20th April 2013- Championship, Watford 4 Blackburn Rovers 0

Watford kept their slim automatic promotion hopes alive with a comprehensive demolition of 10-man Blackburn at Vicarage Road.

Hull remain favourites for second place, but Watford’s much superior goal difference means the Tigers will need to win at least one of their remaining fixtures to prevent a late charge from the Vicarage Road club, who have now mathematically secured at least a play-off spot.

Troy Deeney scored twice for the Championship’s third-placed team and if their hopes of hauling in Hull’s four-point cushion with two matches remaining seem far-fetched, the form of the club’s strikeforce bodes well with playoffs on the agenda. Zola left the Championship player of the year, Matej Vydra, on the bench and the 20-goal striker was hardly missed as his replacement, Fernando Forestieri, set up the first three goals.

The scoreline tells one story. The narrative of the match itself, however, is not (merely) one of us putting inadequate opponents to the sword. In fact it followed the template of several of our big wins this season; against Huddersfield in the snow in January we laboured for a bit against a side hellbent on stopping us from playing – and once we had gotten that first goal we were gone, galloping off into the sunset with the points and never looking back.

More games from 20th April at https://oldwatford.com/tag/apr20

4th October 1983- League Cup Second Round First Leg, Huddersfield Town 2 Watford 1

We weren’t the only club to have a square programme.

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More games with Huddersfield Town at https://oldwatford.com/tag/huddersfield-town/

15th April 2019- Premier League, Watford 0 Arsenal 1

Referee:
Craig Pawson
Attendance:
20,480

Match Report: Watford 0-1 Arsenal

Foster: “We Can Take A Lot Of Heart”

Gracia: “I Don’t Understand That Decision”

Cathcart: “Our Reaction Showed What Sort Of Team We Are”

Gracia: “With 10 Players We Dominated The Game”

Gallery: Watford v Arsenal

Watford lose to Arsenal after Troy Deeney red card

Watford beaten at home by Arsenal as Troy Deeney is sent off

Javi Gracia said Watford captain Troy Deeney owes him no explanation after Arsenal red card

Watford players performances rated from Arsenal defeat

A selection of images as 10-man Watford push Arsenal all the way

Javi Gracia is not blaming Watford’s players for their mistakes against Arsenal

A Ben Foster howler and a needless Troy Deeney red card helped Arsenal climb back into the Premier League top four with victory at Watford.

It is sometimes said that teams play better with ten men and this certainly applied to Watford for the remainder of the half. Craig Cathcart went close in the 20th minute with a close range effort, but was denied by the leg of Bernd Leno.

“I don’t agree [it was a red card],” said Gracia. “Troy put his arm there but there was no contact with his elbow. I never saw an aggressive movement. I don’t understand why the referee took the decision.” The Spaniard’s frustration was clear but he was also right to praise his team for how they reacted to the loss of their leader. As was the case at Wembley, Watford showed resilience in the face of adversity and created enough chances to feel they were somewhat unfortunate to suffer their first loss here since Boxing Day.

As it happened

Watford went on to strike the woodwork twice, and Arsenal were reliant on an excellent performance from goalkeeper Bernd Leno. The German turned Craig Cathcart’s effort on to a post and saved acrobatically from Etienne Capoue’s free-kick before half-time. After the break it was much of the same, with Adam Masina smashing the bar from range. Arsenal were also in the debt of Ainsley Maitland-Niles, on as a substitute, who did brilliantly to block Andre Gray’s effort when an equaliser appeared certain.

The majority of Graham Taylor’s most successful players, of either era, experienced the pinnacles of their careers at Watford. We all did it together, but they bought into it, at least partly, because it was a passport out of the lower divisions. That isn’t the case this time around. The real triumph of this season has been to reconnect the modern reality of the Premier League with a basic idea of Watford Football Club, of what it is in our heads and hearts, of what it once was in Graham Taylor’s imagination. It’s true that times have changed, and we’re not going to bump into Etienne Capoue in Our Price. But it feels as if this is a group of players which understands – or has been made to understand, whatever – why this football club actually matters. (A small part of why it matters is Z-Cars, incidentally. Hands off.)

