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19th October 2019- Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur 1 Watford 1

Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Attendance: 58,754
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Match Report: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Watford

Watford draw with Tottenham Hotspur after their lead is cut out by controversial goal

VAR controversy as Watford denied win at Tottenham Hotspur

Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores reflects on VAR involvement after Tottenham Hotspur draw

Apology issued to Watford and Tottenham Hotspur fans following ‘no goal’ graphic

Watford players rated after their draw with Tottenham Hotspur

Craig Dawson frustrated after VAR decision meant Watford had to settle for draw at Tottenham Hotspur

Watford’s Danny Welbeck substituted at Tottenham Hotspur due to ankle problem

Dele Alli rescued a late point for Tottenham to deny visitors Watford a first Premier League win of the season amid video assistant referee (VAR) confusion.

Alli’s leveller (86) – after Abdoulaye Doucoure (6) had given Watford the lead – was reviewed by VAR for a potential handball and referee Chris Kavanagh signalled for a goal but the big-screen message, which is controlled by Stockley Park, stated that the goal had been ruled out. After some confusion, the goal was eventually given.

For Watford this was one of those so-near-yet-so-far days, but the commitment from his players gave heart to Quique Sánchez Flores. The league’s bottom side were far from the rabble of early season here and, had they been more decisive in one of several counterattacking opportunities, they might yet have secured their first win of the season.

For much of the game Watford’s midfield was everything Tottenham’s was not. Tom Cleverley was calm and organised, Nathaniel Chalobah clever and ambitious, while Doucoure was quite superb. Strong in the tackle, athletic in possession, and with a clever final pass, he ran the game.

And here’s the VAR bit. Two big calls. A penalty shout for Deulofeu in the first half, not given. Alli’s goal, not denied despite a handball in the build-up and a shove on Christian Kabasele. No view of either at the time, both at the far end… Deulofeu’s penalty looks nailed on, Alli’s “handball” at least plausibly interpretable as shoulder rather than arm. We didn’t get either decision, it was ever thus away at a big club, these things matter more because we’re so desperate for the points. On balance wringing our hands too much about the equaliser is misguided; Ben Foster should have cleaned it out, Kiko could have been more decisive, and however inspiring our performance and well-judged the strategy if you spend most of the game defending your penalty area you increase the opportunity for such a decision to go against you.

 If we continue to play as well as we did on Saturday, we won’t be in the relegation zone for long.  This was the first time that we have seen a convincing performance from the whole team.  I hope that we bring that into the Bournemouth game and have Vicarage Road bouncing again.

A much improved performance from Watford, while problems with VAR continue to leave Hornets’ fans confused and critical. This week Mike and Colin join Jon to discuss events at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where things could, and probably should, have been so much better. Find out if the boys think it’s a point gained or two lost and hear their answers to your questions. 

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19th October 2013- Championship, Watford 2 Derby County 3

http://watford.fcdb.info?s=32548&id=5082

Derby took the lead three times at Watford as they recorded their second successive Championship victory under new manager Steve McClaren.

The match got off to a pulsating start with both sides scoring inside the opening 12 minutes, Fernando Forestieri equalising after Jamie Ward’s opener.

The best aspect of this season thus far from our point of view has been the entertainment value.  Twelve league games in, plus three in the League Cup… how many have been anything less than gripping?  (Even if, admittedly, some of that excitement has been our own doing in situations where you’d prefer dull defensive competence).  The opening fifteen minutes or so here were suitably mundane…  Derby’s notorious vulnerability at corners was manifest and Essaid Belkalem ghosted in (or as close as a monstrous Algerian can get to “ghosting”) at the far post.  He should have scored.  Two minutes later and Jamie Ward, half Belkalem’s size and with what looked a tougher heading chance, outjumped his marker to put the Rams ahead from Bryson’s brilliant cross.  Another five minutes and Fernando’s levelled it again with a gorgeous dink.  Same old, same old. 

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19th October 2002- New Division One, Gillingham 3 Watford 0

Gillingham kicked off, the referee whistled them to a halt, Gillingham kicked off again. It was their only moment of hesitation. Less than two minutes in, and the ball arrived in the penalty area via Nosworthy and a flick from Ipoua…and suddenly the hugely impressive Sidibe was in, poking the ball past Alec Chamberlain to give Gillingham an immediate lead. And we couldn’t recover our composure…a fine move from the left five minutes later, and Saunders slid a pass across to Hessenthaler on the right of the area, stretching to fire across and narrowly wide. Immediately, Smith nearly lobbed Alec Chamberlain from long range, his effort landing on the roof of the net, and we were all over the place….

http://watford.fcdb.info?s=32548&id=4520

3rd October 2020- Championship, Reading 1 Watford 0

https://www.skysports.com/football/reading-vs-watford/teams/429748

Post Match

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The Hornets, who have been steadily getting better as the season has gradually unfolded, suffered a setback here after being on the receiving end this time of a single goal in a game.

