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21st April 2025- Championship, Portsmouth 1 Watford 0


Report: Portsmouth 1-0 Watford – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Portsmouth confirmed their Championship status for another year with victory over Watford at Fratton Park.

Sky: The hosts scored the only goal after 25 minutes through Bishop, who nodded the ball home from close range. Watford were then reduced to 10 men in the 57th minute when Kevin Keben was sent off for bringing down Josh Murphy just outside the area.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Portsmouth 1 Watford 0

Portsmouth 1 Watford 0 minute-by-minute report

Cleverley says not enough “consequences for not doing your job” at Watford

‘A complete guess’ – Cleverley’s description of red card decision

Watching the last dregs of the season spiral inevitably towards the plughole

Fran’s Watford Blog:  The Portsmouth goal was down to a rare Selvik mistake, although the highlights showed that Bishop’s final touch was rather fortunate. The shot from Louza was going in until Schmid intervened, the bar and post have not been our friends in recent games. But Selvik was definitely the busier of the keepers, so it is hard to argue with the result. Unlike on Friday, the Keben sending off seemed rather harsh. I hope that the club appeals it.

From the Rookery End: Easter is a great time to gorging on chocolate eggs. Watford gorged on red cards. In a two parts. Dave and Mike discuss the Burnley loss and Adam Drury joins Mike to breakdown the loss away at Pompey. Even with two defeats and three red cards the boys are able to find positives, even if Jon wasn’t there. but the true faults and frustrations of this Watford team still shine through.

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21st April 2018- Premier League, Watford 0 Crystal Palace 0

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Watford Observer

RELIVE – Watford vs Crystal Palace: Nothing to separate sides in evenly contested Premier League match

Watford and Crystal Palace battle out entertaining goalless draw

Javi Gracia praises Watford’s attitude following Crystal Palace draw

GALLERY: A selection of images from Watford’s draw with Crystal Palace

Watford vs Crystal Palace ratings: Stefano Okaka and Christian Kabasele on song

Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha hits back after Watford diving controversy

Christian Kabasele: Watford defender hopeful Javi Gracia will remain at club

Wilfried Zaha: Watford’s Christian Kabasele defends Crystal Palace man after diving accusations

skyWilfried Zaha saw two penalty claims turned down as Watford and Crystal Palace edged towards Premier League safety after playing out an eventful 0-0 on Saturday.

BBC SportZaha was cautioned by referee Chris Kavanagh after going down inside the Watford penalty area following a challenge by Adrian Mariappa.

guardianWatford’s traditional poor springtime form meant they had gone five matches without a victory, conceding 15 goals in the process, so the decision to pair the Italy international Stefano Okaka in attack with Troy Deeney was a brave one with the former chairman Elton John, watching on from the stands. Yet it almost paid off as early as the fourth minute when Deeney found space on the right and his cross was headed against the crossbar by Okaka.

BHappy imageKey in the first half exchanges and throughout was the redoubtable partnership of the newly returned Christian Kabasele and the slightly less newly returned but much missed Craig Cathcart.

FranIt had been a thoroughly entertaining half of football.  Watford were a completely different team from last week, playing positively and battling for everything.  We had managed 11 shots on goal, but without really testing Hennessey.  The Watford fans were also putting in a good performance, loud and proud in support of their team, which was essential as Palace usually bring a very noisy crowd with them.

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21st April 2012- Championship, Peterborough United 2 Watford 2

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Paul Taylor’s stunning equaliser at London Road saved Peterborough from a fourth straight Championship defeat. Lee Tomlin converted a penalty after just 13 minutes for the home side, but Troy Deeney levelled with scrappy goal midway through the first half. Watford went ahead early in the second half with a sweetly-struck free-kick by Sean Murray from 30 yards.

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=2012-04-21
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-championship/21-april-2012/
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21st April 2007- Premier League, Watford 1 Manchester City 1

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Watford became the first team to be relegated from the Premiership this season after drawing with Manchester City at Vicarage Road.

Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd admitted his team ‘did not have enough’ after today’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City meant they were relegated to the Championship.

