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Richarlison celebrates scoring Watford’s second goal against Swansea.
Richarlison celebrates scoring Watford’s second goal against Swansea. Photograph: Paul Childs/Action Images via Reuters
Richarlison celebrates scoring Watford’s second goal against Swansea. Photograph: Paul Childs/Action Images via Reuters

Paul Clement takes the blame after late Richarlison winner sinks Swansea

This article is more than 6 years old

Paul Clement blamed himself for Swansea’s third straight Premier League home defeat against Watford.

The Brazilian youngster Richarlison took Watford briefly into fifth place as his 90th-minute winner gave them victory – the first time the Hornets have won three consecutive away games in the Premier League. It was also Watford’s first league success at Swansea since 1983.

Swansea substitute Tammy Abraham had earlier cancelled out Andre Gray’s first Watford goal to reward a better second-half showing from the hosts. But that only came after Clement had sent on Roque Mesa and Abraham at half-time and switched from playing three central defenders to a flat back four.

Watford should have been ahead before Gray produced the first dividend since leaving Burnley last month in a deal believed to be worth up to £18.5m.

“We played really poorly in the first half and I have to take responsibility for that because I chose the shape of the team,” Clement said.

“I chose the lineup and it proved to be incorrect, and I think I did the right thing to make the changes at half-time in terms of the shape and personnel.

“We took the initiative, had a lot more control of the game and got back in it. There looked like there was only one team who would go on and win it at that point. But in that position you must make sure you do not lose the game, and when I look back at their two goals they are gifts.”

Clement had praised his players after their goalless draw against Tottenham at Wembley last Saturday.

Andre Gray gives Watford the lead in the first half. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

But he criticised them for the second consecutive home game after Richarlison punished Alfie Mawson’s timid tackle with a composed finish off the underside of the crossbar.

After the 1-0 defeat to Newcastle, Clement said he found it difficult to “understand what he saw”. This time, he said Swansea had “only played for 40 minutes”.

“I am very disappointed for the supporters, they have come here to see their side play three times at home and we have lost every game,” Clement said.

“On reflection that was a 95-minute game, but we only played for 40 minutes. That is not good enough. It is supposed to be easier at home, but for some reason at the moment it is not. We played really well here at the end of last season.

“The crowd were disappointed with the first-half performance and I can understand that, I felt the same.”

Marco Silva was delighted his Watford side had quickly put last Saturday’s 6-0 home defeat by Manchester City behind them.

“It was a tough afternoon last week, but it’s in the past,” Silva said. “Our team showed they had forgotten what happened last Saturday, which was really important.

“We wanted three really important points and we’ve got our third win away in the Premier League, which is very difficult for a team like Watford.

“We started the game with some really nice football, we scored a goal and controlled the match well. But we needed to believe we could score the second to kill the match. If we’d have scored a second we could have been a bit more confident.”

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