Watford lose to Reading in the Championship

The Hornets fluffed a hatful of good opportunities to score, despite dominating large chunks of the match, and drew a blank, with Reading goalkeeper Rafael rarely threatened, while George Puscas’s scrappy goal at the end of the first-half was enough for the Royals to seal their fourth win out of four.

Vladimir Ivic claims bad decisions cost Watford at Reading

Watford players rated after Reading defeat

James Garner came closest for the Hornets, thundering a first-half free-kick against the crossbar.

In a more even second period, Watford threatened only sporadically and Reading held on for a relatively comfortable victory.

It was all going rather well.  Too well.  And then two things happened.  Firstly the hosts switched formation to drop an extra body into their increasingly ragged midfield.  Secondly, Tom Dele-Bashiru twisted his knee awkwardly in a fall.

26th September 2020- Championship, Watford 1 Luton Town 0

The 14 year gap since our last meeting is the longest since we started playing each other in 1885.

Statement: Watford v Luton Town

Match Pack: Watford v Luton Town

Foster: “This Is A Big Deal”

Watford Observer Watford tell fans to stay at home for Luton Town derby

Watford board up Graham Taylor statue ahead of Luton Town game

Ben Foster wants Watford ready for Luton Town derby

Vladimir Ivic wants Watford to beat Luton Town for the fans

Ben Foster claims fans were taken for granted ahead of Watford Luton derby

https://www.skysports.com/football/watford-vs-luton/teams/429739
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Match-Report_-Watford-1-0-Luton-Town-Watford-FCDownload

Whatever career João Pedro goes on to have, and the signs are it will be a damn good one, he is assured of his place in Watford folklore and a place in the hearts of Watford fans after emerging as the winner in the long-awaited derby.

Watford victorious against Luton Town in the Championship

The Brazilian, who turned 19 today, capitalised after good work on the left flank from Ken Sema, his finish deflected past Luton keeper Simon Sluga, who was called upon to make some more good saves on a day when the hosts should have scored more.

Vladimir Ivic thinks Watford’s performance in their derby day win over Luton Town was their best yet since he joined the club, but hopes there is more improvement to come.

Watford players rated after Luton Town victory

The fixture between keen rivals had not been played since April 2006 but although the match was played behind closed doors, police still insisted on a 12.30pm kick-off. As a result, there was little resembling a derby atmosphere in a cold and biting wind and Luton, in particular, struggled to raise their game against a Watford side whose recent Premier League pedigree gave them a decided edge.

The Hatters really ought to have led when Collins could not keep his shot down from six yards from Harry Cornick’s cross, and Pedro punished them – albeit with the help of a deflection off defender Sonny Bradley on its way in.

Whilst we were on top it would be wrong to paint this as a completely one-sided contest. The visitors were the strongest side we’ve faced thus far, defended well for the most part, desperately on occasions but doggedly enough to stay in it and always looked dangerous on the break where their attacks were neat and tidy.  Harry Cornick was the biggest threat in the first half, too often finding space down the right.  His ball across was smacked off the underside of the bar by Collins with Foster doing well to come out and force the Luton striker to lift the ball.  That goes in it’s a different game;  as it was we broke and scored, and never really looked back.

Jon, Mike and Jas gather after the game to discuss what turned out to be a fairly routine win for the a Hornets, with Vladimir Ivić starting to have a real impact at Vicarage Road.

22nd September 2020- League Cup Third Round, Newport County 3 Watford 1

2-1

Post Match

Match-Report_-Newport-County-3-1-Watford-Watford-FCDownload

The Hornets bowed out of the Carabao Cup tonight and they can have few complaints. They were beaten fair and square by a hungrier, sharper and busier Newport County side who claimed their second Championship scalp of the competition.

Watford beaten by Newport County in Carabao Cup

Adalberto Penaranda’s penalty halved a 2-0 advantage that the Exiles had built up in the first-half through goals from Tristan Abrahams and Joss Labadie, but Podraig Amond’s strike ten minutes later put the game beyond the Hornets’ reach.