Your one-word match report is:fitting.

http://watford.fcdb.info?id=4758

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21st April 2003- Championship, Watford 2 Derby County 0

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From an unseasonably cold Valley Parade to a sunny Vicarage Road in a matter of forty-eight hours, the other side of the end of season coin was very much in evidence before the kick-off. On paper, the fixture was just as meaningless as the encounter at Bradford. However, Watford’s end of season run-in does have a little more meaning than a glance at the league table would have you believe. Our current position doesn’t do justice to the effort this team has put into the season and three home games in the last four allow Watford the chance to rectify that. Furthermore, there are the ghosts of Villa Park that need exorcising. A good Watford win would do much to restore the feel-good factor that’s prevailed for much of this campaign.

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=2003-04-21
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-1/21-april-2003/
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21st April 2002- New Division One, Watford 2 Gillingham 3

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Nigel Gibbs final competitive Watford appearance and Gianluca Vialli’s last programme notes.

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BSAD imageBSAD report: One final first team outing for Nigel Gibbs – applauded on arrival by everyone in the ground, including the Gillingham players – was worth the price of admission alone, even if he was required to spend ten minutes looking awkwardly out of place at left back. A broad grin on hitting a pass so firmly that even Anthony McNamee couldn’t catch up with it betrayed his enjoyment of the occasion, and it was an enjoyment widely shared. Nigel Gibbs has been a great player for Watford Football Club for twenty years. There need be no further explanation.

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21st April 1973- Division Three, Scunthorpe United 1 Watford 0

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Evening Standard, 21 Apr 1973
Sunday People, 22 Apr 1973
Sunday Mirror, 22 Apr 1973

Watford Observer match report

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=1973-04-21
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/21-april-1973/
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21st April 1964- Division Three, Watford 2 Brentford 2

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http://watford.fcdb.info?id=2527
Daily Herald, 22 Apr 1964

Watford Observer match report

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=1964-04-21
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/21-april-1964/
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21st April 1962- Division Three, Watford 0 Bradford (Park Avenue) 2

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Evening Standard, 21 Apr 1962
Sunday People, 22 Apr 1962

Watford Observer match report

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=1962-04-21
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/21-april-1962/
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21st April 1956- Division Three (South), Queens Park Rangers 3 Watford 2

http://watford.fcdb.info/index.php?page=matches
The People, 22 Apr 1956
Sunday Dispatch, 22 Apr 1956
https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=1956-04-21
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/division-three-south/21-april-1956/

18th April 2026- Championship, Watford 0 Sheffield United 2

Watford Observer: ‘This is what Watford do’ narrative has made me angrier since Oxford, Still says

Still knows he needs results to secure Watford future – ‘I’m not kidding myself’

Team news: Maamma in contention to start, Ngakia and Bola could return

‘The summer is the time to discuss what leadership looks like at Watford’

Supporters’ anger ‘totally normal’ and not an overreaction, says Still

Nabizada: The fans want to see creativity – that’s what I’m trying to do

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY AS IT HAPPENED: Watford 0-2 Sheffield United

Match Report: Watford beaten 2-0 by Sheff Utd as lifeless season finale continues

WATCH: Immediate reaction to Watford 0-2 Sheffield United

Still: ‘Baah hasn’t had the impact I wanted’

Still adamant he is the man to lead significant change after another defeat

BBC: Patrick Bamford’s second-half double helped Sheffield United to victory at out-of-form Watford.

Sky: The striker’s sharpness in front of goal made the difference and lifted Chris Wilder’s side above their opponents in the bright spring sunshine at Vicarage Road.

From the Rookery End: Jon, Kieran, Mike and Jason are back outside the Hornet Shop after another tough afternoon as Watford FC fall to a 2–0 defeat at home to Sheffield United. There’s no hiding from it — this was a flat, lifeless performance that summed up where the football team is right now. The lads reflect on some hints at something successful, before everything unravelled in depressingly familiar fashion. With belief draining from both pitch and stands, attention turns to the bigger picture — from recruitment failures to the direction under Gino Pozzo, who was in attendance at the game.

11th April 2026- Championship, Oxford United 2 Watford 0

Watford Observer: Oxford call for ‘relentless support’ on Saturday – can Watford rise to the occasion?

Team news: Maamma set for return, Abankwah and Kayembe fully fit

Bove needs more time and Kjerrumgaard ‘hasn’t quite been on it’, says Still

Pre-season planning ongoing – but not Still’s priority for now

Still on Oxford: ‘I want our fans to see we wanted it more’

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY AS IT HAPPENED: Oxford United 2-0 Watford

Match Report: Abject Watford beaten 2-0 at Oxford United

Pollock asks to apologise publicly after ‘lowest point’ of his Watford career

Still on Watford fans’ reaction: ‘You have to stand up and take it’

BBC: Oxford United moved within a point of Championship safety and extended their unbeaten run at the Kassam Stadium to five matches with victory over out-of-form Watford.

