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7th February 2015- Championship, Watford 1 Blackburn Rovers 0

WFC.Net goal commentary: 1

BBC: Watford striker Odion Ighalo scored his 12th goal of the season to give the Hornets victory over Blackburn.

Sky: The Hornets had been marginally the better side in the first half, but they struggled against the visitors’ more direct approach after the break and needed goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes to stop them from going behind on at least two occasions.

Bhappy: Blackburn dictated terms for long, long periods here, including the whole of a second half in which we barely created as much as a half-chance and, I suspect, mustered no more than one vital, decisive shot on goal. They set the agenda, they shaped the game, they’ll feel with complete justification that they should’ve won it. They were well-organised, robust and physical, and a bit charmless in a way that I find oddly charming; these kind of Championship gurners are gradually dying out, and more’s the pity. In Chris Brown, they had a proper old-fashioned villain of a centre forward, all bad-temper and elbows, whose only failure in the service of his side was to miss the couple of chances that came his way. In Jay Spearing, whose resemblance to one of the boulder-trolls from Frozen is uncanny, they had a proper midfield hatchet man, treading the kind of disciplinary tightrope that any midfielder worth his salt ought to spend his career walking. The rest aren’t exactly shrinking violets. There’s something Victorian and industrial about them, and I’ll regret the day when our legion of continental fancy-dans doesn’t have to overcome this kind of challenge. They’re a good side. Not a nice one, but a good one.

Fran’s Watford Blog: In a rare Watford attack, Vydra exchanged passes with Deeney and tried a shot that was blocked, it fell to Paredes who played it out to Deeney whose shot was put out for a corner.  Watford then took an unexpected lead as Layun’s set piece was played on by Angella to Ighalo whose shot found the net by way of Steele’s hand and the post.  The celebration of this miracle included a very long prayer from the goalscorer.  Blackburn tried to hit back and there was a moment of drama as Gomes punched a cross then chased the ball out of the box to welly it over the SEJ stand to loud cheers from the Watford faithful.  Watford appeared to have increased their lead in the final moments as Vydra and Ighalo broke forward and the Czech won a corner from which a cross was headed home by a defender as Ighalo challenged, but the goal was ruled out for offside presumably as Ighalo was deemed to be interfering with play.  There were huge cheers at the final whistle.  It had been a difficult game and the win was hardly deserved, but Blackburn had been such unpleasant opponents that I felt no guilt.  It was no surprise that Gomes won the man of the match award and he was given a tremendous ovation as he did his lap of the pitch applauding the crowd at the end.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/31070467
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7th February 2004- New Division One, Watford 2 Sunderland 2

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BBC SportDarren Byfield’s goal on his debut just four minutes from time saw Sunderland claw their way back from a two-goal deficit to steal a share of the spoils.

BSAD imageReally, much of this was very good indeed. Not in a tidy, graceful, stylish way, for we can hardly expect to see much that’s glorious and elegant at the moment. Nor in an organised, solid, nerveless way either, for we courted disaster on a few occasions, even before the late Sunderland fightback. But in a battling, struggling, fighting way, it was pretty much beyond criticism. As we know only too well, there are barely three or four players in the entire squad who can reasonably be considered to be in good form at the moment, yet there were many more here who were giving it absolutely everything in an attempt to get through the sticky patch. That’s more than half the battle, right there. And it’s a battle that we seem ready to fight, at long last.

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7th February 1976- Division Four, Watford 2 Southport 0

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http://watford.fcdb.info?id=3108
Sunday Mirror, 8 Feb 1976

Watford Observer match report

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=1976-02-07
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-four/07-february-1976/
https://oldwatford.com/2003/01/01/1st-january-2003-new-division-one-watford-2-portsmouth-2/
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7th February 1970- FA Cup Fifth Round, Watford 2 Gillingham 1

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http://watford.fcdb.info/index.php?page=matches
Evening Standard, 7 Feb 1970
Sunday Mirror, 8 Feb 1970
Sunday People, 8 Feb 1970
Observer, 8 Feb 1970

Watford Observer match reflection

The draw for the Sixth Round was made the following Monday and this is how the Evening Standard reported it.

