Piroe double helps Swansea thrash Watford

Joel Piroe drills home his second goal in three games

Swansea City ended their eight-game winless streak in style as Joel Piroe struck twice in a 4-0 thrashing of Watford.

Piroe then guided in from 20 yards before Joel Latibeaudiere's far-post effort secured a timely Swansea win.

They jump to 12th in the Championship, while Watford stay fifth after back-to-back defeats.

The Hornets had frustrated head coach Slaven Bilic in their Boxing Day defeat to Millwall, and they were poor once more on a night when Keinan Davis wasted their best chance in the opening exchanges.

Swansea's impressive win - their joint-best under Russell Martin - means that having started the night in 16th, they move to within two points of the final play-off spot.

Despite the Millwall loss - Watford's first reverse in four games - Bilic's team ought to have travelled to Wales with confidence having taken 10 points from their previous four away games.

And they really ought to have exposed a Swansea side who had conceded first in seven of their last eight games inside eight minutes.

Christian Kabasele's right-wing cross was perfect for Davis - but he headed wastefully into Steven Benda's arms from point-blank range.

Having wriggled off the hook there, Swansea built momentum as the first half wore on, with Piroe testing Daniel Bachmann from distance before Cullen headed a foot wide.

Cullen, who shone in his first league start in 16 months, then played a pivotal role in the opening goal.

After Ollie Cooper intercepted William Troost-Ekong's ball out of defence, Cullen slipped a fabulous pass through for Piroe to drive home his seventh goal of the season.

Swansea might snatched a second before the break when Matt Grimes helped on Harry Darling's header, but the effort was deflected and Bachmann gathered on the line.

The home side were on the front foot once more early in the second half, as Cooper fed Cullen only for his effort to skew wide.

Watford rarely looked like getting back into the contest before Swansea ran away with it in the closing stages, with Cullen capping his fine evening by steering home from 12 yards after Darling's shot deflected into his path.

Piroe's first double of the season came when his measured shot from outside the box rolled into the far corner of the net.

Watford might have had a consolation when substitute Vakoun Bayo's header was saved by Benda, but it was Swansea who had the final word as Piroe sent Grimes in behind and he unselfishly squared for Latibeaudiere to score the first league goal of his career at the far post.