Sky: Watford, who have a poor away record this campaign, were on a winless streak of three going into the game but they had beaten the U’s 2-1 at Vicarage Road at the start of October.

Fran’s Watford Blog: It had been a very poor performance with only Irankunda coming away with much credit. He created some decent chances and, if one had gone in, it would have been a different afternoon. Maamma was also bright when he came on and showed how much we have missed him. But apart from them, it was a miserable afternoon of football.

From the Rookery End: On From The Rookery End this week, Jon and Mike are joined by Watford Observer’s Adam Drury after Watford’s defeat at Oxford — but rather than pick apart another bad away day,the take a step back and the conversation goes bigger.

6th April 2026- Championship, Watford 1 Charlton Athletic 1

Watford Observer: Still on Charlton: All we can do after bad results is bounce back

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY AS IT HAPPENED: Watford 1-1 Charlton Athletic

Five talking points as Watford forced to settle for a point

Match Report: Irankunda equalises but Watford held to 1-1 Charlton draw

Coady lost consciousness after blocking shot, Jones confirms

Still takes confidence from ‘completely dominating’ second half against Charlton

BBC: Nestory Irankunda’s emphatic finish earned Watford a point and denied Charlton Athletic a first win in four matches in a chance-laden Championship draw at Vicarage Road.

Sky: Charlton’s Conor Coady was stretchered off being struck in the head by a venomous shot by Tom Ince. The former England international had lengthy treatment on the pitch.

BHappy: Irankunda levels after being released by Louza, a fine, confident, Premier League finish, and then thumps in an evil bouncing bomb that Mannion pushes away. Goglichidze, who’s had an erratic afternoon, gets on the end of a deep cross but heads criminally wide. I can sense Hutch combusting from half the stadium away. Shots are repeatedly fired in but are repelled, most tellingly and representatively when Conor Coady commemorates the 500th appearance of his career by getting in the way of a Tom Ince piledriver. He is knocked out cold interrupting play for a good ten minutes, the incident encapsulating Charlton’s dogged defiance in the face of mounting pressure.

Fran’s Watford Blog: There was applause at the end of the game after a terrific second half in which the Charlton keeper kept them in the game. It was a wonderful attacking performance from the Hornets. Irankunda was immense, running at the defence and hitting great shots. On another day, he would have had a hat trick. Chakvetadze also had a great game. He was unplayable at the start of the second half, constantly running at the Charlton defence and, unlike in previous outings, taking several shots. Long may that last. Nabizada built on his showing against QPR, putting in a very assured performance with no fear of crossing and shooting. I have admired his play in the U18s and U21s, so it is great to see him looking the part in the first team. Due to the extensive injuries, the defence is cobbled together with some square pegs in round holes and Goglichidze in particular had a poor game. I cannot make my mind up about him as he seems to alternate assured performances with absolute mares. In the end it was a game we should have won, but mid-table obscurity now beckons.

From the Rookery End: Jon, Jordi, Mike and Kieran are on presenting duties after Watford’s Easter weekend fixtures — a 1-1 draw at home to Charlton on Easter Monday, coming hot on the heels of the 2-1 defeat away at QPR on Good Friday.

3rd April 2026- Championship, Queens Park Rangers 2 Watford 1

Watford Observer: Team news: Watford down to ‘bare bones’ with Bola among doubts for QPR

Still exploring reasons behind injuries but believes it’s largely bad luck

Watford still aiming to ‘create some magic’ this season

‘Not many teams can win 6-1 in the Championship’ – Still on QPR threat

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

Match Report: Watford lose 2-1 at QPR in flat display

Still: ‘The lack of consistency has caused us problems’

Micro and macro reasons behind Watford’s defeat at QPR

Still will analyse why key attackers are struggling to score

BBC: Paul Smyth scored one goal and made another as QPR claimed a third successive win to all but end lacklustre Watford’s already slim hopes of sneaking into the Championship play-off places.

Sky: Imran Louza pulled a goal back with a superb 85th-minute free-kick, but the visitors were unable to find an equaliser.

