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31st August 2019- Premier League, Newcastle United 1 Watford 1

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Goal: 1

Watford get first league point away at Newcastle United

Watford earn their first points of the new season with a draw at Newcastle United

Javi Gracia wants to build on Watford draw against Newcastle United

Javi Gracia thinks all of Watford’s players deserve to play more

A selection of images from Watford’s draw at Newcastle United

Will Hughes thinks Watford could have got more from draw at Newcastle United

Watford earned their first point of the season with a 1-1 draw against Newcastle after an end-to-end contest at St James’ Park.

After a barren start to the season in which his side had conceded seven times, Watford manager Javi Gracia adjusted both the shape and personnel of the team for their trip to the north east.

Despite Newcastle’s encouraging, if unexpected, win at Tottenham last Sunday, the crowd of 44,157 was the lowest for a Premier League fixture at St James’ Park in seven years. Those that turned up saw Gracia enjoy the sort of morale-boosting start his side so desperately needed in the wake of three straight defeats. After two minutes Tom Cleverley’s 20-yard shot was deflected into the path of Will Hughes, who delighted in beating Martin Dubravka from close range.

Gracia finally made a double substitution with 20 minutes to go, and it was not the change that the crowd had been calling for as Doucouré made way for Chalobah and Success replaced Hughes.  I have to admit that even I booed the removal of Hughes who had been the best player on the pitch.  Will left the field on the side opposite the dugout, so walked in front of the away fans and his name was sung with some gusto.  Success showed his worth to us naysayers as he received a ball over the top and put in a low cross for Gray, but it was intercepted.  Not satisfied with the changes so far, the away fans were chanting for Deulofeu to make an appearance.

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31st August 2014- Beppe Sannino resigns as Watford head coach

BBC Sport: Watford head coach Beppe Sannino has resigned with the club in second place in the Championship standings.

The Guardian: Despite Watford’s fine start to the season, the 57-year-old Sannino said he had gone “as far as I can” in the job, having taken charge at Vicarage Road only last December.

Watford Observer: Beppe Sannino: I resigned for the benefit of myself and Watford

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31st August 2013- Championship, Blackpool 1 Watford 0

http://watford.fcdb.info/index.php?page=matches

BBC Sport: Tom Ince’s late goal maintained Blackpool’s unbeaten run and sent them top of the Championship, consigning Watford to a first loss of the season.

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=2013-08-31
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-championship/31-august-2013/
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31st August 2002- New Division One, Norwich City 4 Watford 0

http://watford.fcdb.info/index.php?page=matches

BBC: Norwich strolled to a comfortable victory over nine-man Watford which ensured they stayed up with the Division One pace-setters and maintained their 100% home record.

The Observer, 1 Sep 2002
Daily Telegraph, 2 Sep 2000

BSAD: Having missed both the debacle at Fratton Park and the astonishing demolition of Coventry over the bank holiday weekend, my perspective going into this game was very much one of a man who’d just had a blindfold removed having been spun on the spot several times in total darkness. The sense of disorientation was furthered when Danny Webber, source of so much of Monday’s excitement, was significant by his absence from the squad warming up in front of us in the sunshine. The sense of disappointment in the away end when the line-ups were confirmed by the tannoy announcer (with what is becoming an obligatory exaggeration of excitement for such individuals) was almost palpable – Foley in up front with Jamie Hand re-appearing on the bench. Webber, it transpired, had picked up a knock in training.

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=2002-08-31
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-1/31-august-2002/
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31st August 1996- New Division Two, Crewe Alexandra 0 Watford 2

http://watford.fcdb.info/index.php?page=matches
Sunday Mirror, 1 Sep 1996

BSAD: There were some excellent individual performances. Man of the match by a mile was Nigel Gibbs, restored to full back and playing better than I’ve seen him since the (old) Division 1. He was continually out-thinking Crewe, timing tackles beautifully and there were times when he seemed single-handedly to be running the game. Now bring back David Bardsley!

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=1996-08-31
https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=1996-08-31
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31st August 1982-Division One, Southampton 1 Watford 4

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http://watford.fcdb.info?id=3452

Watford Observer match report

Guardian, 1 Sep 1982
Daily Telegraph, 1 Sep 1982

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Taken from ‘A Tale of the Unexpected’

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Gerry Armstrong heads in the third.

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Taken from 7 Sep 1982 Watford v Swansea City programme

21st August 2012- Championship, Watford 0 Ipswich Town 1
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The table shows we were top of the league following this win. However nothing was made of it at the time because back then the league table wasn’t considered official until after three games of the season had been played. We were top officially after the game with West Brom.

