Swansea City climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone with a gritty win against Watford.
With new head coach Francesco Guidolin watching from the stands, Swansea edged an uneventful first half thanks to Ashley Williams' header.
Watford's Miguel Britos and Jose Manuel Jurado had chances to equalise but the hosts defended stoically to hold on.
Swansea, who are now 17th in the table, almost got a second but substitute Bafetimbi Gomis hit a post late on.
Having started the season in sparkling fashion, the Hornets' fourth straight loss leaves them eight points above the bottom three.
The spectre of relegation still looms large for Swansea but this crucial victory sees the Welsh side leapfrog Newcastle to go one point above the bottom three.
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Francesco Guidolin (centre) will have the final say on selection while working alongside Alan Curtis
Guidolin arrives
Having won only one of their previous 11 Premier League games, Swansea sought to arrest their decline by appointing former Udinese manager Guidolin to work alongside interim boss Alan Curtis.
New Swansea boss 'provided incentive'
On an evening of new arrivals, former Chelsea midfielder Gabriele Ambrosetti also joined the Swans' coaching staff and Watford announced the signing of Morocco forward Nordin Amrabat from Malaga.
Guidolin may not have been entertained by a drab first half, but he will have been encouraged to see Swansea take the lead for only the fifth time in 22 league matches this season.
After a corner was half-cleared, Ki Sung-yueng's fine cross found Williams, who headed in firmly for the first top-flight goal by a Swansea defender since he struck against Everton in March 2014.
Watford in freefall?
Ashley Williams was the stand-out defender, with this graphic illustrating the number of clearances the Swansea captain made
Watford were aiming to recapture their early-season form, a run of three successive league defeats denting what had been an unlikely push for the European places.
Strikers Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney had scored 19 league goals between them prior to this match - the same amount as the entire Swansea team - but their influence was limited as Watford created precious few chances, their best falling to Britos, who nodded narrowly over from Ben Watson's whipped free-kick.
Sensing only a third win from 18 Premier League games was within their grasp, Swansea retreated and had to withstand heavy pressure from the visitors late on.
Jurado had two good chances for the Hornets but fired wide on both occasions.
The Swansea defenders threw themselves at the flurry of Watford shots, and they almost scored a second in added time but Gomis' shot came back off the post.
Man of the match - Ashley Williams
As well as scoring a crucial - and rare - goal the Swansea captain was also imperious defensively, making several important challenges.
What the managers said
Swansea interim coach Alan Curtis: "It was massive. We talked beforehand about the need to pick up three points. I thought in the first half in particular we were excellent. Over the course of the 90 minutes, we deserved it.
"We got a little bit edgy in the second half - that's probably more the situation we find ourselves in. I thought the players were fantastic.
"It takes us out of the bottom three and psychologically that will give us a big lift."
Quique Sanchez Flores unconcerned by losing run
Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores:
"We are not happy with the first half. We had to correct at half-time. In terms of the attack, it was too bad. We were playing against very good players.
"In the second half, we didn't lose the ball, we created attempts. The players are human beings and the last match was very tough against Southampton.
"I don't like to lose, players don't like to lose… All the teams are tough for us. I am really happy with my squad. Twelfth in the table is a very good position."
The stats you need to know
- Swansea have scored 79 Premier League goals since their last by a defender in the top flight - Williams' against Everton in March 2014.
- The Swans secured their first win in their past four top-flight games and only their second in their past 12 (D3 L7).
- Watford have now lost four consecutive Premier League games for the first time since May 2000.
- After winning four Premier League games in a row, the Hornets have picked up just one point in their past five top-flight games.
- Bafetimbi Gomis has been flagged offside 33 times in the Premier League this season, 12 more than any other player.
- Swansea have hit the woodwork a 14 times this season (the joint-highest in the Premier League with Arsenal).
Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (5)
Swansea City
- 01 Fabianski
- 26 Naughton
- 33 Fernandez
- 06 Williams
- 03 Taylor
- 07 Britton Booked
- 24 Cork
- 04 Ki Sung-yueng (Amat - 87' )
- 23 Sigurdsson Booked
- 15 Routledge (Barrow - 66' )
- 10 Ayew (Gomis - 82' )
Substitutes
- 02 Amat
- 11 Emnes
- 13 Nordfeldt
- 18 Gomis
- 20 Montero
- 22 Rangel
- 58 Barrow
Watford
- 01 Gomes
- 02 Nyom Booked (Paredes - 74' )
- 15 Cathcart
- 03 Britos
- 16 Aké
- 29 Capoue
- 08 Behrami (Oularé - 87' )
- 23 Watson
- 07 Jurado Booked
- 24 Ighalo
- 09 Deeney
Substitutes
- 05 Prödl
- 10 Oularé
- 14 Paredes
- 17 Guédioura
- 21 Anya
- 22 Abdi
- 34 Arlauskis
Match Stats
Live Text Commentary
Full Time Match ends, Swansea City 1, Watford 0.
90:00 +3:34 Full timeFull Time Second Half ends, Swansea City 1, Watford 0.
90:00 +2:34Attempt missed. Troy Deeney (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
90:00 +1:35 BookingBooking Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea City) is shown the yellow card.
90:00 +0:54Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Craig Cathcart.
