MX23RW : Saturday, May 18 01:06:03| >> :600:221343:221343:
[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
CLeicester CityLeicester463141189414897
3Leeds UnitedLeeds462791081433890
4Southampton462691187632487
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4621121370472375
6Norwich CityNorwich4621101579641573
7Hull City461913146860870
8Middlesbrough46209177162969
9Coventry CityCoventry4617131670591164
10Preston North EndPreston46189195667-1163
11Bristol City461711185351262
12Cardiff CityCardiff46195225370-1762
13Millwall461611194555-1059
14Swansea CitySwansea461512195965-657
15Watford461317166161056
16Sunderland46168225254-256
17Stoke CityStoke461511204960-1156
18Queens Park RangersQPR461511204758-1156
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn461411216074-1453
20Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds46158234468-2453
21Plymouth ArgylePlymouth461312215970-1151
RBirmingham CityBirmingham461311225065-1550
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield46918194877-2945
RRotherham UnitedRotherham46512293789-5227


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!