7th April 2019- FA Cup Semi Final, Watford 3 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 (After Extra Time, at Wembley Stadium)

Pre-Match Build Up

Doucouré: “Perfect Captain Deeney Gives Us Energy”

Holebas: “Football Is About Emotion”

FA Cup Team News: Wolverhampton Wanderers

Gracia: “We Know We Can Beat Them Again”

Gracia: “Capoue & Doucouré Are The Best Midfielders”

Gracia: “My Sons Are Singing The Songs”

Watford captain Troy Deeney has said the FA Cup semi-final is less exciting than the chance to build a legacy

Will Hughes says Watford won’t take Wolverhampton Wanderers game for granted after victory earlier in the season

Watford vs Wolverhampton Wanderers: Richard Lee would toss a coin to decide whether Ben Foster or Heurelho Gomes starts FA Cup semi-final

Watford vs Wolverhampton Wanderers: Javi Gracia says reaching FA Cup final would be the best achievement of his career

Watford vs Wolverhampton: Nuno Espirito Santo predicts ‘very close’ FA Cup semi-final

Watford vs Wolverhampton Wanderers: Joao Moutinho issues warning ahead of FA Cup semi-final

Watford vs Wolverhampton Wanderers: Ben Foster thinks it would be harsh to leave Heurelho Gomes out of the semi-final

An insight into the Hornets’ FA Cup semi-final opponents

Andre Gray has forgiven Wolverhampton Wanderers for releasing him as a young academy player

Jose Holebas is proud of Watford’s team mentality and wants fans to make noise at Wembley

Watford vs Wolverhampton Wanderers: Jave Gracia praises Nuno Espirito Santo ahead of FA Cup semi-final

FA Cup: Man City, Brighton, Watford and Wolves compete in semi-finals

Before the season began, Watford were joint-third favourites for relegation, considered by bookmakers to be better only than Cardiff and Huddersfield. Javi Gracia was fifth in the betting to be the first top-flight manager to be sacked. General opinion was clear, and scathing. Fast forward eight months and Watford are jostling with Wolves for both seventh place in the top flight and, on Sunday, a spot in the FA Cup final.

Referee:
Michael Oliver
Attendance:
80,092

1-2

2-2

3-2

Full Time

FA Cup Match Report: Watford 3-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers (AET)

Gomes: “You Must Always Believe”

Gracia On Deulofeu: “He Was Angry & I Like To See That”

Deulofeu: “I’m Just Happy To Help The Team”

Gracia: “Players Want To Keep Going And Improve”

Murphy: “A Better Story To See Deeney Lift The FA Cup”

Cathcart: “The Best Season I’ve Had With Any Team”

Gray: “Anything Can Happen”

Gallery: Watford v Wolverhampton Wanderers

FA Cup Highlights: Watford 3-2 Wolves (AET)

Affleck’s Angle: Tears And Joy

Femenía: “Deeney Is A Legend”

Watford come back to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers in FA Cup semi-final

Hornets astonishingly come from two behind to reach FA Cup Final

Javi Gracia’s pride in players and fans after FA Cup semi-final triumph

Gerard Deulofeu says first goal was his most important

Javi Gracia felt Gerard Deulofeu was ‘angry’ when he scored first FA Cup semi-final goal

Watford players rated after beating Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup semi-final

Hornets celebrate their FA Cup semi-final success

Javi Gracia told Watford players to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers and avoid cup final regret

Watford’s FA Cup third round opponents Woking have offered their congratulations after incredible semi-final victory

Andre Gray believes ‘anything can happen’ against Manchester City after Watford’s FA Cup semi-final triumph

VIDEO: Watford players and fans celebrate their FA Cup semi-final triumph

Heurelho Gomes does not mind who plays in Watford’s FA Cup final

Watford captain Troy Deeney has drawn praise for emotional and open interviews following FA Cup semi-final win

FAN PICS: How Watford fans celebrated FA Cup victory over Wolves

Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster has said Javi Gracia will not need convincing to select Heurelho Gomes for the FA Cup final

Gerard Deulofeu delivered a sensational display after coming on as substitute to inspire Watford’s dramatic comeback from two goals down to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers after extra time in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

All was lost but we showed character, says Javi Gracia

‘Not just a great footballing story, a great sport story’ – relive an FA Cup classic

Deulofeu claims your star man award

Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo says ‘we had it and it got away’

The FA Cup has still got it. Try as some might to kill it off and downgrade its significance, Watford and Wolverhampton Wanderers produced a classic Wembley semi-final as a reminder that this great old competition can still touch all the sport’s senses.

