Monthly Archives: November 2019

30th November 2019- Premier League, Southampton 2 Watford 1

Referee:Michael Oliver Attendance:26,929

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Match Report: Southampton 2-1 Watford

Watford beaten by Southampton in relegation scrap

Watford’s survival hopes take major blow with Southampton defeat

VAR officials were not given angle to disallow Southampton handball, claim Watford

Quique Sanchez Flores ‘not sure’ if he will keep Watford job

Watford players rated after being turned over by Southampton

Will Hughes ‘disappointed’ by inconsistent VAR after Watford lose to Southampton

Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores said he “suffers” for the fans, players and owner after defeat at fellow strugglers Southampton.

Both teams were languishing at the bottom of the table heading into the vital game at St Mary’s, and it was Watford who got themselves ahead in the first half as Ismaila Sarr (24) coolly finished for his first Premier League goal.

Hasenhüttl’s substitutes woke up Southampton, with Sofiane Boufal and Shane Long introduced approaching the hour mark, but in the buildup to Ings’s equaliser Moussa Djenepo appeared guilty of handball. It is understood the Premier League recognises the goal should have been disallowed by the video assistant referee but, at the time, the VAR did not have conclusive evidence; it is understood it took broadcasters eight minutes to find the definitive angle.

It soon got better for the long-suffering home support, who had witnessed just nine home wins in two and half seasons. Hojbjerg charged forward and was clipped just outside the area. Ward-Prowse whipped a 20-yard shot towards the top right corner which Foster could get a hand to, but not keep out.

With family commitments ruling out a trip to St Mary’s, Jon, Jas, Mike and Jordi gathered at Mike’s to watch Watford lose their must win fixture with fellow strugglers Southampton. It’s fair to say any pre-match optimism had well and truly evaporated by the final whistle; download the podcast to see if the team think the Hornet’s survival hopes have disappeared too.

23rd November 2019- Premier League, Watford 0 Burnley 3

Referee: Paul Tierney
Attendance: 19,711

Match Report: Watford 0-3 Burnley

Watford return to foot of Premier League with home loss to Burnley

Watford return to Premier League basement after Burnley loss

Quique Sanchez Flores claims he is ‘not worried’ about his Watford future

Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores praises Craig Dawson’s professionalism

Watford players rated after three goal home defeat to Burnley

Adrian Mariappa feels Burnley scoreline was harsh on Watford

Burnley overcame struggling Watford 3-0 at Vicarage Road to increase the pressure on returning boss Quique Sanchez Flores, whose side are now bottom of the Premier League.

In torrential rain, the Clarets soaked up all the pressure the Hornets had to offer before pouncing early in the second half when Wood hooked home a loose ball from a corner. Barnes scored from the penalty spot with eight minutes left after VAR deemed Jose Holebas had fouled the Burnley forward. James Tarkowski put the gloss on Burnley’s victory late on, forcing home a rebound after his first effort had been well saved by Ben Foster.

This was not exactly what Quique Sánchez Flores had planned. Attempting to avoid the ignominy of becoming the first side in the club’s history to go 11 home league matches without a win, instead the Spaniard could only watch on in despair as Burnley scored three goals without reply in the second half to record their first away victory in the Premier League since April.

The first period had actually been dominated by Watford but their lack of killer instinct is a major factor in why they are last. In contrast, Burnley kept it tight then broke their opponents clinically.

The win at Norwich was huge fun and so needed but here’s where we were to get a steer on whether a corner had truly been turned.

There wasn’t much enthusiasm at the end of the game, but Troy did his usual lap of the pitch and was warmly applauded by the few who were still in the ground.

Well. That wasn’t quite what we’d hoped for, was it? Hear how Jon, Mike and Jas react to yet another deeply disappointing afternoon at the Vic, as they try to get their heads round another home game without a win. Luckily, this episode isn’t all about the Burnley game, with interviews with two former Hornerts providing some vital light relief.

http://watford.fcdb.info?s=39630&id=5356

8th November 2019- Premier League, Norwich City 0 Watford 2

Referee: Andre Marriner
Attendance: 27,074

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Match Report: Norwich City 0-2 Watford

Relive our coverage as Watford triumph at Norwich City

Watford beat Norwich City to move off Premier League basement

Watford’s win over Norwich City ‘lifts the pressure’, Quique Sanchez Flores believes

How we scored Watford’s performances in their win at Norwich City

Watford earned their first Premier League win of the season as they moved off the bottom of the table at the expense of opponents Norwich.

