Despite having much of the play, the Swans would fail to create any meaningful opportunities in a disappointing first-half against a physical Watford outfit and would fall behind at the break to the Hornet’s first chance of the game.
Australian international midfielder Nestory Irankunda’s sparkling free kick from the edge of the penalty area curled perfectly into the top corner of the Swans net.
Swans goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux made two splendid saves, whilst Swans captain Ben Cabango’s off the line clearance would be a crucial factor in the Swans coming back into the game.
It would be a totally dominant second 45 as the Swans energy and fitness shone through, with the only thing lacking being a goal on the scoresheet.
That did eventually come through substitute Zan Vipotnik’s glancing header ten minutes from time after Ronald and Liam Cullen had previously missed several guilt-edged chances.
Vipotnik almost grabbed a late winner sliding in stoppage-time, but a fighting point would be a fair result on the day that would leave the Swans boss proud with his players commitment to the cause against a strong opposition.
“I am proud of the lads,” said Sheehan in his post-match conference
“As a manager you want a team that keeps going until the final minute and the fans felt that. There was only one team that was going to win that game.
“When we spoke at half-time we knew we going to make changes and we wanted to put our stamp on the game. We were in the ascendancy in the second half and Watford struggled to match our tempo.
“I think the first half worldie free-kick and a headed chance kind of changes the perception. Apart from that there wasn’t really a whole lot in the game.
“Were we the best version of ourselves? No, but it’s very bitty against a physical team that’s going man to man.
“I think after 55 minutes when we made the changes and made a few tactical tweaks, we were the better team.
“We were gathering rhythm, [then a Watford] injury, gathering rhythm, another injury, gathering rhythm, another injury. That’s what it was like for the last 35 minutes.
“We just kept going until the end. We got a point, and, on another day, we’d have got three.
“He [Vipotnik] has had a bitty pre-season, but what we want is for our game-changers is to come on and impact the game and he did.
“He scored the goal – he scored one of them in training yesterday, so it gives you that feeling.
“It was a good ball in, and they are the ones we have potentially not been getting on the end of enough in the last couple of games. He got on the end of it and nearly got on the end of another.”
[Lead image: Swansea City FC]
