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29th August 2021- Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur 1 Watford 0

Attendance: 57,672

BBC Sport: Juraj Kucka twice failed to capitalise on good opportunities to score and Emmanuel Dennis also gave Spurs some uncomfortable moments.

Sky Sports: Watford reacted well after the break, creating two big chances. First, Kucka lashed over the bar in acres of space from Sarr’s centre, before Josh King got in Sarr’s way eight yards out as he looked to turn home from a Moussa Sissoko cut back.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58295881

BHappy: There are a fair few “free hits” in the Premier League, and there’s a frustration here in that having been within a slug of a mugging we couldn’t find that goal, deserved or otherwise, or better still kept that free kick out.  Nonetheless.  We’re at a stage where the team is virtually brand new;  to look so convincing so quickly, albeit without points today, is no bad thing.  We need to hit the ground running with an attractive looking run of games coming after the international break, but on this evidence you’d back us to add to our tally.

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29th August 2020- Friendly, Watford 1 Scunthorpe United 0

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This was very much in the pre-pandemic style of a ‘behind closed doors’ game as no details of our team were given either on the official site or twitter.

From the Official Site: A Watford XI defeated Scunthorpe United at Vicarage Road this afternoon, thanks to a first-half goal from summer signing Jeremy Ngakia.

The young right-back made a bright start on his first appearance for the Hornets, converting a low cross from Tom Cleverley after good link-up play between the midfielder and Andre Gray down the left.

Gray went close himself with two first-half strikes, while Ken Sema had a shot saved in the second period after a quick counter-attack.

Luis Suárez, fresh from a loan spell at Real Zaragoza, was a second-half substitute and also tested the Scunthorpe goalkeeper with a low effort.

Vladimir Ivić was able to evaluate the depth of his squad during the behind closed doors tie against former Hornet Neil Cox’s team.

Watford will continue their pre-season preparations with a friendly against Tottenham Hotspur next Saturday (September 5, 3pm KO). 

Match-Report_-Watford-1-0-Scunthorpe-United-Watford-FCDownload

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29th August 2018- League Cup Second Round, Reading 0 Watford 2

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Screen Shot 2018-09-01 at 20.38.01Referee:Andy Davies    Attendance:9,265

screen-shot-2016-09-12-at-23-36-22clips of Jon Marks BBC 3CR commentary   Goals:  1   2

Watford Observer

RELIVE – Reading vs Watford: Isaac Success and Domingos Quina send Hornets through in Carabao Cup

Isaac Success and Domingos Quina goals send Watford to Carabao Cup victory over Reading

Watford’s Javi Gracia praises Nathaniel Chalobah and Stefano Okaka after Carabao Cup win over Reading

Reading vs Watford ratings: Domingos Quina and Ben Wilmot impress in Carabao Cup win

Isaac Success: Watford forward pleased with Carabao Cup contribution

Domingos Quina: Debut strike leaves Watford youngster hungry for more

BBC SportDomingos Quina scored a stunning goal on his Watford debut help them progress to the Carabao Cup third round at the expense of Championship side Reading.

skyWatford – fourth in the Premier League after winning their opening three games – made 11 changes from the side that defeated Crystal Palace 2-1 at Vicarage Road on Sunday.

BHappy imageThere are certain prerequisites when it comes to the early stages of the Rumbelows Cup.  Some of these are met in sunny Berkshire tonight…  a half-empty stadium (albeit a respectable enough 2500 make the short journey from Hertfordshire), much-changed starting line-ups (eleven changes for the Golden Boys in the green away kit’s first outing).  Check, check.

FranTeam news was that Gracia had made 11 changes with debuts for Navarro, Masina, Wilmot and Quina and the return of Chalobah, so the starting line-up was Gomes; Navarro, Mariappa, Prödl, Masina; Femenía, Chalobah, Wilmot, Quina, Sema; Success.  I have to say that looked like a pretty decent team.  Reading had also made 8 changes, but the main Watford connection with the opposition was in the dug out in the person of Sir Nigel Gibbs.

The Hornets NestWatford’s record in this competition is infamous. In the past ten seasons we’ve been knocked out by lower league opposition a total of eight times. So it’s no wonder I was surprised when Watford won comfortably away at Reading on Wednesday evening.

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29th August 2015-Premier League, Manchester City 2 Watford 0

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http://watford.fcdb.info?id=5173

The Hornets dug in well for the first half but the game changed 88 seconds after the interval when Sterling slotted home Bacary Sagna’s cross.

