thursday, April 18 06:19:45| >> :120:36722:36722:
[monks data]
Swansea logo
Premier League
Jan 18, 2016 at 8pm UK
 
Watford logo

1-0

Williams (27')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Ashley Williams lifts Swansea City out of relegation zone

Ashley Williams scores the only goal of the game to hand Swansea City a 1-0 win over Watford that takes them out of the relegation zone.

Swansea City skipper Ashley Williams scored his first ever home Premier League goal to hand his side a 1-0 victory over Watford at the Liberty Stadium this evening.

The Swans went into the match having only won twice since August, but they inflicted a fourth straight league defeat on Watford to climb out of the relegation zone.

Ashley Williams celebrates scoring during the game between Swansea and Watford on January 18, 2016© Getty Images

It was a slow start from the visitors, but they still managed to create the first hint of a chance when Odion Ighalo failed to get enough on Troy Deeney's cross at the near post.

Swansea were the better side throughout the opening 45 minutes, however, and moments after Andre Ayew had provided the first shot on target of the match, they turned their possession into an opening goal.

It came through the skipper Williams, who notched his first of the season by planting a header from Ki Sung-yueng's cross past a helpless Heurelho Gomes and into the corner.

Ashley Williams scores the opening goal during the game between Swansea and Watford on January 18, 2016© Getty Images

Watford had their first shot on target right at the end of the first half when Jose Jurado let fly from range, but it was straight at Lukasz Fabianski, who made a comfortable stop.

The Hornets did improve after the interval, however, and almost levelled things up in the 52nd minute when Miguel Britos rippled the top of the net with a header from Ben Watson's delivery.

Jurado threatened again shortly after the hour mark when he linked up with Ighalo to create a shooting chance on the edge of the box, only to steer his low effort a couple of yards wide of the far post.

Odion Ighalo and Federico Fernandez in action during the game between Swansea and Watford on January 18, 2016© Getty Images

The visitors' best chances continued to fall to Jurado and, after sending one well-struck volley straight at Fabianski, he sent another narrowly past the post with only two minutes left after Neil Taylor's poor clearance dropped straight to him on the edge of the box.

However, it was the hosts who came closest to getting the second goal of the game in stoppage time when substitute Bafetimbi Gomis cut inside from the right and rattled a shot against the post.

Deeney had one last sight of goal when he lashed a half-volley narrowly wide in the dying embers of the match, but Watford were unable to find the all-important equaliser as they fell to a fourth straight defeat in the top flight for the first time since May 2000.

ID:264551: cacheID:264551:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5993:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Watford player Troy Deeny in action during the Pre season friendly match between Cardiff City and Watford at Cardiff City Stadium on July 28, 2015
Read Next:
Troy Deeney slams Watford performance
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Ipswich TownIpswich432611685533289
2Leicester CityLeicester422841079384188
3Leeds UnitedLeeds43269876344287
4Southampton42259884543084
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4320121166422472
6Norwich CityNorwich432181476601671
7Hull City421811136254865
8Coventry CityCoventry4217121366521463
9Middlesbrough43189166156563
10Preston North EndPreston43189165660-463
11Cardiff CityCardiff43185204860-1259
12Bristol City431610175046458
13Sunderland43168195250256
14Swansea CitySwansea431411185362-953
15Watford431216155958152
16Millwall431311194255-1350
17Blackburn RoversBlackburn431310205771-1449
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth431212195866-848
19Queens Park RangersQPR431211204057-1747
20Stoke CityStoke431211204160-1947
21Birmingham CityBirmingham43129224864-1645
22Huddersfield TownHuddersfield43917174770-2344
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds43128233667-3144
RRotherham UnitedRotherham43411283285-5323


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!