Watford overcame a 1-1 deficit to draw with Swansea at home thanks to a goal from Ryan Porteous that offset Ryan Andrews’ unfortunate own goal.
The Swans’ two-match winning streak came to an end, but the point helped the mid-table Championship opponents get further away from a relegation scrap.
Watford hasn’t triumphed in the league at home since November 28.
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For Watford’s first league appearance since three days before to that victory, goalie Daniel Bachmann was called back.
Yaser Asprilla of Watford had the first opportunity in the thirteenth minute when he sprinted past Harry Darling to get to the Swans box, but Ben Cabango was able to divert the Colombian’s attempt beyond.
center-back Three minutes later, Cabango was forced to make the identical save when Jamal Lewis attempted a shot from the left side of the box. Swansea’s response came in the form of an entirely Watford-created opener in the 18th minute.
Andrews headed the ball back towards his custodian, preventing Przemyslaw Placheta from reaching a long pass into the inside left channel from Matt Grimes. However, the right-back was unaware that Bachmann had rushed off his line, and they were left staring in dismay as the ball rolled into an empty net.
Halfway through the half, Bachmann made up for his earlier mistake with a brilliant save that kept Ronald out of the goal. The Brazilian, a January transfer to Swansea, found Lewis sleeping in midfield to have a clear run at goal, but Bachmann was able to deflect the ball behind him.
After Josh Tymon’s challenge, which the home crowd felt should have resulted in a red card, was booked for shoving Andrews over, Emmanuel Dennis had a shot deflected behind, and Porteous headed over from a corner.
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Swansea had the final opportunity of the half, though, with a close-range header from Cabango on Jamie Paterson’s cross, but Bachmann did a great job stopping it.
Giorgi Chakvetadze, who had taken over for Ken Sema just before halftime, whipped a corner into the box to get Watford level. From in front of the near post, Wesley Hoedt flicked it on, and Porteous was in the ideal position to deflect it over the line at close range.
That gave the Hornets a boost, and after Chakvetadze did some excellent work down the left, defenders blocked shots that Asprilla and Lewis attempted to take on goal.
In the 73rd minute, Placheta missed Swansea’s greatest chance in a long time, shooting wide instead of across goal. Dennis, who had earlier missed a late chance, then saw it deflected over by Watford.
