Monthly Archives: August 2021

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.

From the Rookery End: After a respectable 1-0 lose away at Tottenham Hotspur, Jon, Mike and Jason talk through a far more postive performance than 7 days ago in Brighton. With changes across the team the boys reflect on the strengths and weaknesses but find themselves in a better place than last weekend.

24th August 2021- League Cup Second Round, Watford 1 Crystal Palace 0

WFC.NET Jon Marks goal commentary: 1

Attendance: 9,011

BBC Sport: Watford, who only had one shot in the first half, improved after the break with Troost-Ekong and Hernandez both having chances before the latter found space down the left swing, cut back and curled over a delightful cross for Fletcher, who joined the club on a free transfer after leaving Middlesbrough this summer, to poke home.

Official site: Supporters enjoyed the first fixture under the lights of the new campaign, and although there wasn’t much action to speak of until the finish, a positive atmosphere buzzed around Vicarage Road throughout.

BHappy: I’d resigned myself to penalties, I suspect I wasn’t the only one… gazing across the pitch and wondering who might be up for a spot kick when suddenly one of those breaks connected, like a misfiring engine that suddenly, unexpectedly, clicks into gear.  Rose fed Cucho on the left, the Colombian cut a tremendous cross through to the far post where Fletcher was hurtling in to tuck the ball home.  The vigour of the celebration testified to the popularity of the goalscorer in the dressing room – whatever his future involvement there are worse ways to debut than scoring a late winner against Palace.

From the Rookery End: As Watford defeat Crystal Palace in the League Cup, Jon, Mike and DCW look at the player who impressed and who might be staking a claim for a starting spot in the Premier League.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021%E2%80%9322_EFL_Cup

21st August 2021- Premier League, Brighton & Hove Albion 2 Watford 0

Of course we didn’t know it at the time but this was Troy Deeney’s last appearance for Watford.

Attendance: 29.405

BBC Sport: The Hornets set the tone for a sloppy performance from the start, managing just two touches from kick-off before giving the ball away, and they produced only one shot on target in the entire game.

Sky Sports: Ismaila Sarr – so impressive in Watford’s win over Aston Villa – flashed a strike from 20 yards over the crossbar but it was a rare moment of worry for the Brighton defence with their play in the final third creating ample opportunities in and around the box.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58193436

BHappy: We play a major role in our own downfall, contributing to both goals; nonetheless, we’ve got away with 2-0 at the interval.  The first comes from Shane Duffy, an old-school centre half who feels like he’s been on borrowed time since Albion were promoted, a championship-style defender in a Premier League side.  However many years on and despite a year out last year he’s still borrowing time, demonstrating that a bit of brutality has a place and a role in a three-man defence flanked by the ability of Webster and Dunk.  All the more so when he rises virtually unopposed to head a popular opener in off the underside of the bar from a left wing corner.  Dad, watching on TV, reports a healthy hand of Emmanuel Dennis’ shirt on the part of the Irish centre-back to which my response would be, why wasn’t Dennis kneeing him in the balls to hamper his ascent?  That’s going to happen.  Perhaps less so if it’s a big brute of a Chilean centre-back up against Duffy;  easy to be smart after the event, but this is an opponent, given Brighton’s threat at set pieces, that had Sierralta’s name all over it.

From the Rookery End: An optimistic pre-game drive soon turned into a post match post mortem, with Mike and Jon joined by Jacob Culshaw as they dissected a disjointed Watford display.

14th August 2021- Premier League, Watford 3 Aston Villa 2

At half time NHS staff who worked at Watford General Hospital during the pandemic did a lap of honour around the pitch and were applauded by both sets of supporters.

WFC Net Jon Marks goal commentary: 1 2 3

BBC Sport: Watford marked their Premier League return with a thrilling opening-day victory over Aston Villa at Vicarage Road.

Sky Sports: After bouncing straight back up to the Premier League, Watford were full of life in the first half, taking the lead through debutant Emmanuel Dennis’ low effort (10), before Ismaila Sarr’s deflected shot off Tyrone Mings put them 2-0 up before the break (42).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58124896

BHappy: By half time, the sun is properly out.  Which is how opening day should be, of course.  There are 200 hospital staff circuiting the pitch to a prolonged standing ovation from all four sides of the ground.  “Song for Guy” plays as the faces of those lost over the pandemic by both club and hospital appear on the screen.  There is a deluge of specks in eyes, odd for a still afternoon.

From the Rookery End: First impressions last and what an impression the debutants for Watford made against Aston Villa. Jason, Mike and Jon are back for a 12th season of podcasting about Watford and they gathered on Sunday to discuss the incredible win, the stand out goals and how a bunch of Watford fans beliefs can change in a matter of…. minutes.

7th August 2021- Friendly, Crystal Palace 3 Watford 1

Official site: Watford’s pre-season schedule ended in defeat at Selhurst Park, as goals from Wilfried Zaha and a late Christian Benteke header sealed victory for Crystal Palace.

Palace official site: Watford did manage to pull one back when substitute Troy Deeney curled an effort in via a deflection to earn his side a consolation.