Manchester-City-2-0-Watford-BBC-SportDownload

The opening stages were played almost exclusively in the Watford half, but the defence was standing firm as the hosts dominated possession.

WO report

BHappy report

Fran’s report

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Taken from the programme on 12th September 2015- Premier League, Watford 1 Swansea City 0

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29th August 2009- Championship, Swansea City 1 Watford 1

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

BBC Sport: Watford had striker Danny Graham and home goalkeeper Dorus de Vries to thank for their opening goal.

Sky Sports: Alan Tate smashed a stoppage-time to equaliser to secure Swansea City a 1-1 draw at home to Watford. The visitors appeared to be heading for all three points at the Liberty Stadium after summer signing Danny Graham fired home on 66 minutes.

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=2009-08-29
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-championship/29-august-2009/
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29th August 2005- Championship, Derby County 1 Watford 2

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

BBC Sport: Watford came from behind to secure a controversial win at Pride Park.

Daily Telegraph, 30 Aug 2005
Independent, 30 Aug 2005

BSAD report: As the ball hit the net, Carlisle tore across the pitch with a red arrowhead of players in his wake and leapt into Boothroyd’s arms. The significance of the unity shown was unmistakeable, and in an early season crammed with warm and fuzzy, photo-album moments, this was the warmest and fuzziest of all: like a Furby in the microwave. There is some real team spirit here, despite the short time this side has been assembled, and I’d better learn not to fear for them too often with this kind of collective feeling.

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=2005-08-29
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-championship/29-august-2005/
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29th August 2002- Friendly, India 0 Jamaica 3 (played at Vicarage Road)

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BBC SportAsk someone if they fancy watching Jamaica play India, and the chances are they will immediately conjure up images of Sabina Park baking under a blazing sun. But the sporting showdowns between Jamaica and India are poised to take on a different dimension in two matches over the next few days.

BBC SportJamaica comfortably won the first football meeting between Jamaica and India.

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29th August 1988- Division Two, West Bromwich Albion 0 Watford 1

Programme images courtesy of Matt Hall

https://watford.fcdb.info/index.php?page=matches
Birmingham Evening Mail, 30 Aug 1988
Daily Mirror, 30 Aug 1988
Daily Telegraph, 30 Aug 1988
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-two/29-august-1988/
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29th August 1981- Division Two, Newcastle United 0 Watford 1

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http://watford.fcdb.info?id=3396
Sunday People, 30 Aug 1981
Sunday Sun, 30 Aug 1981
English Division Two (old)Table »
Barnsley4-0Shrewsbury Town
Blackburn Rovers0-1Sheffield Wednesday
Chelsea2-0Bolton Wanderers
Crystal Palace2-1Cambridge United
Derby County1-2Leyton Orient
Grimsby Town2-2Leicester City
Luton Town3-0Charlton Athletic
Newcastle United0-1Watford
Oldham Athletic2-2Cardiff City
Rotherham United4-1Norwich City
Wrexham1-3Queens Park Rangers
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29th August 1973- League Cup First Round, Reading 2 Watford 2

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Reading Evening Post, 29 Aug 1973

There was nothing I could see in the 30th Aug edition of the Post about the 50 Watford troublemakers the police had been warned about.

http://watford.fcdb.info?id=2979
Daily Mirror, 30 Aug 1973
Reading Evening Post, 30 Aug 1973

Watford Observer match report

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973%E2%80%9374_Football_League_Cup
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29th August 1964- Division Three, Gillingham 5 Watford 2

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http://watford.fcdb.info?id=2531
Sunday People, 30 Aug 1964

Watford Observer match report

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=1964-08-29
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/29-august-1964/
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29th August 1959- Division Four, Exeter City 2 Watford 0

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Sunday People, 30 Aug 1959

Watford Observer match report

http://watford.fcdb.info?id=2269
https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=1959-08-29
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-four/29-august-1959/

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

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.

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.

29th July 2026- Friendly, Watford 0 Fiorentina 1

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY AS IT HAPPENED: Watford 0-1 Fiorentina

Match Report: Watford beaten 1-0 by Fiorentina in final Vicarage Road friendly

Fiorentina Official Site:

BHappy: There was lots to like here beyond, you know, it just being football at Vicarage Road. There were things that weren’t quite right too, but we know that we have players to come in and the onset of actual competitive football to sharpen things up. As ever, looking forward to it.