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30th April 2022- Premier League, Watford 1 Burnley 2

WFC.Net goal commentary: 1

Attendance: 20,738

BBC Sport: Burnley scored twice in the final seven minutes to complete a dramatic comeback that pulled them five points clear of the Premier League relegation zone and left hosts Watford on the brink of the drop.

Sky Sports: Norwich, who lost 2-0 at Aston Villa, were relegated as a result of the Clarets’ late turnaround as Watford became the first side in top-flight history to lose 11 consecutive home league games and are now 12 points adrift of safety with four matches to play.

The Guardian: Ray Lewington, Watford’s assistant manager, said: “There’s a massive fear factor here, which we’ve found since we came in, particularly at home, and that comes from losing matches. We really wanted to do something to help the club out of the bottom three but it’s not happened.”

BHappy: The foot has been on the gas since the start but on seven minutes Kiko sends in a deep cross, Samir can’t quite get his head on it but Kucka is lurking at the far post.  What transpires is only clear from the replay – the Slovak takes a touch and then clubs the ball against the bar; it deserves a goal and gets it with a helpful rebound off Tarkowski.  Conveniently a minute’s recognition in memory of young Jasper Cook follows within 30 seconds – rarely has such a tribute been echoed so forcefully.

Fran’s Watford Blog: Then, on 83 minutes, the visitors drew level when a cross from Taylor was met by a diving header from Cork that beat Foster.  They scored a second a couple of minutes later as a free kick fell to Brownhill who beat Foster from the edge of the box.  

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30th April 2018- Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur 2 Watford 0

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The game was played at Wembley Stadium which Tottenham were using as their home ground whilst White Hart Lane was dismantled and the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was being built.

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Watford Observer

RELIVE – Tottenham Hotspur vs Watford: Dele Alli and Harry Kane condemn Hornets to Premier League defeat

Dele Alli and Harry Kane on target as Watford lose at Tottenham Hotspur

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Adrian Mariappa: Watford must take positives from attacking display against Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur vs Watford ratings: Will Hughes on song but Orestis Karnezis struggles at Wembley

Adrian Mariappa: Watford defender proud to skipper Hornets at Wembley

skyHarry Kane scored in Tottenham’s routine 2-0 win over Watford to reopen their five-point cushion over Chelsea in the race for a top-four finish.

BBC SportSpurs capitalised on an error from Hornets goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis as Christian Eriksen set up Alli and the England midfielder scored from 12 yards out.  Kane doubled Spurs’ lead early in the second half from Kieran Trippier’s pull-back and Jan Vertonghen later headed against the post.

guardianThe game was played in a subdued atmosphere, with plenty of empty seats dotted around the ground, and Spurs were often there for the taking. There was a slight air of edginess about their play and Pochettino frowned at his team’s tentativeness in the final third, especially when Kane spurned a decent shooting opportunity with an awkward piece of control in the 12th minute. Watford sensed an opportunity to exploit that unease, showing inventiveness on the break, and Spurs’ defenders were relieved to see Hugo Lloris deny Andre Gray in the 25th minute.

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30th April 2011- Championship, Watford 0 Queens Park Rangers 2

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http://watford.fcdb.info?id=4965
https://www.skysports.com/football/watford-vs-qpr/teams/217084

Queens Park Rangers defeated Watford to clinch the Championship title and end a 15-year absence from the Premier League.

Goals from Adel Taarabt and Tommy Smith secured victory at Vicarage Road on Saturday, meaning Rangers cannot be caught by third-placed Cardiff and should have booked their place in the top flight as well as clinching the league crown. Neil Warnock and his coaching staff all embraced on the touchline, but the celebrations will be slightly muted with the club now nervously awaiting the outcome of next week’s FA hearing into the transfer of Argentinian midfielder Alejandro Faurlin.

The independent commission sits on Tuesday with a decision due four days later, and Rangers could be punished sufficiently to drop into the play-off positions. Indeed Watford fans taunted the champions with cries of ‘You’re gonna lose in the play-offs’.

Uncertainly, then, remains, but all their players, staff and fans could feel yesterday was joy. Emotions became unruly after the final whistle when some of the 2,171 away supporters swarmed on to the pitch and despite repeated warnings from Watford’s public address announcer, refused to leave promptly. Neil Warnock, the QPR manager, also become embroiled in the chaos, telling the man with the microphone to keep his orders to himself. Ignoring instructions from stewards, Warnock then refused to leave the pitch until he had saluted the QPR fans himself.

