Bob Bradley's first home game as Swansea City boss wasa close oneat the Liberty Stadium this afternoon in the sunshine where neither team seemed able to convert their chances and the game finished 0-0.
The first half was quite dull, with neither side really taking control.but things began to open up in the second half, withSwansea increasingly looking the most likely team to score.
'Coach Bob' made five changes, including a solid Premier League debut for defender Alfie Mawson, a £5m summer signing from Barnsley.Record signing Borja Baston, who scored his first goal for Swansea last weekend, started up front.
Walter Mazzarri brought Odion Ighalo back to partner Troy Deeney in attack, a change that was forced due to the injury of Isaac Success.Deeney and Ighalo linked up well in attack, but couldn't find an opening in front of goal.
Bradley was up in the technical area almost straight away kicking every ball, in contrast, Watford's Walter Mazzarri was more sedate and spent a lot of the game sat down.
Gylfi Sigurdsson had two good chances, in the first half, a long range shot was stopped by a diving save by Heurelho Gomes, in the second half. Sigurdsson had Gomes beaten, but his shot hit the post.
Late in the first half, Swansea keeperLukasz Fabianski decided to liven up the game with a poor clearance that ended up hitting Deeney, it seemed to catch the Watford striker by surprise though as he couldn't take advantage.
HT Swansea 0-0 Watford. Swans tighter defensively but neither side threatening in attack. Mawson's debut the biggest positive for the hosts.
Just before the end of the first half, Etienne Capoue received a yellow for literally picking up Swansea's Wayne Routledge, an amusing sight as hislimbs were flailing around mid air,the Watford man thenproceeded to protest the caution.
Swansea started the second half positively as the game began to open up slightly. This corresponded with the crowd getting more into it and the volume inside the Liberty Stadium increasing.
Record signing Borja Baston tried a spectacular overhead shot when it might have been better for him to leave it for Sigurdsson to shoot. Shortly after that, Mo Barrow, who was Swansea's most dangerous attacking playerran down the right flank, but his low cross could not be converted by Baston.
Waford countered from a corner with Ighalo running through into the box but the ball was eventually cleared by Routledge.
Sigurdsson swung in a free kick from right which was met by Van der Hoorn who stuck out a leg to connect, Watford's keeper Gomes reacted with a good save.
Fernando Llorente was brought on as a substitute with just over 20 mins to go and almost made an immediate impact from a tight angle.
Swansea were really pushing forwardas the game went in to injury time, Watford seemed to be settling for the point, putting all their men behind the ball and soaking up the pressure.
Both teams seemed unable to find the killer instinct in attack. There appeared to be almost a lack of confidence with certain players in attack, taking too many touches or delivering a poor final ball.
Swansea City will see this is a missed opportunity for three points whereas Watford seemed to be happy with a point as the game went on.
The game was preceded with a minute silence tomark 50 years since the Aberfan disaster.
Earlier both Swansea and Watford players and fans observed a minutes silence to commemorate the Aberfan disaster prior to their match. pic.twitter.com/7jhKnSZiwl
Lineups
Swansea: Fabianski; Kingsley, van der Hoorn, Mawson, Naughton; Ki, Britton (c); Routledge, Sigurdsson, Barrow; Baston.
Subs: Amat, Taylor, Fer, Llorent, Nordfeldt, Rangel, Cork.
Watford:Gomes; Kaboul, Prodl, Britos; Zuniga, Pereyra, Behrami, Capoue, Holebas; Deeney (c), Ighalo.
Subs: Mariappa, Amarabat, Guedioura, Sinclair, Watson, Kabasele, Pantilimon.