Match Report: Watford 1-1 Swansea City

Ryan Porteous struck from close range in the second half to earn the Hornets a point against Swansea City in the Sky Bet Championship.

The Welsh side led at half-time after a calamitous own goal following a mix-up between Daniel Bachmann and Ryan Andrews.

It was a much-improved second-half display from Watford, who deservedly drew level through Porteous but they could not turn some promising attacking positions into another goal and the spoils were ultimately shared.

Valérien Ismaël opted for a change in goal with Bachmann coming in to replace Ben Hamer for his first league start since November 25.

Andrews returned at right-back after Saturday’s defeat at Millwall as the injured Jeremy Ngakia missed out, while Porteous was restored in the centre of defence.

Tom Dele-Bashiru came back into the side in midfield as Edo Kayembe and Francisco Sierralta dropped to the bench.

Andrews enjoyed some early involvement, overlapping with Emmanuel Dennis on the right flank before being unable to send his cross into a dangerous position.

At the other end, Harry Darling’s header from a corner struck a body and didn’t trouble Bachmann’s goal.

In the 13th minute, Yáser Asprilla skipped up field for the Hornets with his shot deflecting wide after Swansea had stood off and allowed him ample time to pull the trigger.

Good work by Ken Sema on the left then led to Jamal Lewis being presented with a shooting chance, with the full-back’s effort ricocheting off a Swansea man and landing on the roof of the net.

It had been a good five minutes for the Golden Boys but they were the architects of their own downfall as Swansea took the lead.

Andrews intended to head a long clearance safely into Bachmann’s gloves but the onrushing keeper was stranded out of position and the ball rolled agonisingly into the net.

Sema bent a free-kick over the wall and straight down the throat of Swansea keeper Carl Rushworth as Watford looked to respond, but the visitors then spurned a superb chance to double their lead from another Hornets error.

Lewis was caught in possession by Ronald but the Brazilian could not finish when one-on-one with Bachmann as the Austrian made a crucial save.

Josh Tymon flattened Andrews in an aerial collision and was promptly booked as the Hornets tried to find a route back into the game, before Wesley Hoedt, still wearing the captain’s armband despite Bachmann’s inclusion, fired into a crowd of bodies on his 30th birthday.

Dennis ran across the box and saw a shot spin off an opposing player and wide and Porteous headed just over the bar from a corner.

But there was another blow for Ismaël when Sema had to leave the pitch with an injury shortly before the break, with Giorgi Chakvetadze coming on.

The Georgian swiftly collected a yellow card for a foul and Watford nearly conceded again with the last action of the half.

A cross was whipped into the box and Bachmann needed to make an excellent one-handed stop from Ben Cabango's close-range header.

Ismaël Koné came on for Jake Livermore as Watford opted for a switch at half-time.

Porteous was needed with a sliding block to stop Przemysław Płacheta’s shot hitting the target and from the resulting corner, Darling’s header was claimed on the line by Bachmann.

Watford found a route back after some twists and turns from Dennis won a corner and Porteous was able to make a vital contribution in the other box as well.

Chakvetadze’s set-piece went all the way through the area and following Hoedt’s flick, the Scotsman was able to drift in unmarked at the far post and provide the final touch.

With Vicarage Road finding its voice, Chakvetadze nearly turned provider again but Vakoun Bayo headed his free-kick off target.

The substitute was involved again as he drove forward from the halfway line with intent before turning on the goal-line and passing to Asprilla, who saw his shot blocked.

Hoedt stopped Ronald in his tracks with a crunching tackle, setting in motion a Hornets counter which resulted in Dennis firing wide.

With the Hornets on top, there was a scare at the other end when Płacheta flashed the ball across the face of the goal.

Ismaël brought on Mileta Rajović for Bayo in a change up front before the influential Chakvetadze’s delivery spun off a visiting player and into Rushworth’s hands.

Porteous then brought down an advancing Tymon and Swansea sub Liam Cullen hit the wall with his free-kick.

In the 85th minute, Lewis found Dennis who weaved into a shooting position and deflected an effort off target.

At the beginning of five minutes of stoppage time, Asprilla, Lewis and Chakvetadze all tried and failed to get shots away in a crowded box as some last-ditch Swansea defending saw them hold on for a point.