Just a point will do – Watford preview

Saturday, 8 May 2021, 8:39
2 mins read

The Swans go in search of a point at Watford today.ย  A point that will not just secure a 4th placed finish for Steve Cooper’s side but a point that will eclipse the 80 point mark set at this level by Brendan Rodgers’ side back in 2011.

Records are always there to be broken and an 80 point (or more) tally is already a superb achievement for Steve Cooper although the disappointment will linger at the way we fell away over a period of defeats and poor performances around the last international break in particular.

The confirmed play off spot though has been ours for a couple of weeks now and as we head into the lunchtime kick off today to close off the 46 game part of the Championship season we are already thinking about what comes next as we start to focus on a two-legged play-off semi final that is likely to be against Bournemouth.

A 4th placed play off will give us the home advantage in a second leg that could include both extra time and penalties and the discussions remain ongoing as to whether play off games can be played in front of crowds.ย  The plan for the English government was yes but we await the outcome of the discussions with the Welsh government which will ultimately dictate the position on fans attending the games.

Watford are, of course, already promoted and will return to the Premier League after a one year absence.ย  They hit form at the right stage of the season having looked three months back as if they may be slipping out of the automatic race but completely deserve their promotion and with the title already at Carrow Road it is a game which is just the pre-show to their promotion party so maybe that will aid the Swans to the result that we need.

It is a refreshing change to go into the game knowing we don’t need to rely – or really worry – about results elsewhere as Steve Cooper says it really is about today’s challenge and not who we may play next.

“”e go to what would always be a tough game anyway, and we respect that, but we just go there wanting to get what we want out of it because it isnโ€™t our final game,” Cooper told the official site.

โ€œWe have looked to get the most we can from every game this season and that will not change.

โ€œLike I said, weโ€™ve got to take care of our business. Whatever that brings in the play-offs weโ€™ll tackle it head on and take it as it comes.โ€

Swans fans are not full of confidence ahead of the game as the results on our matchday poll are showing a 54% belief that Watford will take the three points

Whatever happens today we know that there is more to come after the game and by 2.30 today we will be aware of our play off opponents and the order in which we play the two games.

But ultimately each of us as Swans fans hope that whatever does happen over the course of the next few hours and next few weeks we will have a celebration of our own come the 29th May,ย  And that is the most important thing.

Images courtesy of Getty Images, Athena Picture Agency and Swansea City Football Club.

Phil Sumbler

Been watching the Swans since the very late 1970s and running the Planet Swans website (in all its current and previous guises since the summer of 2001 As it stood JackArmy.net was right at the forefront of some of the activity against Tony Petty back in 2001, breaking many of the stories of the day as fans stood against the actions where the local media failed. Was involved with the Swans Supporters Trust from 2005, for the large part as Chairman before standing down in the summer of 2020.

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