Should Rangers suffer a points penalty you won’t find many tears shed in Hertfordshire, I suspect. It wasn’t the unseemly scuffles with interlopers in the Rookery, these have happened pretty much whenever visiting supporters have made significant incursion; I’m sure there were far more Rangers fans in the home end keeping a respectably low profile than there were causing trouble. It’s not even the pitch invasion, tedious as that was; those of us on the pitch at Craven Cottage thirteen years ago (ulp) would hardly be in a position to criticise on that score. It was the utterly needless and moronic charge towards the home end, the provocation of a situation that was only ever going to be diffused by a heavyweight police presence, ultimately on horseback. Celebrate by all means, but why a stand-off? Fuckwits. A situation not remotely placated by the reliably provocative Neil Warnock, as ever displaying all the restraint and judgment of a four year old with a sugar rush in gesticulating towards the Rookery end.

The commission found QPR guilty of just two of the seven charges relating to the signing of Alejandro Faurlin and were fined £875,000 but did not receive a points deduction and therefore were promoted as champions.

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=2011-04-30
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-championship/30-april-2011/
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30th April 2006- Championship, Watford 0 Hull City 0

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Watford secured third place and will play Crystal Palace in the play-offs after a dismal draw at Vicarage Road.

The key to winning the Championship play-offs, according to Hull City’s manager Peter Taylor, whose team has played three of the clubs involved in recent weeks, probably lies in having your top striker fit and in form. After watching his defenders, helped by a couple of fine saves from the excellent goalkeeper Boaz Myhill, prevent Watford’s Marlon King adding to his 21 league goals this season, Taylor reckons the fact that Andy Johnson will suddenly have the World Cup on his mind makes Crystal Palace favourites to go up.

The first goalless draw at Vicarage Road since the start of October…and not an entirely unpredictable one, in hindsight. Since Sheffield United stumbled over the finishing line, we’ve covered up the meaningless nature of the fixtures rather well, with some help from our opponents: Ipswich were kind enough to take part in an entertainingly shambolic end-to-end friendly, while Queens Park Rangers’ general ill-temper spiced up what might’ve been thoroughly bland. Hull, on the other hand, weren’t nearly so obliging.

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=2006-04-30
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-championship/30-april-2006/
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30th April 2005- Championship, Stoke City 0 Watford 1

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Heidar Helguson’s 19th goal of the season gave Watford the win that secured their Championship status.

Independent, 1 May 2006

It was a hard physical game. Black and blue. Gifton was spoken to for bundling into Chambers. Then Mahon ended up in heap. The resultant Young free kick was floated by Young to Simonsen in the Stoke goal. Now Demerit was catching the eye in defence alongside the ever-talking Cullip. And up front Bouazza was finding more space, one move involving him and Young leading to a Dyer shot that was blocked. Twenty-five minutes gone and hardly any threat from the home team, Young sending another cross over as I looked at the clock for the first time.

https://oldwatford.com/2005/05/08/8th-may-2005-championship-watford-1-west-ham-united-2/
http://watford.fcdb.info?id=4661
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30th April 2003- New Division One, Watford 0 Reading 3

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You didn’t really come here for football, did you? For heaven’s sake, what possessed you? Have you not see the score? Did you not pay attention to what happened on Saturday? Or the league table…have you not seen the league table? Nobody cares any more. It just doesn’t matter. It’s irrelevant, finished, filed away. Except that you still want to know. You are the sole punter who still turns up to see UK Subs, wondering bitterly why they don’t still make the top forty and the front cover of NME. And I’m here because you’re here. Which must make me the drummer in UK Subs, or something. And that’s not quite what I had in mind for my life, you know….

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=2003-04-30
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-1/30-april-2003/
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30th April 1994- New Division One, Watford 1 Portsmouth 0

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The People, 1 May 1994
https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=1994-04-30
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-1/30-april-1994/
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30th April 1983- Division One, Watford 2 Arsenal 1

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People, 1 May 1983
English Division One (old)Table »
Aston Villa4-0Stoke City
Coventry City0-1West Bromwich Albion
Everton2-0West Ham United
Manchester City1-2Nottingham Forest
Norwich City1-1Manchester United
Notts County1-0Brighton and Hove A
Southampton2-2Luton Town
Sunderland1-2Birmingham City
Swansea City1-1Ipswich Town
Tottenham Hotspur2-0Liverpool
Watford2-1Arsenal
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30th April 1980- London Five-a-side Football Championship (at Wembley Arena)

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We beat Fulham 1-0 in the first round with Ray Train scoring our goal but then lost 1-0 to eventual winners QPR in the second round.

https://oldwatford.com/1980/04/19/19th-april-1980-division-two-watford-4-fulham-0/
Standard, 30 Apr 1980

Programme images courtesy of Matt Hall

Comicus Article- Football Nostalgia: London Evening Standard 5-A-Side Tournament

Standard, 1 May 1980
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30th April 1975- London Five-a-side Football Championship (at the Empire Pool, Wembley)

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We lost 2-0 to Fulham in the First Round.

