Swansea City 1 Watford 2: Sting in the tail as Hornets' summer signing capitalises on late Swansea error

Richarlison celebrates his winner as Watford took all three points at the Liberty Stadium
Richarlison celebrates his winner as Watford took all three points at the Liberty Stadium Credit: REUTERS

Watford got back on the winning trail in dramatic fashion as Richarlison pounced on a Swansea error to snatch victory in the final throes at the Liberty Stadium.

It looked as if a half-time rethink from Paul Clement had rescued a point as substitute Tammy Abraham equalised after Andre Gray had scored his first goal for Watford to put them in command. But the summer signing pounced to intercept Roque Mesa’s loose pass before beating Alfie Mawson and scoring to snatch all three points.

Swansea had only managed to find the net in one of their five matches before kickoff, so Paul Clement turned to Wilfried Bony to end their baron spell in-front of goal. But the Ivorian striker was to have an influence at the wrong end of the pitch as Watford broke the deadlock after 13 minutes.

Wilfried Bony of Swansea City reacts during the Premier League match between Swansea City and Watford
Impact at the wrong end - Wilfried Bony's error allowed Andre Gray to net Watford's opener Credit: GETTY IMAGES

The Ivorian played a loose pass into the path of the impressive Andre Carrillo, who charged down the right and crossed towards Gray. 

Sam Clucas had tracked back to get a foot in, but he could only present the ball on a plate for the striker to net his first goal since signing from Burnely for £18.5m this summer.

Heurelho Gomes saved an equaliser moments later when he scrambled the ball away from Federico Fernandez. Watford should have doubled their lead five minutes before half-time when Gray beat Lukasz Fabianksi to Alfie Mawson’s weak back-pass but his shot crept inches past the post.

Clement reacted at half-time by sending Abraham and Roque Mesa into the fray, and his decision paid off 11 minutes after the restart.

The ball fell at the feet of Bony in the Watford box, but his left-footed shot was palmed into the path of Abraham, who levelled from close-range.

But the Brazilian intercepted Mesa’s misplaced pass in midfield before racing past Mawson’s weak challenge to beat Fabianksi via the underside of the cross bar.

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