Evening Standard, 9 Feb 1970

3rd February 2026- Championship, Hull City 0 Watford 0

Originally postponed just 23 minutes before kick off on the 4th January.

Watford Observer: What should we expect from Watford under Daniels, Mariappa and Gosling?

Match Wrap: Hull City 0-0 Watford – Watford FCDownload

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY AS IT HAPPENED: Hull City 0-0 Watford

Match Report: Watford draw 0-0 at Hull City but impress under Daniels

WATCH: Immediate reaction to Hull City 0-0 Watford

Daniels on ‘really good performance’ at Hull after one session as Watford boss

Mendy ‘showed why he’s a top player’ at Hull, says Daniels

Daniels, Mariappa and Gosling should be very proud of Watford’s performance at Hull

Daniels ready to take charge at Southampton ‘unless I’m told otherwise’

‘Everything’s a fresh start’ – Why Jeremy Petris and Formose Mendy were recalled

BBC: Hull missed the chance to close the gap on the Championship’s top two after a dull goalless draw against managerless Watford.

Sky: Hull came into the rearranged fixture in third spot having won all four Championship matches since the postponement, but they were denied a fifth victory on the bounce by play-off hopefuls Watford.

Fran’s Watford Blog:  The post-match consensus was that we had all thoroughly enjoyed the game. It had been competitive and the Hornets were the better team, which was certainly not what we were expecting before the game. Mendy, who had very little game time under Javi, was excellent and looks likely to get more opportunities under Daniels, who clearly rates him. Abankwah, who has put in some excellent performances in defence, showed us what he could do going forward, with one particular surging run giving me great joy. Mfuni was a revelation. I was surprised to see the 17 year-old starting, but he put in a performance that belied his years. He was composed and effective in defence, while also popping up in the opposition box to get on the end of crosses. After Alleyne, it appears that City have done us another favour. I look forward to seeing more of the lad.

1st February 2026- Head Coach Javi Gracia resigns

Club Statement: Javi Gracia – Watford FCDownload

Watford Observer: Javi Gracia resigns as Watford head coach

The inside story of Javi Gracia’s resignation as Watford head coach

Gracia releases statement: ‘I could no longer contribute with full conviction’

BBC: Watford head coach Javi Gracia has resigned after just over three months in the job following their 2-0 defeat by Swansea City.

Sky: The Hornets are now seeking their 24th manager since the Pozzo family took the reins in 2012.

31st January 2026- Championship, Watford 0 Swansea City 2

Watford Observer: Gracia: Watford in a ‘difficult moment’ and ‘really need support’ from home fans

Watford want to be ‘aggressive’ and ‘play in the opposite half’ against Swansea

Gracia on Baah, Irankunda and how he selects his team

https://www.watfordfc.com/news/2026/january/31/digital-digest-swansea-edition

Match Wrap: Watford 0-2 Swansea City – Watford FCDownload

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY AS IT HAPPENED: Watford 0-2 Swansea City

Match Report: Winless run extends to five as tame Watford beaten 2-0 by Swansea

WATCH: Immediate reaction to Watford 0-2 Swansea City and Gracia’s comments

Gracia plans to talk with Pozzo after Swansea defeat

Why does Javi Gracia want talks with Gino Pozzo? And what next?

BBC: Swansea City claimed a rare away victory as second-half goals from Marko Stamenic and Josh Key saw Watford lose further ground in the Championship play-off race.

Sky: Watford, by contrast, have not won a Championship match since New Year’s Day and played the final four minutes of injury time with 10 men after Nestory Irankunda was sent off for pushing Liam Cullen to the ground.

Fran’s Watford Blog: On Sunday morning the news came that Javi had resigned. I am very sad to see him go, but it was not a great surprise as he has clearly been unhappy in recent weeks. We have to thank him for the great run that we went on towards the end of last year and some of the most enjoyable football we have seen in a while. He leaves with my good wishes and will always be given a warm welcome at the Vic.

