28th November 2021- Premier League, Leicester City 4 Watford 2 WFC.Net Jon Marks Goal Commentary: 1 2 Attendance: 34,310 BBC Sport: Jamie Vardy scored twice as Leicester beat Watford in a hugely entertaining match to ruin Claudio Ranieri’s return to the King Power Stadium. Sky Sports: The former Leicester boss, who led the club to the Premier League title in 2016, was given a hero’s welcome by the home fans before the game, but his side were behind in the 16th minute after James Maddison capitalised on an error from William Ekong. BHappy: Our response to this setback, and to the start of the second half, and the fact that we were still pushing at the end of the game are big positives. If, from the point at which Maddison scored, it rarely felt that we were quite on the edge of turning Leicester over it was never quite out of reach either. Compare and contrast with any number of our preceding defeats when a goal might not have arrived if offered infinite hours, a written invitation and an armed escort. Fran’s Watford Blog: The Hornets had another chance to draw level when a Cleverley free kick to the back post was met by the head of Masina but his effort was wide of the target. At the other end, the home side had a chance to increase their lead when Castagne crossed for Vardy who headed over the bar. The Hornets should have been level after a brilliant strike from Hernández, but it was deflected off the inside of the post and Schmeichel gathered. The equaliser had been coming and it came from the penalty spot. Dennis had received a ball from King and broke into the box where he was tripped by Ndidi and the referee pointed to the spot. Schmeichel employed considerable gamesmanship in questioning the referee and delaying the spot kick. We speculated on who would take it. The consensus was King, who took penalties at Bournemouth and is from Norway so not fazed by snow. Sure enough, he stepped up and took a lovely penalty into the corner to beat Schmeichel. Share this:TwitterFacebook
20th November 2021- Premier League, Watford 4 Manchester United 1 WFC.Net Jon Marks Goal Commentary: 1 2 3 4 BBC Sport: Harry Maguire was sent off as beleaguered Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer suffered more misery in an emphatic defeat at Watford. Sky Sports: United could easily have been behind inside six minutes after Scott McTominay’s clumsy foul on Josh King gave Watford an early penalty, but Kiko Femenia’s goal on the rebound from Ismaila Sarr’s saved spot-kick was ruled out for encroachment, and Sarr was again denied by De Gea from the retake. BHappy: You don’t get to fail to convert a penalty once against United let alone twice and still expect it to be your day. They were poor, poor penalties too and Isma’s longevity in this role has to be questioned. The second had been necessitated after Kiko encroached before joyfully converting the rebound off the first, the inevitability of celebrations being terminated clear as soon as the exemplary Jonathan Moss put his finger to his ear. As United cleared the rebound off the second we exhaled and waited for the sucker punch. Fran’s Watford Blog: The Hornets took the lead just before the half hour mark, an attempted clearance by Wan-Bissaka dropped to Dennis who cut the ball back for King whose shot beat De Gea to send the Watford faithful wild. It was a lead that the Hornets thoroughly deserved. The Vicarage Road faithful greeted the goal with an ironic chorus of “Ole’s at the Wheel.” The Guardian:In a rare moment of note at the other end Foster repelled a half-volley from Marcus Rashford, who joined McTominay in departing halfway through. But Watford, spurred by the surges of Moussa Sissoko and cleverly prompted by the young midfielder Imran Louza, could have scored at least once more before Sarr exploited acres of space on the right of the box to arrow a thrilling finish into the far corner. De Gea will be vexed that Pedro, a substitute, shot through him but was beaten more comprehensively from an angle by the superb Dennis. Watford departed to cheers and a sense that, having lifted them four points clear of the relegation zone, Claudio Ranieri is capable of keeping them up. Share this:TwitterFacebook
7th November 2021- Premier League, Arsenal 1 Watford 0 Attendance: 59,833 BBC Sport: Watford manager Claudio Ranieri accused Arsenal’s players of showing a lack of respect as the Gunners claimed a narrow victory in manager Mikel Arteta’s 100th match in charge. Sky Sports: Watford boss Ranieri, who had stern words for Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta at full-time, was critical of Arsenal afterwards but also said the challenge on Sarr merited a foul. Jamie Redknapp says Arsenal should have given the ball back to Watford in the build-up to their goal and sided with cross Hornets boss Claudio Ranieri. BHappy: Tufan wasn’t badly hurt, his subsequent removal almost certainly tactical. As the ball went out he was already rising to his feet and declining what looked like an offer of medical attention from the official, something which rather spoils the subsequent “yes but they were just wasting time” justifications overheard in queues for the tube. Watford anticipated the ball being returned and Arsenal didn’t do so. Not only that, but they took a quick throw with the defence not set up, further capitalising on the confusion. Friend should perhaps have pulled them up, but the act wasn’t his – this was cheap, classless opportunism on Arsenal’s part. The ball worked its way across the box (via a collision involving Sarr, prompting optimistic calls for a foul on the Watford winger) and Smith-Rowe, perhaps the best outfield player on the afternoon, struck home. Frans’ Watford Blog: Arsenal took the lead after a pass from Kucka reached White, he rode a couple of challenges then came up against Sissoko, who made the tackle but the ball dropped kindly for Smith Rowe who fired past Foster from the edge of the box. There were bitter complaints from the Watford players as the move had started following a throw-in after the Hornets put the ball out for an injury, the Arsenal players did not return the ball, but the Hornets managed to regain it until Sarr was knocked down in the build-up, this was not deemed to be a foul and, despite the protests, the goal stood. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59107413 Share this:TwitterFacebook
