Monthly Archives: April 2018

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

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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

Watford: Javi Gracia laments missed chances after Tottenham Hotspur defeat

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

Harry 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.

Spurs 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.

Kieran Trippier’s cross should have been easy for Karnezis, but the Watford keeper spilt the ball, Christian Eriksen toed it into the path of Alli, who produced a composed finish.

The 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.

It’s always a special occasion to watch Watford play at Wembley. It’s just nice to see us lose to someone other than Crystal Palace there for a change.

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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

Wilfried 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.

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

Last season, Watford mascot Harry the Hornet mocked Zaha by diving in front of him at the end of a league match at Vicarage Road.

Watford’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.

Key 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.

It 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.

Whilst we go another game without a win, we did at least see a bit of fight and spirit and a much better performance than recent weeks. With safety all but confirmed that’s all we ask for during the run-in and we got that during this game.

An enjoyable 0-0, which puts Watford on 38 points. Jon, Jas and Mike gather to converse about the game, the 4-4-2, the returning centre backs and if having two up front made a difference. There’s a report from Russia, DCW is over there ahead of the World Cup with work, and they discuss longer managers.

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14th April 2018- Premier League, Huddersfield Town 1 Watford 0

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Watford Observer

RELIVE: Huddersfield Town v Watford: Last-minute Tom Ince winner condemns Hornets to latest late defeat

Tom Ince’s 90th-minute winner condemns Watford to Huddersfield Town defeat

Watford’s Javi Gracia believes his players deserve better after Huddersfield Town defeat

Watford player ratings: Craig Cathcart the pick in late Huddersfield Town defeat

Watford: Javi Gracia has no doubt about Craig Cathcart’s ‘level’

Craig Cathcart: Watford defender pleased to start despite Huddersfield Town loss

Tom Ince scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Huddersfield beat Watford 1-0 to move seven points clear of the relegation zone.

Watford keeper Orestis Karnezis had been a virtual spectator before the goal, and his side perhaps deserved a point that would have eased any lingering fears the 12th-placed Hornets have of being dragged back into trouble.

Theoretically Javi Gracia’s men are not out of the relegation woods themselves but they started here as if convinced they were already safe in practical terms. A ridiculous five-minute spell from Roberto Pereyra summed up most of the first half. In the 27th minute he took their first corner and hit it straight out of play. Ninety seconds later he did exactly the same thing. And soon after that he was booked for diving.

It was the second time in three matches that Watford have lost points to goals in stoppage time, having conceded an equaliser against Bournemouth in time added.

Huddersfield doesn’t look like Watford, feel like Watford, smell like Watford. For one thing it’s tentatively and occasionally gloriously sunny as we arrive, which is something that Watford hasn’t been on matchday for a while. For another it’s, like, hilly and that. Daughter 1 blinks away her sleepiness as we emerge from the car… “is this really Yorkshire?”, as if we were in Narnia or Magrathea.

It was another very frustrating afternoon for Watford fans. Our team had certainly been better in the second half, but it was hard to argue that we deserved anything out of the game. Huddersfield seemed to want it more, even if they did have only the one shot on target.

Watford were toothless, pathetic even. We had four shots the entire game and just two on target. The lone striker isn’t working anymore. Deeney can win aerial duels but then he has no one running onto his knockdowns. When he doesn’t win aerial duels however we have no back up, to have three strikers we haven’t been able to score consistently all season or in some cases be given the chance is incredibly frustrating.

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7th April 2018- Premier League, Watford 1 Burnley 2

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clips of Jon Marks BBC 3CR commentary Goals: 1

Watford Observer

RELIVE – Watford vs Burnley: Quickfire double turns Premier League clash on its head

Sam Vokes substitution pivotal as Watford beaten by Burnley

Sean Dyche reflects on Burnley’s win over Watford

Watford boss disappointed by defensive shortcomings after Burnley defeat

Watford player ratings: Roberto Pereyra on song as defenders come up short in Burnley loss

GALLERY: A selection of images from Watford’s defeat to Burnley

Watford vs Burnley: Lack of concentration cost Hornets in loss, says Adrian Mariappa

Sam Vokes’ goal 22 seconds after coming on inspired Burnley to a 2-1 turnaround win at Watford.

Watford, who had gone ahead just after the hour mark through Roberto Pereyra, drop a place to 12th despite dominating possession and creating more clear-cut scoring opportunities at Vicarage Road.

“We dominated the game, we had more shots on target but it wasn’t enough,” said Javi Gracia. “We should have killed the game.”

It meant Dyche could enjoy victory against the club where he started his coaching career before they questionably let him slip.

As at all Premier League grounds, there was a minute’s applause for Ray Wilkins, whose passing at the ridiculously young age of 61 hit me rather hard. His time at Vicarage Road was not one that is remembered fondly by Watford fans, but when I met him at the kit sponsors do, I found him to be a lovely man (unlike Vialli). It was pleasing that the applause in his memory started well before it was instructed.

Onto Huddersfield next week then and you’ll all be pleased to know that it isn’t classed as the North West, so there’s the slim chance we might win.

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