Monthly Archives: January 2019

30th January 2019- Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur 2 Watford 1

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The game was played at Wembley Stadium as Spurs’ new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium still wasn’t ready to open.

Referee:
Graham Scott
Attendance:
29,164

Watford lose 2-1 to Tottenham Hotspur after taking a first half lead

Watford see advantage slip as Tottenham Hotspur claim late win

Tottenham Hotspur vs Watford: Javi Gracia rues not adding to points tally

Watford’s players rated from their 2-1 defeat at Wembley against Tottenham Hotspur

Ben Foster thinks Watford deserved more after disappointing defeat at Tottenham Hotspur

Javi Gracia has said Watford striker Isaac Success should ‘behave better’ after ball boy incident at Wembley

Such is the media obsession with the ‘big six’ that the following four reports barely contain a mention of us.

Watford were a little more than 10 minutes away from their first league double over Tottenham.

Late goals from Heung-Min Son and Fernando Llorente rescued a tough week for Tottenham with a 2-1 comeback win over Watford. Watford took advantage of a Spurs side looking jaded after exiting both domestic cup competitions in the space of four days when Craig Cathcart bundled home from a corner (37).

As Javi Gracia said, his side “missed a very good chance to get points against a very good team” and while the visitors were second best in terms of possession and territory, they arguably deserved a draw given the togetherness they showed throughout. Instead they remain ninth having lost for the first time in 2019.

26th January 2019- FA Cup Fourth Round, Newcastle United 0 Watford 2

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Referee:
David Coote
Attendance:
34,604
Goal 1
Goal 2

RELIVE:Watford progress to FA Cup fifth round with win away at Newcastle United

Watford through to the FA Cup fifth round with victory over Newcastle United

Javi Gracia wants Watford to progress in the FA Cup after beating Newcastle United

Performances rated as Watford defeat Newcastle United in the FA Cup

Andre Gray says Europe is a real possibility after win over Newcastle United

Watford head coach Javi Gracia happy for all his players after FA Cup victory over Newcastle United

Andre Gray and Isaac Success were on target as Watford edged past Newcastle to reach the FA Cup fifth round.

As he had done in the previous round, Watford boss Javi Gracia made 11 changes for the trip to St James’ Park but saw his understudies outplay Rafael Benitez’s reshuffled side, whose record of not having made it past the fourth round since 2006 remains painfully intact.

Watford at least had the wherewithal to find a couple of decent passes after the interval, which led to the decisive goals. From the first, delivered by the clever left foot of Will Hughes, Andre Gray rattled in a low shot just past the hour. From the second, supplied by the lively Domingos Quina, Isaac Success tapped in at the far post as the clock ticked on to 90 minutes.

As we sat down with our drinks for the post-match analysis, the most astute observation was that it appeared that two moments of quality from a different match had been inserted into a dreadful game.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018%E2%80%9319_FA_Cup

Watford’s road to the FA Cup final: A fourth round triumph on Tyneside

19th January 2019- Premier League, Watford 0 Burnley 0

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Watford continue their unbeaten run in 2019 with 0-0 draw against Burnley

Adrian Mariappa has hopes of playing in Europe with Watford

Watford vs Burnley: Javi Gracia disappointed with Hornets’ attacking play

RATINGS: Who shone in Watford’s goalless draw against Burnley

A selection of images from Watford’s draw with Burnley

Chris Wood saw an injury-time goal controversially ruled out for offside as Watford and Burnley failed to conjure a winner in a disappointing goalless draw at Vicarage Road.

Both teams had chances to score and the home side could have taken the lead as early as the second minute but Heaton denied Gerard Deulofeu with his right foot after the forward went through on goal. Heaton was called into action once more on the stroke of half-time when he dived to his right to parry Troy Deeney’s crisp side-footed effort to safety.

Sean Dyche, back on his old stamping ground where he spent three seasons as a player before cutting his teeth in management on the day home supporters honoured the memory of Graham Taylor, could afford a smile at the final whistle despite seeing Chris Wood’s goal ruled out for offside in added time.

The highlight of the day was the GT stuff, quite obviously. Two years on the club provides all attendees with a drinks voucher, then orchestrates another tremendous scarf display as the players enter the arena. This might have been more effective still but for the unwanted, unneeded and sadly non-negotiable twaddle that is the Premier League anthem as the players solemnly shake hands. It could have been so much more than a stunning visual spectacle. But it is a stunning visual spectacle. There are scarves aloft in the away end too – Claret and Blue stands out a little less than Southampton’s red and white of a year ago, but it’s still a fine thing.

As the teams took the field, the crowd (including a number of Burnley fans) raised their scarves in honour of GT (the fellow next to me was given my spare so he could join in).  It really was quite a sight.  That was followed by a minute’s applause for both GT and Duncan Welbourne who passed away this week.  Chopper’s family were guests of honour of the club for the afternoon.

At half time, the family of Thomas Sawyer, a young soldier who was killed in Afghanistan 10 years ago, were on the pitch and Thomas’s father paid heartfelt tribute to his son.  Then, as the players came out for the second half, the 1881 lads unfurled the Legends banner which we held over our heads in the Rookery in the knowledge that it features both GT and Duncan Welbourne.  Both events were touching tributes and a clear sign that the club has not lost its community focus.

Tributes to GT- two years on

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Javi Graci pays tribute to Watford legend Graham Taylor

https://twitter.com/LBliss8/status/1084011463583375360
https://twitter.com/The1881_wfc/status/1084022511166255104

12th January 2019- Premier League, Crystal Palace 1 Watford 2

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Programme images courtesy of Matt Hall

Referee:
Paul Tierney
Attendance:
25,010

Jon Marks BBC 3CR commentary   Goals: 1  2

Relive our coverage of Watford’s victory at Crystal Palace in the Premier League

Watford come from behind to beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace vs Watford: Javi Gracia praises character and ambition after victory

RATINGS: How did Watford perform in their away win at Crystal Palace?

Tom Cleverley speaks after Watford win at Crystal Palace

Five positives after Watford win at Crystal Palace

Watford defender Craig Cathcart sees the funny side of Crystal Palace own goal

A selection of images from Watford’s win at Crystal Palace

Tom Cleverley’s superb second-half volley helped Watford come from behind to beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

A huge scramble in the Watford area saw the ball turned home by Craig Cathcart’s thigh (38) to put Crystal Palace ahead, with goal-line technology confirming it had gone over the line. But the defender redeemed himself in the 67th minute as he nodded home the Watford equaliser before a wonderful volley from Tom Cleverley (74) completed the comeback and handed the visitors the victory.

Watford have now won 16 points away from Vicarage Road, which is a greater haul than they managed on the road last season.

It’s tempting to say that we would have lost this last season.  In fact we DID lose this last season.  And the season before.  And coulda, shoulda this time too.  But there’s more to us now…  good enough that our bad days aren’t that bad, good enough that when we flame on we’re irresistible, plenty enough to blow Palace, albeit a blunt, stunted Palace, right out of the sky.

Back home watching Match of the Day I notice, during the interview with Javi Gracia, that he is wearing a Graham Taylor matchday badge on his jacket.  I must admit that made me cry.  Javi has been a joy since he arrived at Vicarage Road.  His football is enjoyable and his conduct is exemplary.  I think that GT would have loved him and, from me, there can be no higher praise.

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=2019-01-12
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/premier-league/12-january-2019/