Monthly Archives: January 2025

25th January 2025- Championship, Coventry City 2 Watford 1

In the days leading up to the game there were media reports that former Villarreal coach Jose Rojo Martin had been approached to replace Tom Cleverley as Head Coach. Watford fans took to social media in their thousands to show their support for Tom which resulted in a statement being released from Gino Pozzo giving his continued backing to our Head Coach.

https://x.com/WatfordFC/status/1883089931188498932

Watford Observer: Pozzo: ‘We are committed to support’ Cleverley

WFC.Net goal commentary: 1

Report: Coventry City 2-1 Watford – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Two goals from Victor Torp were enough for Coventry to see off Watford and deny a spirited comeback for the Hornets.

Sky: Liam Kitching’s own goal gave the visitors hope but they were unable to force an equaliser.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Coventry 2 Watford 1

Coventry 2 Watford 1 minute-by-minute report

The words of support are fine, but actions will speak far louder

Fran’s Watford Blog: Tom and the players came over to applaud the travelling fans. Usually, they come over in their own time and applaud us but on this occasion the players all lined up behind Tom and applauded us for a considerable time. It was an impressive show of solidarity behind their head coach and was really rather moving.

From the Rookery End: After a tumultuous week (even by Watford standards!) Mike and Jon got their heads together to work thorough the events of the last few days in the world of Watford.

21st January 2025- Championship, Watford 1 Preston North End 2

WFC.Net goal commentary: 1

Report: Watford 1-2 Preston North End – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Milutin Osmajic’s double earned Preston only their second away win of the season and denied Watford the chance to move into the Championship play-off places.

Sky: The loss was a third straight home defeat for the Hornets, despite Rocco Vata’s late reply.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Watford 1 Preston 2

Five talking points as Hornets lose third straight home game

Watford 1 Preston 2 minute-by-minute report

‘We are a very inconsistent football team’ – Cleverley

Watford need more reliable performers and less mavericks says Cleverley

Aimless performance in a season where we don’t know what the aims really are

Fran’s Watford Blog: Tom Cleverley was given a very warm reception as he applauded the crowd at the end, but it had been a terrible performance. The early injury to Baah had an impact on the game as a lot of our attacking threat disappeared when he left the field. But it was disappointing to see the players so passive allowing the opposition to completely dominate the game. The Hornets really didn’t get going until very late on. Again, Vata scored a terrific goal to warm up the crowd and there was a rally during time added on, but it was too little too late. The misery of the game just compounded the feeling of doom after the rumours the previous week that Cleverley’s job is in danger. I think Tom has done a terrific job with a limited squad. The players have actually looked like a team, and I have been far more entertained this season than I have in recent years. I really hope that Gino keeps faith with Tom, who I believe will go on to have a very successful career in management. If he doesn’t, I fear for our prospects for the rest of the season.


18th January 2025- Championship, Derby County 0 Watford 2

WFC.Net goal commentary: 1  2

Report: Derby County 0-2 Watford – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Imran Louza’s first Watford goal for 18 months helped the Hornets overcome Championship strugglers Derby County to move equal on points with West Brom in the play-off places.

Sky: The home side were left ruing their bad luck after hitting the woodwork three times on a day when little went right for them.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Derby 0 Watford 2

Derby 0 Watford 2 minute-by-minute report

‘Today was a representation that the whole club is still together’

Hamstring issue for Giorgi while Bond injury may expedite keeper search

His staff, the players and the fans – they all care about Tom Cleverley

‘Timing of the second goal was everything we needed’

Cleverley loved Abankwah debut . . . first-minute booking and all!

From the Rookery End: Follow Mike through out his day as he experience the little felt away win, hear the fans clear message for Gino and support of Tom Cleverley as well as much improved performance from the squad. Post Match, Mike catches up with Charlie from WD18 to talk through the match plus we hear from Olly Wicken about what makes an away game even if it doesn’t include a great performance on the pitch.

14th January 2025- Championship, Cardiff City 1 Watford 1

The year shown on the programme is incorrect.

WFC.Net goal commentary: 1

Report: Cardiff City 1-1 Watford – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Watford arrested their four-match losing run in dramatic fashion as Vakoun Bayo’s 87th-minute header snatched a fortuitous draw at relegation-threatened Cardiff City.

Sky: It looked as though Cian Ashford’s 65th-minute goal was going to be enough to earn City their first home win since November 2, but Bayo struck in the 87th minute to stop his side falling to a double defeat to their hosts in a little over two weeks.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Cardiff 1 Watford 1

Cardiff 1 Watford 1 minute-by-minute report

‘Freshness through the door’ will help lift Watford says Cleverley

Cleverley feels ‘it doesn’t take a rocket scientist’ to see signings are needed

From the Rookery End: Mike, Andy and Arlo made the midweek trip across the border to South Wales and saw Watford emerge with a point after a largely miserable performance against relegation strugglers Cardiff City With rumours gathering pace over recent days that Gino might be up to his old tricks again, is it enough to ease the pressure on Tom Cleverley for now? We tackle that thorny issue as well as hearing from a number of, frankly baffled, supporters from other Championship clubs offering their perspective from a distance This is From The Rookery End, Tom Cleverley Ole Ole!