Vladimir Ivic wants Watford to focus on the Championship

Watford players rated after Carabao Cup loss to Newport County

Vladimir Ivic rested Watford players for Luton Town match

Craig Dawson felt Watford deserved defeat at Newport

Watford’s new Serbian boss Vladimir Ivic sent out a team showing 10 changes from the one that drew 0-0 with Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship last weekend.

Watford substitute Stipe Perica was sent off late on for elbowing Cooper.

So the most pleasing thing about this evening is the shade of amber of Newport’s shirts. It’s…. not quite as orange as Wolves, not quite as yellow as Bradford. It’s what Newport’s shirts should be.  I guess Shoot League Ladders have a lot to answer for, since we’ve not played Newport since 1978, so I’ve nothing really to base this instinct on.

Watford’s League Cup adventure may be over, but From the Rookery End goes on! Jon, Mike and Colin convened shortly after the final whistle at Rodney Parade to look back at a disappointing evening in Wales, and looking forward to what promises to be an altogether different experience when some old friends ride into town on Saturday.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020%E2%80%9321_EFL_Cup

19th September 2020- Championship, Sheffield Wednesday 0 Watford 0

Post Match

Match-Report_-Sheffield-Wednesday-0-0-Watford-Watford-FCDownload

It may be a few weeks before we see this new-look Hornets side at its fluent best, but they have picked up the very useful habit of racking up points while being in transition.

Watford play out goalless draw at Sheffield Wednesday

Ivic made one change to the team that beat Middlesbrough on the opening day of the season, with Glenn Murray replacing the unwell Kiko Femenia and Ken Sema dropping into the left-back position.

Vladimir Ivic happy with Watford’s clean sheet at Sheffield Wednesday

Watford players rated after draw against Sheffield Wednesday

The Owls got on top in the first half against their sloppy opponents but were unable to make their dominance count, with Tom Lees coming closest to breaking the deadlock when his unmarked header grazed the post.

Watford came on strong in the final half hour but Owls keeper Cameron Dawson made a pair of fine low saves to thwart Stipe Perica and Tom Cleverley.

So what have we learned?  Hardly news given Ivić’s reported stylistic preferences but we look an awful lot better at stopping the other lot than scoring ourselves.  But for our marking at set pieces we looked pretty impenetrable today, as you’d hope from that extremely proficient back three with Cleverley and Chalobah sitting in front of them.  Chalobah, as an aside, is becoming a candidate for that all-but-forgotten mantle of boo-boy, a role largely unoccupied for a decade or so but was excellent today, strong defending and effective supporting attacks.  Better.  All that’s stopping him dominating football games at this level is a need for a bit more assertiveness.

Hear the boys dissect Watford’s stalemate in Sheffield, which ended up being the classic game of two halves. The Athletic’s Watford correspondent Adam Leventhal joined Jon, Mike and Jason before and after the game to talk everything from transfers to tactics, as Vladimir Ivić continues to shape his Watford side.

15th September 2020- League Cup Second Round, Oxford United 1 Watford 1 (Watford won 3-0 on penalties)

The programme was only an online publication
https://www.skysports.com/football/oxford-utd-vs-watford/435931
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Post Match

Match-Report_-Oxford-United-1-1-Watford-Pens-0-3-Watford-FCDownload

Daniel Bachmann was the hero as Watford left it late to knock out Oxford United on penalties in a dramatic Carabao Cup tie at Oxford United.

Bachmann: “I’ve Never Experienced Something Like That!”

Watford beat Oxford United in the Carabao Cup on penalties

The goalkeeper saved all three of United’s spot kicks, while the Hornets scored all of theirs to send the visitors through with a 3-0 scoreline in the shootout after clawing the game back from the brink of defeat.

Daniel Bachmann praised by Watford coach Vladimir Ivic

Watford players rated after penalty win over Oxford United

Watford’s Daniel Bachmann insists penalty heroics at Oxford United were ‘instinct’

Rob Hall’s 20-yard strike after good work from Joel Cooper gave League One Oxford the lead and they were seconds away from seeing out the win. But Ken Sema sent the game to penalties when he scored into an empty net after receiving Joao Pedro’s scuffed shot.

Some might question the wisdom of forking out a tenner for a stream to watch a single-camera view of the early stages of the League Cup.  Those same people would probably leave early at the end of a 6-0 pasting, or opt against long drives across the country to watch irrelevant end of season dead-rubbers in the rain.  This is a fundamental part of the process.  To skip it would be like skipping puberty.

2 games, 2 wins. Just! Daniel Bachmann was the hero as Watford snuck past Oxford Utd in the Carabao Cup and you can hear all about it in the brand new episode of From the Rookery End!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020%E2%80%9321_EFL_Cup