ENGLAND: If honest endeavour is the main ingredient for Premier League survival, Bob Bradley will celebrate his first season in British football by keeping Swansea City in the top flight.
Unfortunately, whilst a first clean sheet since the opening day of the season was most welcome, Swansea's lack of quality in front of goal suggests that honesty and defiance alone might not be enough for the former United States manager to achieve his primary aim.
Swansea, who have managed only eight goals in nine league games this season, blew the opportunity to gift their new manager a first win since he took over from Francesco Guidolin. Gylfi Sigurdsson (twice), Fernando Llorente, Borja and Modou Barrow all wasted chances.
Bradley said: "We were strong in the second half. We changed the game when we brought Fernando Llorente on and we had some chances. There are things to build on. Equally, we are -disappointed to only take a point. -However, we have to trust that if we work the right way and we do all these little things to improve, the results will come. I don't want to forget those positive moments and I need to keep these guys facing forward."
After a first half during which both sides were a little rusty, Swansea put their foot down and threatened to end a five-match losing streak. Llorente fired over after coming on as a substitute and Sigurdsson struck the post after scuffing a shot from eight yards into the arms of Heurelho Gomes.
Watford manager Walter Mazzarri felt the visitors should have been awarded penalties from two incidents in the second half. First, Kyle Naughton appeared to handle in the box and then the Kyle Naughton appeared to upend Valon Behrami.
Mazzarri said: "I am happy with the way we played in the first half. We should have scored in the first half and we didn't. In the second half, we made some mistakes and that allowed Swansea to be dangerous. However, there were two penalties that should have been given and we are not very happy about this."