Planet Swans ArchivesSwansea City can be grateful that Bodde was at his brilliant best with a trademark long distance goal together with a sublime pass for the second goal that tore a hole in the Watford defence bigger than the one that allegedly exists in the ozone layer.ย ย Add to that a sprawling of passes around the pitch and you just know why these stories are surfacing of Premiership interest – Bodde really is a class that can exist at that level.
And Watford proved no match for the Dutchman and his team mates and by the time Bauza had notched his first Championship goal in stoppage time the game was over as a contest as the Swans gave themselves a psychological advantage for the Carling Cup tie that will follow on Tuesday.
Less than 14,000 turned up for the Sunday kick off but it was enough to cheer the Swans home on a cold wet afternoon at the Liberty Stadium.ย ย And the Swans could even afford themselves the luxury of giving Watford a goal start such was their domination and – bar that two minutes – their home record never really looked under threat against the side who started – and finished – the day in the relegation zone.
There were no real surprises in Roberto’s team selection as he plumped for his tried and tested home formation with Scotland providing the lone striker role but with every passing game Darren Pratley seems to play more and more of an advanced role in support of Jase.
Dimi
Rangelย ย ย ย Monkย ย ย ย Williamsย ย ย ย Bessone
Gomezย ย ย ย Brittonย ย ย ย Boddeย ย ย ย Pratleyย ย ย ย Gower
Scotland
The Swans were soon in their stride and earned themselves seven corners in the opening 15 minutes of the game as they pushed hard against a Watford side who were supposed to arrive at the Liberty with much to prove following the dismissal of Aidy Boothroyd earlier in the week.ย ย The goal was always under threat as the Swan probed and passed their way through a Watford defence with Bodde always looking for the willing outlets of Gomez and Gower and in particular Gower was the recipient of many cross field balls that seemed to land on a sixpence from the Dutchman.
Scotland thought he had found the back of the net but saw his long range effort tipped around for a corner whilst it looked as if it was only going to be a matter of time before Ashley Williams got his head on one of the free kicks.
And it was from a free kick that the scoring was opened.ย Sadly for the Swans though it was at the other end of the stadium.ย Leon Britton had his name taken for a foul and whilst the Swans dealt well with the resulting free kick they failed to totally clear their lines and Lee Williamson ghosted his way through the Swans defence and his short range shot beat Dimi who had no chance.ย ย 1-0 to the visitors against the run of play.
They celebrations were short loved though as Bodde hammered home yet another long range shot to bring the Swans level and the 13,000 Swans fans saluted their hero, quite possibly one of the most complete players ever to wear the white shirt of the club.
That was it scoring wise for the first half but if Bodde’s goal was superb then the pass that set up the second was, quite simply, world class.ย ย From the halfway line he threaded the pass through the eye of three needles to the feet of Jason Scotland who was able to lift the ball over the advancing keeper and into the back of the net for his fourth goal of the season.ย ย The brilliance of the pass was highlighted perfectly by more people congratulating Bodde for the pass than congratulating Scotland for the finish.ย ย As brilliant as it was easy.
The Swans had their nose ahead and you just suspected that they were never going to lose that lead.ย ย Bauza was an introduction soon after for Pratley whilst a third striker in Pintado was added into the game for Gower ten minutes after that. And the introduction of both seemed to open up the game much more as the Swans pressed for the third with Watford leaving gaps at the back as they went on their own hunt for an equaliser.
Bodde was still in control of the midfield totally with the Swans players one step ahead of their Watford counterparts which led to a couple of tackles that resulted in yellow cards for the visitors whilst Monk and Williams were as solid as they have been at the back leaving Dimi reasonably untroubled in the Swans goal.
Brandy replaced Scotland late on and he was heavily involved in the third goal in stoppage time.ย ย He tried to find his own way through the Watford defence but was unable to do so but Gomez fed in Bauza who calmly struck home his first goal of the season and the points were secured.
Another great afternoon at the Liberty and three more points for the Swans who continue to prove that they have settled more than adequately into this division and long may that continue.