Evening Standard, 30 Apr 1975

Comicus Article- Football Nostalgia: London Evening Standard 5-A-Side Tournament

Evening Standard, 1 May 1975
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30th April 1969- Division Three, Luton Town 2 Watford 1

Programme images courtesy of Matt Hall

http://watford.fcdb.info/index.php?page=matches
Evening Post, 1 May 1969
Guardian Journal, 1 May 1969

Watford Observer match report

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=1969-04-30
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/30-april-1969/
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30th April 1966- Division Three, Watford 1 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 0

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Evening Standard, 30 Apr 1966
Sunday People, 1 May 1966

Watford Observer match report

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=1966-04-30
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/30-april-1966/
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30th April 1963- Division Three, Watford 0 Millwall 2

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Daily Telegraph, 1 May 1963

Watford Observer match report

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=1963-04-30
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/30-april-1963/
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30th April 1960- Division Four, Workington 0 Watford 1

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Evening Standard, 30 Apr 1960
Herald Express, 30 Apr 1960
Sunday People, 1 May 1960

Watford Observer match report

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15th October 1996- New Division Two, Watford 2 Burnley 2

25th April 2026- Championship, Middlesbrough 5 Watford 1

Watford Observer: Team news: Ekwah returns for Middlesbrough, Ngakia and Bola closer to starts

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

Match Report: Watford complete miserable away run with 5-1 Boro loss

WATCH: Immediate reaction to Middlesbrough 5-1 Watford

Still: Reset needed ‘on many points’ as Boro defeat shows lack of togetherness

BBC: Middlesbrough remain in the race for automatic promotion from the Championship as they demolished mid-table Watford.

Sky: Boro’s 5-1 victory was their joint-biggest win of the season and came courtesy of doubles from Morgan Whittaker and Tommy Conway plus a goal from David Strelec. Watford’s goal came at the start of the second half from James Abankwah, but while the visitors were a match for their opponents for most of the first period, they were comprehensively outplayed after the break.

Fran’s Watford Blog: Ed Still’s team selection had been interesting. He had dropped the youngsters for a more experienced line up and it had worked. Not only did the team look more solid, but it was a surprisingly attacking performance and we were very unlucky to be behind at half time. Once the wholesale changes were made and the youngsters brought on just after the hour mark, it fell apart. But the hosts certainly had luck on their side with a couple of the goals, and the penalty was a silly mistake by Abankwah.

21st April 2026- Championship, West Bromwich Albion 3 Watford 0

Watford Observer: Can Watford provide some optimism at motivated West Brom?

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY LIVE: West Brom 3-0 Watford

Match Report: Watford sink without a trace again in 3-0 West Brom defeat

Still insists Watford players are hurting after ‘hugely painful’ defeat

Non-response at West Brom marks this out as Watford’s worst end-of-season run

BBC: West Bromwich Albion secured their Championship survival as they eased past sorry Watford at The Hawthorns.

Sky: Isaac Price scored the first goal and made the second for Daryl Dike’s second in as many games before half-time as James Morrison’s side made it nine games unbeaten. On-loan Crystal Palace right-back Danny Imray scored a deserved third goal for the Baggies, who made it 488 minutes without conceding.

Fran’s Watford Blog: This was an awful game with almost no redeeming features. There was a lack of energy in the performance, but I put that down to a lack of confidence among a group of young players for whom nothing seems to be working. I don’t see a lack of effort from the majority of the players. Maamma was, again, a constant threat and I really wish his late shot had gone in as he deserved a goal. The other positive was the return of Ngakia who we have missed since he was injured. But we were well beaten on the night, and it is hard to see us getting any more points this season.

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.

Fran’s Watford Blog: It was another disappointing game. We should have taken the lead in the first half and certainly started the second half very brightly. The first United goal was fortunate and against the run of play. Their second was rather better and, once that went in, the fight seemed to go out of the players, and we never really looked like getting back in the game. Again, Irankunda and Maamma were the bright sparks, working to create chances, but shots from distance and a well organised United defence frustrated them.

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.