Swansea 1-0 Watford: Ashley Williams earns victory as Francesco Guidolin looks on
Tuesday 19 January 2016 09:59, UK
New head coach Francesco Guidolin watched Swansea beat Watford 1-0 on Monday Night Football to move out of the Premier League relegation zone.
The Italian, whose appointment was confirmed hours before kick-off, watched from the stands at the Liberty as interim manager Alan Curtis earned his second win since taking over in early December.
Swansea captain Ashley Williams headed home the only goal of the game in the 27th minute as the home side dominated the first half.
Watford improved after the break but could not prevent a fourth straight league defeat and almost conceded a second late on as Bafetimbi Gomis struck the post.
While Swansea did have to survive a couple of late scares, the win moves them out of the bottom three at the expense of Newcastle.
Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores said beforehand that he wanted his side to improve on their "worst display" of the season at Southampton, but they were second best in the first half and rarely threatened.
Odion Ighalo failed to direct his header goalwards in the 21st minute but Swansea's pressure eventually told in the 27th minute as Sung-Yueng Ki was allowed time to cross from the right and Williams rose highest to head home.
The goal gave the home fans a lift and Swansea pressed for a second as Ki shot over and Gomes punched clear a free-kick under pressure.
Watford's best moment came late in the half as Jose Jurado shot at Lukasz Fabianski after exchanging passes with Troy Deeney.
The visitors pressed Swansea more after the break and went close to equalising as Miguel Britos flicked a header over the bar from Ben Watson's free-kick.
Jurado then curled wide after linking up with Deeney again as Watford pressed for an equaliser.
Both sides had penalty appeals waved away as Watson leaned into Neil Taylor's shot and then Williams and Odion Ighalo tussled in the box.
Jurado also shot wide after Taylor's error but it was Swansea who went closest to scoring when substitute Gomis hit the post.
Player ratings
Swansea: Fabianski (6), Naughton (6), Fernandez (5), Williams (7), Taylor (6), Britton (7), Cork (5), Ki (6), Sigurdsson (6), Ayew (6), Routledge (5).
Subs: Amat (5), Gomis (5), Barrow (5).
Watford: Gomes (6), Nyom (5), Cathcart (6), Britos (6), Ake (6), Behrami (5), Capoue (6), Watson (6), Jurado (5), Ighalo (5), Deeney (6).
Subs: Oulare (5), Paredes (5).
Man of the match: Ashley Williams.
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