9th January 2025- FA Cup Third Round, Fulham 4 Watford 1

The game was played on a Thursday night for International TV rights holders. In the end only three broadcasters signed up to show the game. Of course we weren’t able to watch it in the UK. Impressively however over 4000 Hornets travelled on a bitterly cold night.

WFC.Net goal commentary: 1

Report: Fulham 4-1 Watford – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Premier League Fulham began their FA Cup campaign with a dominant victory against second-tier Watford to seal a fourth-round spot.

Sky: After a well-worked counter-attack saw Rodrigo Muniz net his first goal of 2025, Rocco Vata scored what will be considered a goal-of-the-competition contender with a thumping long-range effort to draw the sides level.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Fulham 4 Watford 1

Fulham 4 Watford 1 minute-by-minute report

‘We need a club where we are all supporting each other’

Penalty came from a silly challenge, but was Tikvic solely to blame?

A night when the Grand Canyon-sized gap between two divisions was exposed

Massed ranks of travelling fans deserved chance to see best players

BHappy: Roughly two hours later, things are noisier still. Around us, 4200-ish travelling Watford supporters are lost in the glorious afterglow of a 19 year-old winger pinging in a shot from distance to equalise at a Premier League ground. For myself, I have both fists in the air and am bellowing wordlessly into space.

Fran’s Watford Blog: It was a disappointing, but thoroughly deserved, exit from the cup. Fulham completely dominated the game with the only bright spell for the Hornets coming after our goal. As soon as the penalty went in early in the second half, there was only one winner. But it was no disgrace to be beaten by a very good Fulham team. The standout player for the Hornets on the night was Vata who scored a wonder goal that gave us something to cheer on the night and will be rewatched and enjoyed for years to come. One other positive for me was the very brief appearance of Amin Nabizada. He was excellent in the Youth Cup game against Oxford, so I was delighted to see him given this opportunity, and I hope to see a lot more of him in the future.

From the Rookery End: We might have seen a wonder goal from Rocco Vata but having a Cup game on a Thursday night was not only weird but also unsuccessful. Mike, DCW, Jordi and Kieran headed to Craven Cottage to see the Hornets take on Premier League Fulham and discussed all that has been going on at Vicarage Road this week – Bachmann’s injury and Jebbinson’s exit, plus what they saw on the pitch, including a few lesser spotter faces.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024–25_FA_Cup

4th January 2025- Championship, Watford 1 Sheffield United 2

WFC.Net goal commentary: 1

Report: Watford 1-2 Sheffield United – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Sheffield United ended a run of three Championship games without a win by triumphing at out-of-form Watford.

Sky: The home side almost went behind just after the half-hour when Bachmann received a back pass, attempted a Cruyff turn under pressure from O’Hare and was extremely fortunate to see the United player’s tackle roll inches wide of his post.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Watford 1 Sheff Utd 2

Five talking points: Lacking a cutting edge and a new keeper needed?

Watford 1 Sheff Utd 2 minute-by-minute report

‘We were more than good value for a point’ says Cleverley

Decision was taken to go direct from back after loss of confidence

Don’t let the current poor run define the season so far as a whole

BHappy: Back at Vicarage Road, the prospect of more football is rendered attractive by the Graham Taylor matchday even if I do rather wish that the presentation of it could be rather less earnest, rather less forced. But the scarves are great and the old clips are great and seeing old faces again is great too. Ross Jenkins, Steve Terry, Steve Sherwood, Gary Porter and Ian Bolton have been relatively frequent visitors over the years; applauding them won’t ever get old but it’s not new. Brian Pollard and Trevor How haven’t been presented for a while though, ditto Keith Cassells whose kit Mum’s Aunt used to sponsor back when that was a thing. Paul Franklin, entertainingly, proves to be as awkward and ungainly an interviewee as he was a centre-back.

Fran’s Watford Blog: The final action of the game was a powerful shot from McCallum that was blocked by Bachmann who landed awkwardly and was clearly in a lot of pain. He was down being treated for some time and the referee made the sensible decision to blow the final whistle without restarting play. There wasn’t much of a lap of honour as the players crowded around the goal to check on their teammate. When Dan was finally stretchered off, I was quite moved to see the Sheffield United players, who had been celebrating in front of their fans, turn as one to applaud him off the pitch.

From the Rookery End: Watford slumped to a third straight defeat at Vicarage Road, as Chris Wilder’s depleted Blades took all three points in our first home game of 2025. Much like the game, this is a pod of two halves, with Colin and DCW joining Jon pre-match, leaving Mike, Jas and Kieran to talk through the game at the final whistle.