Swansea City 0-1 Watford: Superb late Ken Sema strike wins it for Hornets

Ken Sema’s thumping late strike earned Watford a second successive win as they edged a colorless encounter at Swansea City.

Kristian Pedersen had a aim disallowed for Swansea after the break as referee Andrew Kitchen deemed a Swans participant had blocked an opponent off the ball.

Then, simply as the sport appeared destined to finish goalless, Sema fired a 20-yard rocket into the highest nook.

The substitute’s first aim of the season was a much-needed intervention for Watford and the match basically, which had been largely forgettable till Sema’s shot flew previous Rushworth at his close to put up.

A primary away victory since January lifts Watford as much as 15th within the Championship desk, whereas a second house defeat in 4 days sees Swansea drop to 18th.

Swansea had endured their worst begin to a league season for 32 years earlier than a four-match successful run which ended once they had been crushed right here by Championship leaders Leicester City on Saturday.

Watford might not have fluctuated fairly so wildly, although a win and a draw of their earlier two outings provided respite after three successive defeats.

This sport was performed with a lethargy that recommended the 2 sides had regressed to their earlier struggles; a contest crying out for a crew to take cost, however with neither seizing the initiative.

They probed at one another however with none actual conviction throughout the opening exchanges, Harry Darling heading extensive for Swansea earlier than Watford’s Tom Ince had a shot saved by Rushworth.

Swans captain Matt Grimes then tried his luck with what may have been a contender for aim of the season, however his angled left-footed drive from 45 yards was saved out by Daniel Bachmann.

The Watford goalkeeper was at full stretch to tip one other superb Grimes effort, this time from 25 yards, across the put up, however, aside from the Swansea skipper’s long-range pictures, there was treasured little pleasure in a primary half which did not dwell as much as the pre-match fireworks in south Wales.

The greatest probability earlier than the break fell to Watford’s Bayo, who was extensive open on the again put up from Jeremy Ngakia’s cross solely to go the ball straight at Rushworth.

Swansea thought that they had lastly made the breakthrough when Pedersen nodded in from a nook within the 72nd minute, however his aim was disallowed for blocking the ball by his team-mates.

In truth, it was their opponents who acquired the elusive successful aim, and it arrived in some model as Sema’s swerving left-footed shot outdoors the penalty space whistled into the highest nook.

Swansea got here near a late equaliser as Darling was twice denied by Bachmann, as soon as from a header after which from a long-range strike.

But Watford held on for a second win in 4 days to keep up their resurgence in type.