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31st August 1974- Division Three, Huddersfield Town 3 Watford 1

http://watford.fcdb.info/index.php?page=matches
Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 31 Aug 1974
Sunday People, 1 Sep 1974

Watford Observer match report

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=1974-08-31
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/31-august-1974/
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31st August 1963- Division Three, Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 2 Watford 0

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http://watford.fcdb.info?id=2481
Sunday Mirror, 1 Sep 1963
Sunday People, 1 Sep 1963

Watford Observer match report

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=1963-08-31
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/31-august-1963/

29th August 2026- Championship, Watford 1 West Ham United 1

Watford Observer: ‘Difficult but not impossible’ – Dionisi on how Watford can beat West Ham

Dionisi’s realistic tone tells the story ahead of West Ham visit

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY AS IT HAPPENED: Watford 1-1 West Ham United

Match Report: Watford extend unbeaten start to league season with 1-1 West Ham draw

Dionisi on Nabizada’s ‘moment’ and full of praise for Keben response

WATCH: Immediate reaction to Watford 1-1 West Ham United

Dionisi explains naming two goalkeepers on the bench against West Ham

BBC: Watford withstood huge second half pressure from West Ham to maintain their unbeaten start to the Championship season and keep the Hammers winless. The Hornets took the lead with a lovely solo effort from Amin Nabizada – his second goal of the new campaign.

Sky: It was a goal reminiscent of Gerard Deulofeu’s trick shot at Wembley in the Hornets’ FA Cup semi-final comeback against Wolves seven years ago, and West Ham were briefly rattled. But when the East-enders rattled the collection tin, Hornets defender Kevin Keben gave generously. Trying to shepherd the ball along the dead-ball line towards his own goal, Keben was robbed by Taty Castellanos and home skipper Mattie Pollock turned the ball into his own net from point-blank range.

BHappy: A crying shame, since for all the pressure that is to come, the visitors will register one shot on target of their own throughout the 90 – a piledriver from impressive teenage debutant centreback Airidas Golambeckis that Ravaglia is right behind. Which is to slightly underplay their threat.. there will be shots across the face of goal and saving tackles in there, details that “shots on target” kinda overlooks. Nonetheless, West Ham’s second half pressure isn’t so much banging on the door as wandering past it nonchalantly, trying to catch a glimpse of movement through the window, and asking the neighbour if anyone’s in. It’s difficult to argue with the take, voiced forcefully on the “Not the Top 20” podcast, that Nuno Espirito Santo isn’t perhaps the ideal choice of coach for a team destined to dominate possession and face a low block throughout the season.

From the Rookery End: Watford remain unbeaten after a 1-1 draw with newly relegated West Ham — but should the Hornets have grabbed all three points? Jon, Jason, Charlie and DCW look back at a sold-out afternoon at Vicarage Road, from a superb Amin Nabizada finish to Kevin Keben’s choices that ended in an extraordinary own goal, and discuss the growing signs that Alessio Dionisi is building a team with a clear identity.

25th August 2026- League Cup Second Round, Watford 1 Peterborough United 5

Watford Observer: Dionisi could make up to 11 changes for Peterborough clash

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY AS IT HAPPENED: Watford 1-5 Peterborough

Match Report: Very inexperienced Watford suffer rough 5-1 Peterborough defeat

Dionisi: The young boys weren’t ready – but I had no choice

Dionisi not expecting new signings before West Ham on Saturday

Peterborough hammering was an ugly look for Watford

BBC: League One Peterborough swept aside a youthful Watford XI in a pulsating tie at Vicarage Road to book their place in the third round of the Carabao Cup. Hornets boss Alessio Dionisi changed all 11 starters from Saturday’s Championship draw at Wrexham, handing six players their full debut and naming a back-four entirely of academy graduates.

From the Rookery End: A 5-1 defeat at Peterborough was painful enough, but the result only tells part of the story. Mike is joined by Watford Observer’s Adam Drury to pick through a night that exposed just how thin Watford’s squad has become. How have Watford reached this point? What does it tell us about the club’s recruitment and financial strategy? And with the transfer deadline approaching, can the gaps be filled before they cause even more damage?