Gerard Deulofeu fired the visitors ahead after just 76 seconds but Norwich squandered numerous chances to score before half-time against a Watford side who had kept only one clean sheet on the road in 2019.

Minute by minute

Deulofeu was the architect, sending Alex Tettey to the floor before lofting a cross from the left on to the penalty spot, where Gray was waiting. The striker was marked by Jamal Lewis and, it seemed, tightly enough too. It turned out to be too tight, however, as Gray chose not to take a touch but simply backheel the ball past the full-back and beyond a non-plussed Krul.

Watford went down to ten men for the final quarter of the game, as Christian Kabasele was dismissed for a silly, second yellow card, but they were already 2-0 up and had enough to resist the troubled home side.

There’s no downplaying the tension. They’ve all been big games of course, all must-win games until we win one but coming before against an international break against a struggling opponent… surely now or, you know, if not never then perhaps too late. Significantly some big names are back in training and this announcement had built anticipation over the anxiety… Troy, Caps, Sarr, Seb, of whom Caps starts in midfield and Troy is a very welcome return to the bench. There’s a nervous energy rippling through the away seats.

There were smiles and hugs and celebrations among the Watford fans. We have waited far too long for that victory and it was well deserved. While the game was not a classic, once Watford took the lead we looked comfortable. Deulofeu can be very frustrating, but he took his goal brilliantly and his assist for Gray’s goal was a thing of beauty (very reminiscent of the goal against Wolves in the cup semi-final). It was wonderful to see Capoue back in the team and his presence in the midfield allowed Doucouré to put in his best performance for some time. The defence was solid, and the lads did very well to keep their shape and organisation with only 10 men on the pitch. With Capoue and Deeney both returning to fitness, the future is looking a lot brighter and we can go into the international break feeling much more positive about our prospects for the season.

2nd November 2019- Premier League, Watford 1 Chelsea 2

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Match Report: Watford 1-2 Chelsea

Watford host Chelsea in the Premier League as they look for first victory

Ben Foster almost snatches a dramatic draw for Watford against Chelsea

Watford head coach responds to fans’ booing during Chelsea defeat

Watford players rated after home defeat to Chelsea

Christian Kabasele claims Watford should not have to rely on Ben Foster after Chelsea defeat

Goalkeeper Ben Foster was denied a stunning headed equaliser in stoppage time as Chelsea hung on for victory at Watford to move third in the Premier League.

A spirited goalkeeping performance from Ben Foster – who made no fewer than eight saves – prevented Chelsea from extinguishing Watford’s challenge, which was boosted 10 minutes from time when a controversial VAR-awarded penalty was converted by Gerard Deulofeu.

Given that it was little more than a duel between Ben Foster and Chelsea’s forwards at times, it would have been a strange twist if the goalkeeper had rescued a point for Watford with the game’s final act. They were into the sixth minute of added time when Foster, who had kept his side in it with countless saves, decided to charge forward after Mason Mount conceded a free-kick deep on the left, and it would have been an extraordinary ending if the 36-year-old’s downward header had crept beyond Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Despite their spirited late comeback, Watford remain without a win in 11 league games – 15 going back to last season – and stay at the bottom of the table, so this should have been the perfect fixture to get Frank Lampard’s team back on track after their midweek home defeat by Manchester United in the Carabao Cup.

When we give away a stupid goal after five reasonably positive minutes, albeit a goal carved by a remarkable through ball you can feel the stadium deflate. “Well, that’s that then”, which it sort of was and sort of wasn’t. But what a half-witted way to concede, no wonder Ben Foster screamed with frustration. When you can’t score goals keeping it tight, particularly against an opponent like this one, one that revels in playing away from home, is everything.

We arrived in Vicarage Road to be greeted with a number of touts and one merchandise stand that had exclusively Chelsea scarves and tat, which irritated me immensely.

With two games (and two defeats) to discuss, Jon is joined by Jason, Mike and Colin – each in varying states of distress – to try and make sense of Watford’s increasingly thankless search for a win.