90:00 +0:46Bafétimbi Gomis (Swansea City) hits the left post with a left footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Gylfi Sigurdsson.
89:56Hand ball by Mamadou Obbi Oularé (Watford).
88:42Corner, Watford. Conceded by Kyle Naughton.
87:15Attempt missed. Jurado (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right following a set piece situation.
86:54 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Watford. Mamadou Obbi Oularé replaces Valon Behrami.
86:15 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Swansea City. Jordi Amat replaces Ki Sung-yueng.
84:56Foul by Federico Fernández (Swansea City).
84:56Troy Deeney (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
83:33Attempt saved. Jurado (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
83:03Corner, Watford. Conceded by Leon Britton.
82:33Offside, Swansea City. Jack Cork tries a through ball, but Bafétimbi Gomis is caught offside.
81:09 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Swansea City. Bafétimbi Gomis replaces André Ayew.
79:36Attempt blocked. Ben Watson (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
78:47Foul by Federico Fernández (Swansea City).
78:47Odion Ighalo (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Modou Barrow (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
75:14Foul by Nathan Aké (Watford).
73:29 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Watford. Juan Carlos Paredes replaces Nyom.
71:14Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Nathan Aké.
69:57Attempt blocked. Jack Cork (Swansea City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
68:58Modou Barrow (Swansea City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
68:58Foul by Nyom (Watford).
65:40 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Swansea City. Modou Barrow replaces Wayne Routledge.
65:07Attempt missed. Jurado (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Odion Ighalo.
61:38 BookingBooking Leon Britton (Swansea City) is shown the yellow card for hand ball.
61:29Hand ball by Leon Britton (Swansea City).
60:45Kyle Naughton (Swansea City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
60:45Foul by Etienne Capoue (Watford).
59:27Attempt missed. Jack Cork (Swansea City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by André Ayew with a headed pass.
57:29Attempt missed. Jurado (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Troy Deeney.
56:34Ashley Williams (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
56:34Foul by Troy Deeney (Watford).
55:30Foul by Wayne Routledge (Swansea City).
55:30Miguel Britos (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
51:56Attempt missed. Miguel Britos (Watford) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Ben Watson with a cross following a set piece situation.
51:23Foul by Federico Fernández (Swansea City).
51:23Odion Ighalo (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
50:42Attempt missed. Jurado (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Troy Deeney.
47:10Offside, Swansea City. Leon Britton tries a through ball, but Wayne Routledge is caught offside.
46:26Attempt missed. Jurado (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Nathan Aké.
45:00Second Half begins Swansea City 1, Watford 0.
45:00 +3:21 Half timeHalf Time First Half ends, Swansea City 1, Watford 0.
45:00 +2:36Delay over. They are ready to continue.
45:00 +0:38Delay in match Ashley Williams (Swansea City) because of an injury.
44:26Attempt saved. Jurado (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Etienne Capoue.
43:32Foul by Ashley Williams (Swansea City).
43:32Valon Behrami (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
41:30Attempt blocked. Leon Britton (Swansea City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ki Sung-yueng.
40:15Attempt missed. Troy Deeney (Watford) right footed shot from the left side of the box is too high following a set piece situation.
39:39Hand ball by Ki Sung-yueng (Swansea City).
38:33Corner, Watford. Conceded by Neil Taylor.
36:34Attempt missed. Ki Sung-yueng (Swansea City) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
34:50Wayne Routledge (Swansea City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
34:50Foul by Nathan Aké (Watford).
32:32 BookingBooking Nyom (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
32:10Neil Taylor (Swansea City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
32:10Foul by Nyom (Watford).
29:05Attempt blocked. Kyle Naughton (Swansea City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
28:34Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Nyom.
28:31Attempt blocked. André Ayew (Swansea City) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked. Assisted by Wayne Routledge.
26:34 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Swansea City 1, Watford 0. Ashley Williams (Swansea City) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ki Sung-yueng with a cross following a corner.
25:48Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Nyom.
24:58Attempt saved. André Ayew (Swansea City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Gylfi Sigurdsson.
21:39 BookingBooking Jurado (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
21:21Wayne Routledge (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
21:21Foul by Jurado (Watford).
20:37Attempt blocked. Troy Deeney (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Odion Ighalo.
19:42Foul by Jack Cork (Swansea City).
19:42Ben Watson (Watford) wins a free kick on the left wing.
15:16Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Ben Watson.
13:56Offside, Swansea City. Leon Britton tries a through ball, but Gylfi Sigurdsson is caught offside.
13:25Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Miguel Britos.
12:56Ki Sung-yueng (Swansea City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
12:56Foul by Valon Behrami (Watford).
10:19Ashley Williams (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
10:19Foul by Odion Ighalo (Watford).
9:37Offside, Swansea City. Gylfi Sigurdsson tries a through ball, but Ki Sung-yueng is caught offside.
4:38Attempt missed. Jack Cork (Swansea City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Neil Taylor.
3:02Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
3:02Foul by Ben Watson (Watford).
2:07Offside, Swansea City. Gylfi Sigurdsson tries a through ball, but Wayne Routledge is caught offside.
0:21Attempt blocked. Odion Ighalo (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Troy Deeney with a headed pass.
0:00First Half begins.
0:00Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
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