22nd August 2026- Championship, Wrexham 1 Watford 1

Watford Observer: Dionisi could make changes to counter Wrexham’s physical threat

Why Watford must deliver at Wrexham despite being down to bare bones

Dionisi out to change Watford’s away mentality

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY AS IT HAPPENED: Wrexham 1-1 Watford

Match Report: Watford take hard-earned point from Wrexham in 1-1 draw

Dionisi ‘very, very happy’ with Watford display at Wrexham

BBC: After being denied victory in the final moments in last week’s 1-1 draw at Cardiff City, Wrexham had to come from behind when Luca Kjerrumgaard glanced home a clever Omar Traore cross after just 12 minutes.

Sky: Lewis O’Brien led a slick breakout and Moore found Imray to beat both goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia and Matty Pollock’s despairing attempt on the goal-line.

Fran’s Watford Blog: It was another nervy second half for the Hornets, although not of Southampton proportions, but the lads put in another strong defensive showing. The loss of Traoré had been worrying, but Eames did very well, putting in an assured performance. The goal from Kjerrumgaard was well taken and showed what he can do if you play to his strengths. I was pleased for him, as it is always good for a striker to beat their duck. Bravo had another good game and looks as though he will be a very good addition to the squad. Maamma and Nabizada did not get into the game as much as the previous week, but all in all it was a decent performance away from home. I am loving Dionisi’s attacking approach and seeing the players all working hard for each other. The squad may be paper thin, but they are giving everything for the shirt.

From the Rookery End: Watford followed up victory over Southampton with a hard-earned point at Wrexham – and four points from the opening two games feels a long way from where many of us feared we might be.

16th August 2026- Championship, Watford 2 Southampton 1

Watford Observer: Dionisi on tough start: ‘It won’t be easy for the opposition either’

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY AS IT HAPPENED: Watford 2-1 Southampton

Match Report: Outstanding Watford produce memorable 2-1 win over Southampton

WATCH: Immediate reaction to Watford 2-1 Southampton

‘We were one team’ – Dionisi hails Watford mentality in Saints win

Dionisi: ‘Keben was probably better than everyone’

Keben and Bravo lead the way as Watford walk the walk

Nabizada: ‘I want to live this feeling every week’

BBC: Southampton were beaten in their first Championship match since the Spygate scandal, as Watford got off to a winning start under new boss Alessio Dionisi.

Sky: Summer signing Iker Bravo and teenage academy product Amin Nabizada gave new Watford manager Alessio Dionisi a fine win, while Southampton’s players were heckled, both on the pitch and from the stands, for their actions at the end of last season.

BHappy: The visitors look confident, capable, and are dominating the ball while we look a bit edgy. Dobbin escapes down the left and squares… we clear it unconvincingly, he’s flagged off anyway. Hector is booked for a clumsy foul… we can’t surely be this desperate, this stretched after only ten minutes? Then we score, and everything changes.

Fran’s Watford Blog: The pre-match tributes to Kevin Keegan and Kenny Jackett were both very emotional. Kenny is someone that I watched emerge from the youth team to become a legend. I was also lucky enough to meet him a few times and found him to be a lovely man who just wanted to chat to you about football. He was taken far too soon. The flag was a thing of beauty and the least that the fans could have done to honour Kenny. Special thanks to the 1881 for arranging it and to Roy and Phil for driving to Poland to collect it in time for the match.

From the Rookery End: A 2-1 win over Southampton gave Vicarage Road the sort of afternoon that has been in short supply recently, with two young players finding the net, a captain leading from the front and plenty of early signs of what Alessio Dionisi wants from his team.

8th August 2026- League Cup First Round, Watford 1 Crawley Town 0

Watford Observer: Team news: Ngakia close to return but Akomeah suffers injury

Watford out to defy poor EFL Cup record in Dionisi’s first competitive match

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY AS IT HAPPENED: Watford 1-0 Crawley Town

Match Report: Last-gasp Bola rocket wins it for Watford against Crawley

WATCH: Immediate reaction to Watford 1-0 Crawley Town

Dionisi hails ‘incredible’ Bola winner but has mixed views on Watford display

Bola raves about ‘breath of fresh air’ Dionisi, style of play and culture shift

Dionisi asking for daily updates on centre-back hunt and wants Irankunda replacement

Crawley boss to clip up Watford’s goal celebration as motivation

BBC: The Alessio Dionisi era at Watford began in unconvincing fashion with a last-gasp 1-0 Carabao Cup victory over League Two side Crawley Town at Vicarage Road.

Fran’s Watford Blog: As the clock reached 99 minutes, the ball came to Doumbia in the box, his shot was blocked and the clearance fell to Bola outside the box where he powered it home, to send the home fans wild with celebration. It was a cracking goal and no more than the Hornets deserved after a game in which they had 36 shots, 11 of which were on target.