24th January 2026- Championship, Blackburn Rovers 1 Watford 1

Watford Observer: Preview: Blackburn face injury problems and fan boycott for Watford clash

Match Wrap: Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Watford – Watford FCDownload

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY AS IT HAPPENED: Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Watford

Match Report: Watford draw 1-1 again at Blackburn

Gracia rues ‘soft’ defending after fast start and explains tactical approach

Gracia hopes for signings and injury doubts delayed Baah sub

No risk was taken with Vata and update on Louza and Pollock

It’s time for Watford to flex their muscles after sticky week

Ngakia ‘couldn’t believe’ he was handed Watford captaincy

BBC: Having dominated the opening stages, Edo Kayembe drove home to give Watford the lead, but just two minutes later Blackburn hit back courtesy of Lewis Miller.

Sky: The clash against the Hornets marked the start of a “phased strategic boycott of home fixtures” organised by the Blackburn Rovers Supporters Coalition aimed at forcing Venky’s to sell the club.

Fran’s Watford Blog: The Rovers fans had decided to boycott this game as a protest against their owners, so the stadium was eerily empty. I had listened to their grievances and, while their owners are not particularly engaged, their actions have not been particularly egregious, so I decided not to participate in the boycott myself.

From the Rookery End: Mike, Jon and Watford Observer reporter Adam Drury sit down after a frustrating week that saw Watford held to two 1–1 draws – first at home to Portsmouth, then away at Blackburn.

21st January 2026- Championship, Watford 1 Portsmouth 1

Watford Observer: Gracia pleased to have another home game so quickly after Millwall loss

Watford aiming to ‘take each game by the scruff of the neck’

https://www.watfordfc.com/supporters/digital-digests

Match Wrap: Watford 1-1 Portsmouth – Watford FCDownload

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

Five talking points after Watford held by Pompey

Match Report: Doumbia equalises but Watford held to Pompey point

WATCH: Immediate reaction to Watford 1-1 Portsmouth

Gracia ‘very upset and disappointed’ with Portsmouth performance

Gracia confirms Chakvetadze sub was tactical but Pollock had muscle issue

BBC: Portsmouth climbed out of the Championship relegation zone, despite being denied a rare Vicarage Road victory by Watford substitute Mamadou Doumbia.

Sky: Adrian Segecic put Portsmouth ahead in the 73rd minute but Watford levelled through substitute Mamadou Doumbia six minutes later.

17th January 2026- Championship, Watford 0 Millwall 2

This game was designated as the annual Graham Taylor Matchday.

Watford Observer: ‘Expect them to press high’: Millwall reporter previews game at Watford

Millwall preview: Watford must prove they are here to stay on big afternoon

Team news: Gracia on Chakvetadze’s fitness and Formose Mendy’s playing prospects

Gracia on Graham Taylor: ‘Not just what he did, but the way he did it’

https://www.watfordfc.com/supporters/digital-digests

Match Wrap: Watford 0-2 Millwall – Watford FCDownload

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY AS IT HAPPENED: Watford 0-2 Millwall

Five talking points as Hornets beaten by Lions

Match Report: Watford’s unbeaten home run ended by 2-0 Millwall defeat

Watford ‘have to learn’ about physical side of the game

Gracia on Millwall defeat: ‘We couldn’t find a way to play our football’

BBC: Millwall striker Josh Coburn came off the bench to score his second Championship goal of the season as the Lions beat promotion rivals Watford at Vicarage Road.

Sky: Femi Azeez returned to the club which once released him to inspire Millwall to a 2-0 victory over promotion rivals Watford at Vicarage Road.

Fran’s Watford Blog: Then there was a bizarre incident after a defensive header dropped for De Norre whose shot was flying well wide of the target when the ball boy decided to run on to the pitch to retrieve the ball right in front of the Millwall fans. The visitors were awarded a drop ball allowing Ivanovich a shot that flew wide of the target. The home fans started chanting “one of our own” at the ball boy, which I found a bit strange as his actions had ensured that the visitors regained possession. Meanwhile, the travelling Millwall support were giving him grief, so he was eventually moved to a safer space in front of the SEJ stand. This move was greeted with a chant of “We want our ball boy back” from the Millwall fans.

From the Rookery End: Mike, Jas and DCW headed to the Mad Squirrel to have a beer and look back at Watford’s 2–0 home defeat to Millwall, another miserable afternoon against the Lions and yet more frustration for the Hornets. They discuss how the momentum built over Christmas appears to have vanished, whether any players came out of the performance with credit, and what it all means as the January transfer window continues to tick on.