Jake Humphrey tweet sparks donation surge for Watford fan

Jake Humphrey’s charity FA Cup tweet a ‘minor miracle’

Wolves had held a 2-0 lead until the 79th minute when Deulofeu chipped in a curling shot to spark hope for the Hornets whose captain Troy Deeney then won and scored a 94th-minute penalty.

The Rocket Men have lift off. It has been a long, long time since Watford were in the FA Cup final but they produced one of the greatest-ever comebacks in the history of this grand old competition to shatter Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Javi Gracia and his players simply refused to lose, to buy into the script that had Wolves continuing their fairytale season with a march into the final against Manchester City. It took a moment of magic to revive them and one of the highest drama to force extra time. And, with the tide of a tumultuous semi-final turned, there was a degree of inevitability about the winning goal, which was scored by Gerard Deulofeu.

Minute by minute

Gerard Deulofeu took out his anger on Wolves after being dropped from the starting Watford line-up, according to his manager, Javi Gracia, to inspire one of the great FA Cup comebacks.

As a manager you know it is definitely and incontrovertibly your day when you are faced with one major selection decision, get it demonstrably wrong and then win the game because of it. Javi Gracia’s first full season at Watford is going so well that even his mistakes work out.

Our first small victory comes with the visual display. Wolves’ tableau is impressive, but static. A statement. But it doesn’t compare to the frenzied energy of the waving of 33000 plastic flags, like insects swarming over the away end. You can hear our lot now. We’re fighting back. The game hasn’t even started, obviously. But we’re in it.

Then a throw-in from Holebas was knocked back to Deulofeu, it didn’t look particularly dangerous for the opposition until Gerry nonchalantly lifted the ball into the top far corner. It was a gorgeous goal out of nothing and suddenly it was game on with 10 minutes remaining.

She wore a yellow ribbon…

2nd April 2019- Premier League, Watford 4 Fulham 1

1-0

2-1

3-1

4-1

Match Report: Watford 4-1 Fulham

Deeney: “Andre Did What He Does”

Gracia: “To Win Was The Best Way To Prepare”

Hughes: “It Gives Us Confidence Going Into Sunday”

Gallery: Watford v Fulham

Gracia On Gray: “He Is A Very Important Player For Us”

Affleck’s Angle: Past Success Shaping Bright Watford Future

Watford send Fulham back to the Championship with high scoring victory

Four-goal Watford confirm Fulham’s relegation fate from Premier League

Watford vs Fulham: Javi Gracia reflects on impact of half-time changes

Watford players rated after four one thrashing of Fulham

A selection of images from Watford’s victory over Fulham

Will Hughes has praised his Watford team-mates after they beat Fulham at Vicarage Road

Fulham have been relegated from the Premier League with five games still to play after being hammered by Watford at Vicarage Road. The Cottagers needed to avoid defeat to put off their inevitable demotion for another week and were level at half-time, Ryan Babel having equalised after Abdoulaye Doucoure’s stunning opener for the Hornets.

Javi Gracia made two substitutions at the interval, and his tactical alteration paved the way for a dominant second period for the hosts as Will Hughes’ superb volley helped them regain the lead (63). Visibly deflated by the setback, Watford substitute Andre Gray took full advantage to set up Troy Deeney for a simple third (69) before laying off for Kiko Femenia to compound Fulham’s misery (75).

Javi Gracia praised his Watford players after Tuesday’s 4-1 win over Fulham helped them break their record Premier League points tally.

Fulham’s resolve, which had held up impressively after the first goal, completely crumbled. Gray set up easy finishes for the unmarked Troy Deeney and the insultingly ignored Kiko Femenía – with Doucouré again losing a battle with a teammate for the right to administer the coup de grâce. Watford scored three times in 12 minutes and could have had as many more again, and though Sessegnon and the substitute Jean Michaël Seri had chances, all Fulham got was misery.

It did not help Fulham’s cause, on the night, that Watford have an FA Cup semi-final to be preparing for, and places in the side up for grabs. It was telling that Andre Gray came off the bench to inspire Javi Gracia’s side, creating two of their three strikes in the second half.

On the walk along Vicarage Road, we found ourselves among Fulham fans who, given that a defeat would relegate them, were chanting, “The Whites are going down … and now you’re gonna believe us.”

