Monthly Archives: April 2022

30th April 2022- Premier League, Watford 1 Burnley 2

WFC.Net goal commentary: 1

Attendance: 20,738

BBC Sport: Burnley scored twice in the final seven minutes to complete a dramatic comeback that pulled them five points clear of the Premier League relegation zone and left hosts Watford on the brink of the drop.

Sky Sports: Norwich, who lost 2-0 at Aston Villa, were relegated as a result of the Clarets’ late turnaround as Watford became the first side in top-flight history to lose 11 consecutive home league games and are now 12 points adrift of safety with four matches to play.

The Guardian: Ray Lewington, Watford’s assistant manager, said: “There’s a massive fear factor here, which we’ve found since we came in, particularly at home, and that comes from losing matches. We really wanted to do something to help the club out of the bottom three but it’s not happened.”

BHappy: The foot has been on the gas since the start but on seven minutes Kiko sends in a deep cross, Samir can’t quite get his head on it but Kucka is lurking at the far post.  What transpires is only clear from the replay – the Slovak takes a touch and then clubs the ball against the bar; it deserves a goal and gets it with a helpful rebound off Tarkowski.  Conveniently a minute’s recognition in memory of young Jasper Cook follows within 30 seconds – rarely has such a tribute been echoed so forcefully.

Fran’s Watford Blog: Then, on 83 minutes, the visitors drew level when a cross from Taylor was met by a diving header from Cork that beat Foster.  They scored a second a couple of minutes later as a free kick fell to Brownhill who beat Foster from the edge of the box.  

23rd April 2022- Premier League, Manchester City 5 Watford 1

WFC.Net goal commentary: 1

Attendance: 53,013

BBC Sport: Watford tried their best, but they were outclassed by a rampant City team and remain anchored in the bottom three, seven points adrift of safety.

Sky Sports: It looked like the hosts would run away with the first half once again when Jesus scored his first goal inside four minutes. City scored five goals in the first 18 minutes when Watford last visited the Etihad in September 2019.

The Guardian: City could have been rampant from this juncture but fell asleep. Hassane Kamara initiated a move he would finish, taking a ball from Dennis that punched a hole in the home defence after Rúben Dias was dragged out wide on the left. When Kamara struck, Guardiola did the same to the turf in the technical area, hitting the grass with a fist.

BHappy: Briefly, the mood changes.  The course of the afternoon no longer seems mapped out… this is a competitive encounter all of a sudden.  Only for six minutes as it turns out, but it’s a decent six minutes – we’ve taken some blows but thrown some punches ourselves, not rolled over, and one has landed.  If you’re looking for evidence of life, here it is right here. 

Fran’s Watford Blog: The travelling Hornets then regaled the home fans with a chorus of “You’re not singing anymore.”  Normal activity resumed soon after as a corner came out to Jesus on the edge of the area, but he shot over the bar.  City restored their two-goal advantage after 34 minutes when Jesus found Rodri just outside the box from where he powered a shot past Foster.

16th April 2022- Premier League, Watford 1 Brentford 2

WFC.Net goal commentary: 1

Attendance: 20,747

BBC Sport: Pontus Jansson’s last-minute header broke Watford hearts and gave Brentford a third successive Premier League win for the first time.

Sky Sports: Emmanuel Dennis had brought Watford level 10 minutes into the second half following Christian Norgaard’s 15th-minute opener. The home side then nearly won it in the 92nd minute as Imran Louza put the rebound over, following Josh King’s shot that had hit the post.

The Guardian: Not since Birmingham’s class of 1986 has a team in England’s top four divisions suffered 10 successive league defeats at home and Watford now trail Everton by six points, having played two games more. “It’s very hard to take,” said Roy Hodgson, who has yet to pick up a point in five matches at Vicarage Road. “We have to keep believing but who knows what can happen?”

BHappy: Since we beat Manchester United we’ve had all manner of what mere mortals might simply call a “home defeat”.  The hard-fought and unfortunate (Chelsea), the gutsy and worthy in which less than a thrashing feels like an accomplishment (City), the cruel suggestion of success disintegrating into humiliation (West Ham) all the way to the haplessly incompetent, banging our heads against the flimsiest of brick walls before falling over exhausted and letting inept opponents march all over us (Norwich, Leeds).  We’ll have names for all of these one day, or just grimaces that every Hornet will understand and anyone else will regard as simply what Watford supporters look like.

Fran’s Watford Blog: I arrived at the ground just in time to see Heurelho Gomes being interviewed.  It was his first chance to return to the club and say goodbye to the fans after leaving the club during lockdown.  His comments were as warm and lovely as you would expect, and it was great to remember happier times on the pitch.

9th April 2022- Premier League, Watford 0 Leeds United 3

Attendance: 20,957

BBC Sport: Raphinha’s fierce left-footed strike from the edge of the area gave the visitors the lead after the Hornets had twice gone close through Imran Louza and Cucho Hernandez.

Sky Sports: Rodrigo capitalised on a calamitous mix-up involving Watford defenders Hassane Kamara and Samir to double Leeds’ advantage 17 minutes from time, before Jack Harrison put the win beyond doubt with a rasping drive into the far corner (85).

The Guardian: Roy Hodgson has never been relegated as a Premier League manager but his unblemished record is in grave danger with Watford facing demotion to the Championship after their ninth successive home defeat. Hodgson always knew the odds were stacked against him after returning to the dugout to replace Claudio Ranieri in January but this heavy loss leaves them needing a miracle.

BHappy: This is supposed to be fun, right? I’m only asking because, you know, it’s been a while since this was fun hasn’t it?  At least at home?

2nd April 2022- Premier League, Liverpool 2 Watford 0

Attendance: 53,104

BBC Sport: Joao Pedro wasted a glorious chance to equalise in the second half as Watford remain third from bottom, three points from safety.

Sky Sports: Jota scored his seventh header for Liverpool, more than any other player has scored in the league since his Reds debut, with Joe Gomez to thank for a perfectly measured cross from the right which the Portuguese glanced past Ben Foster. Fabinho made no mistake from the penalty spot late on to ensure Liverpool, who were 14 points adrift in January, temporarily moved two points ahead of Manchester City before Pep Guardiola’s side won at Burnley.

The Guardian: The early kick-off could not dampen the heightened expectation inside Anfield as Liverpool looked to increase the pressure on City. But Watford would make life difficult. Their three clean sheets in the league this season have all come on Roy Hodgson’s watch and with his trusted assistant Ray Lewington alongside him the former Liverpool manager oversaw a typically well-drilled defensive display. The visitors possessed a clear threat, too, on the break and from set-pieces and performed with a composure that belied their lowly league position of 18th.

BHappy: Team selection is influenced, almost certainly, by the physical consequences of a heavy programme of international duty including plenty of key World Cup qualifiers and far too much extra time for anyone’s liking.  Emmanuel Dennis and Joshua King are on the bench, for instance, whilst Peter Etebo and William Troost-Ekong don’t even make it that far.  That aside there remains evidence of Roy having established a set of key personnel; pejoratively you might call them “favourites”,  Cucho, Kabasele, and even Kucka and João Pedro are more prominent – game triers all – whilst Shaq Forde has been singled out amongst the youngsters. I’ve not seen enough of Shaq to comment but whether his judgement proves sound on not it’s a Good Thing that Roy’s perspective is broad enough to make one despite his presumed summer departure.