Fran’s Watford Blog: It had been a poor performance from the Hornets whose injury-ridden squad struggled. The first start for Bove was not an impressive one. Maybe he was too keen to make an impression, but his great touch was little in evidence, and he committed a series of rash tackles, that endangered his presence on the pitch. Kjerrumgaard generally struggled although he did have an excellent strike early on which, had it gone in, would have changed the game. There was a lively finish to the match, as the introduction of Baah injected some energy. This game featured the good Baah, who is always fun to watch. Louza’s goal was a thing of beauty and made sure that there was some tension in the final minutes. But my highlight was the debut of Nabizada. I have seen some excellent performances from him at U18 and U21 level and it was good to see him take his opportunity in the first team. He started a bit slowly, but grew into the game and put a few decent crosses into the box. I hope that this is the first of many first team outings for him.

21st March 2026- Championship, Watford 0 Leicester City 0

Watford Observer: Still on whether he judges himself on points or performances

Still not focused on the ramifications of Leicester game

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY LIVE: Watford 0-0 Leicester City

Five talking points as Watford held to Leicester stalemate

Match Report: Selvik saves penalty as Watford and Leicester slog to goalless draw

Still: Watford played through the pain barrier and wanted ‘close game’

BBC: Patson Daka had a penalty saved as relegation threatened Leicester City were held to a goalless draw by play-off chasing Watford.

Sky :Daka’s 40th-minute spot-kick was brilliantly tipped on to the post by home goalkeeper Egil Selvik. The striker also headed wide of a near open goal in the second half as the Foxes failed to climb out of the bottom three.

BHappy: Forgive me, I know that ranting about referees is unspeakably dull and I wouldn’t for one moment suggest that his performance had anything to do with the disappointing outcome of this game, but I do need to try to extract some pleasure from the exercise. As the second half descended into mind-numbing stalemate, Smith seemed determined to inject some randomness into proceedings with a series of absurd decisions in both directions. The most bizarre, a yellow against Doumbia which saw him drop to his knees in astonishment after he held off an aggressive challenge from behind. In the first half, the official had dropped the ball and run off the pitch and down the tunnel during a break in play that contributed to eight minutes being added before the interval; one can only assume that in the interim some sort of alien abduction took place, or an unwise experiment with hallucinogenic drugs such was his performance in the second half. No surprise at all that when Bobby Decordova-Reid obstructed Egil Selvik’s attempt at a clearance even the Norwegian, that mildest-mannered of mild-mannered janitors, was at a boiling point that saw a significant scuffle ensue. “That was the ref’s fault”, said everyone in the stadium (as well as the interfering extra-terrestrials, one assumes).

Fran’s Watford Blog: There was disaster for the Hornets ten minutes before the break as Fatawu went on a dangerous run into the box, getting behind Formose Mendy who tripped him. The referee had no choice but to point to the spot. The penalty was at the same end as Knockaert’s all those years ago and Selvik did an Almunia by diving the right way and pushing Daka’s shot onto the post where it rebounded out sparking joyous celebrations in the home stands

From the Rookery End: Watford served up the full emotional buffet this week — from the genuine high of a feel-good win over Wrexham (and that moment), to the all-too-familiar frustration of a stop-start, slightly baffling 0-0 with Leicester.

17th March 2026- Championship, Watford 3 Wrexham 1

Watford Observer: Minute’s applause for Amelia Aplin to be held during Wrexham game

Doumbia out to set the tone on decisive night at Vicarage Road

I’m not a fan of the club using AI to create images, especially not of legendary players. The back row here looks like they got together a load of look a likes.

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY LIVE: Watford 3-1 Wrexham

Five talking points as Watford win to keep play-off hopes alive

Match Report: Bove seals the deal as Watford bounce back to beat Wrexham 3-1

Still: ‘We did the basics right – that’s the big positive’

GALLERY: Best images of Bove’s Rookery End goal and celebration

BBC: Watford kept their Championship play-off hopes alive while denting those of Wrexham by beating the Red Dragons at Vicarage Road.

Sky: Goals from Marc Bola and Edo Kayembe did the damage for the Vicarage Road outfit and although Max Cleworth pulled a goal back for the hosts, Edoardo Bove netted his first Hornets goal in stoppage time.

Fran’s Watford Blog: On 15 minutes, there was a minute’s applause in memory of Watford fan, Amelia Aplin, who passed away after collapsing while playing in goal for Oxford Academy. As fans at both ends of the ground stood to applaud, the ball went out for a throw and the game paused while the players and officials joined in the applause. It was a wonderful tribute, and I doubt there was a dry eye in the stadium.