The second half was polar opposite to the first. In the space of ten minutes Watford had blown Fulham away and scored three goals.

30th March 2019- Premier League, Manchester United 2 Watford 1

Referee:
Stuart Attwell
Attendance:
74,543

Goal 1

Doucouré: “We Dominated”

Match Report: Manchester United 2-1 Watford

Gracia: “It’s Difficult To Explain”

Deeney: “We Controlled The Game”

Foster: “We Need To Believe In Ourselves More”

Highlights: Manchester United 2-1 Watford

Watford score late goal against Manchester United, but can’t prevent the defeat

Fine Watford display ends with harsh Manchester United defeat

Manchester United vs Watford: Javi Gracia believes defeat was due to details

Watford players’ performances rated after Manchester United defeat

A selection of images from Watford’s narrow Manchester United defeat

Manchester United’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer defends Watford after ‘disrespectful’ comments by journalist

Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster said the team are not afraid of facing anyone

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first game in permanent charge of United was far from comfortable as Watford dominated for large periods and had 20 shots compared to eight from the home side.

The victory was harsh on the visitors, who dominated possession for long periods and had superior chances, but it lifts United into fourth place above Arsenal, who play on Monday.

United certainly do the counter punch well, and the game’s highlight was a sublime pass from Shaw for Rashford’s goal, but Watford had 20 shots all told and as many on target – eight – as their opponents had efforts at all.

“It is difficult to explain because I think we had a good performance,” said Gracia.

We were absolutely fabulous, to a man and from the very off. Not least the “reserves” at the back; Janmaat, only arguably a downgrade on Kiko in any case, and the dogged, focused Adam Masina in comfortably the best I’ve seen him in a Watford shirt rampaged up the wings. Miguel Britos has been unfairly demonised over the last twelve months, splendid that if he is to return to Uruguay in the summer as trailed it’ll be on the back of thoroughly solid, competent displays like this. And Christian Kabasele… he’s good at the stuff he’s good at, the brainfarts are what lets him down there was none of that today. Aggressive, disciplined defending, as aggressive in fact as any situation permitted, often quite enjoyably so.

Despite their disappointment at the defeat, the travelling Hornets roared their appreciation of the team’s performance with the songs reaching a crescendo as Gracia came over to applaud the crowd. It had been a tremendous performance by the Watford lads. It isn’t often that you play away against one of the top six and find the home team playing a defensive game hoping to score on the break. The Watford midfield ran the game and, in a season in which Capoue and Doucouré have excelled on a weekly basis, it was great to see Hughes put in a superb performance.

16th March 2019- FA Cup Sixth Round, Watford 2 Crystal Palace 1

Referee:
Kevin Friend
Attendance:
18,104

1-0

2-1

FA Cup Report: Watford 2-1 Crystal Palace

Gomes: “I Feel So Proud”

Gray: “A Little Bit More Special”

Gracia: “It’s Something Amazing For Us”

Gallery: Watford v Crystal Palace

Affleck’s Angle: Deulofeu’s Determined Defence

Watford and Crystal Palace going head to head in FA Cup quarter final

Gracia On Gray: “I Am Happy For Him”

Watford beat Crystal Palace in FA Cup quarter-finals thanks to Andre Gray winner

Watford vs Crystal Palace: Javi Gracia praises Heurelho Gomes after FA Cup quarter-final triumph

Watford vs Crystal Palace: Javi Gracia stresses the Hornets’ strength as a team

Adrian Mariappa says Watford are not getting carried away over FA Cup semi-final

Andre Gray said his goal for Watford against Crystal Palace was ‘special’

Second-half substitute Andre Gray scored two minutes after coming on to send Watford into the FA Cup semi-finals with victory over Crystal Palace at Vicarage Road.

Gray’s goal 11 minutes from time booked Watford’s place at Wembley for the second time in four years after a passionate quarter-final at Vicarage Road, which the hosts were good value for edging. They took advantage of increasing first-half momentum to move ahead on the half-hour when Etienne Capoue was teed up by Craig Cathcart after Vincent Guiata missed a punch from a corner. But Michy Batshuayi then levelled after half-time following a horrible mistake from Adrian Mariappa.

As it happened

Nearly 35 years since their solitary appearance in the FA Cup final under Graham Taylor, Watford now have the chance under Gracia to emulate that famous side by reaching the Wembley showpiece match in May for a second time. The Spaniard’s name reverberated around the stadium at the final whistle as the veteran goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes – who is planning to take up a new career as a pastor at the end of the season – wept tears of joy. “When the team was suffering in the second half they were very important for the team,” Gracia said of his club’s fans. “I think they really lifted our players.”

It had been a long time coming, but finally Watford have their revenge. After losing to Crystal Palace in the 2013 Championship play-off final and the 2016 FA Cup semi-final, they have made it past their bogey team. As the crowd sang loud at the final whistle, Javi Gracia’s side are on their way to Wembley. And in the process they have consigned Roy Hodgson to another season without an FA Cup semi-final appearance.

The tide of confidence was rolling by 11.15. That’s when “it’s bloody Palace, isn’t it?” was swept over and crushed. But in effect the build up to that wave, the little ripples, started at least a week earlier as Palace lost to Brighton, Southampton and Newcastle earned unlikely wins and the Eagles started looking over their shoulders again. So when Zaha pulled a calf muscle in training it was never going to be risked.

The 1881 had put incredible efforts into making sure that there would be a tremendous atmosphere. When we took our seats, the ground was already full of people waving flags. The big screen was showing footage of earlier quarter-finals. I enjoyed watching John Barnes lobbing Tony Coton in 1984, but it is the Arsenal game in 1987 that always comes to mind. I loved that day out at Highbury.

Prior to the game there was a lot of talk about Watford refusing to give Crystal Palace fans the entire Vicarage Road End and instead allocate them the absolute minimum number of tickets they could. This involved a lot of netting having to be put out in the stand…

9th March 2019- Premier League, Manchester City 3 Watford 1

Referee:
Paul Tierney
Attendance:
54,104

Goal 1

Match Report: Manchester City 3-1 Watford

Capoue: “We Worked So Hard”

Highlights: Manchester City 3-1 Watford

Gracia: “We Have Competed Really Well”

Gallery: Manchester City v Watford

Affleck’s Angle: Best Laid Plans

Watford lose 3-1 away at Manchester City in the Premier League

Raheem Sterling scores a hat-trick as Watford are beaten at Manchester City

Javi Gracia believes Raheem Sterling goal was clearly offside as Watford lose to Manchester City

Pep Guardiola has apologised for Raheem Sterling’s first goal against Watford for Manchester City

Watford players rated following their Premier League defeat to Manchester City

A selection of images as Watford lose to Manchester City

Javi Gracia defends decision to make seven changes for Watford’s Premier League game away at Manchester City

Raheem Sterling’s quick-fire second-half hat-trick sent Manchester City four points clear at the top of the Premier League, but there was controversy over the opener that broke down a stubborn Watford side.

Sterling’s first goal, 40 seconds after half-time, was initially ruled out for offside but after a long discussion, referee Paul Tierney overturned his own decision, with Daryl Janmaat’s attempted block just before Sterling struck ruled as having played the winger onside.

Janmaat’s involvement did not change some basic facts, namely that Sterling had been offside from Agüero’s flick-on and was going for the ball, prominently involved in play. Yet Tierney came away from a lengthy discussion with his assistant, Adrian Holmes, by deciding to overrule the original decision and declare Sterling was, in fact, onside. Confused? Well, join the club. Javi Gracia, the Watford manager, tries not to be a critic of referees and showed commendable restraint afterwards, noting only his belief it was very much the wrong decision. As for Guardiola, he pointed out that English football should have had VAR in place long before now.

Minute by minute report

After the floodgates opened in the second half, Watford did strike back with one goal, coming from the first two touches of their two substitutes, introduced moments earlier on 65 minutes. Troy Deeney’s flick-on was finished well by Gerard Deulofeu.

Like the majority of Watford fans, I don’t travel to places like City expecting anything out of the game, so the fact that the home side had the vast majority of the possession and Watford had only the single shot on target came as no surprise. Unlike the trip to Liverpool, Watford were more effective in defence and, had the referee not interfered, the result may have been more favourable.

3rd March 2019- Premier League, Watford 2 Leicester City 1

This game was given added spice by the announcement five days beforehand that former Watford manager Brendan Rodgers had left Celtic to take over the vacant manager’s job at Leicester City. The Guardian detailed the story of his time at Vicarage Road.

The new Leicester City manager is likely to get a hostile reception at Vicarage Road after an abrupt departure in 2009 but his players remember him warmly