Monthly Archives: February 2025

23rd February 2025- Championship, Watford 2 Luton Town 0

WFC.Net goal commentary: 1  2

Report: Watford 2-0 Luton Town – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Watford ended a dismal run of five successive home defeats with a comfortable win over relegation-haunted Luton Town in the M1 derby at Vicarage Road.

Are top-flight battlers Luton ‘resigned to another relegation’

The Guardian: Tom Dele‑Bashiru’s early penalty put ­Watford in charge in a febrile atmosphere at Vicarage Road. A dazzling run from Giorgi Chakvetadze created the second goal for Edo ­Kayembe as Watford avenged their dismal defeat at ­Kenilworth Road in October.

Sky: The second period failed to live up to the first and Luton’s afternoon was summed up by Shandon Baptiste, one of three half-time substitutions, having to go off injured with 20 minutes remaining.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Watford 2 Luton 0

Five talking points as Hornets enjoy derby delight

Watford 2 Luton 0 minute-by-minute report

Cleverley: ‘I couldn’t be more pleased with the performance’

‘I want to be involved in more days like this’ says Cleverley

From preparation to performance to PA announcements – it was pretty much perfect

‘Luton get battered…’ – Watford fans celebrate derby triumph

Plan wasn’t to sit back more in the second half

BHappy: Perhaps a disappointment that it’s only two, when by midway through the half we’re two-up and home free. The build up to the second involves some fine play by both Larouci and Doumbia down the left to release Giorgi and Mads Andersen’s afternoon is going to get even worse as he’s left for dead, lumbering haplessly before the Georgian cuts to the by line and pulls across for Edo to tap in before celebrating in front of the away end as befits the moment.

Fran’s Watford Blog: We hung around to applaud the players who went on a lengthy lap of honour around the pitch serenaded by “I Just Can’t Get Enough” and a timely play of “Yellow.” When they reached the Rookery, Kayembe was lurking behind Tom who was very aware of his presence but could not prevent him lifting him up while singing “Tom Cleverley olé, olé”. Sissoko came on to join the celebrations accompanied by his children, just like an end of season game. Keben, who had gone off injured, seemed to have an ice pack on his knee, but was walking around the pitch waving a flag, so didn’t appear to be badly injured. Tim Coombs was on top form on the tannoy mentioning that the Golden Boys were up to ninth in the table, three points off the play-offs, and there was no change at the bottom. This was met with cheers from the home crowd.

From the Rookery End: After a 2-0 home win against them lot up the M1, Jon, Mike, Jason and Colin gathered at the Railway Arms to discuss the win, the players who stood out, Tom’s choices before and during the game plus a special new FTRE podcast that is coming out this week.

15th February 2025- Championship, Middlesbrough 0 Watford 1

WFC.Net goal commentary: 1

Report: Middlesbrough 0-1 Watford – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Moussa Sissoko’s headed winner gave Watford only their second win in 11 Championship games to increase the pressure on Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick.

Sky: The Hornets leapfrogged Boro into the top 10, who have now lost their last four Championship games and Carrick’s side were booed off at half-time and full-time by the home supporters at the Riverside.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Middlesbrough 0 Watford 1

Middlesbrough 0 Watford 1 minute-by-minute report

‘I have to give massive credit to the players because they were outstanding’

This time a fine away performance in the north-east Tees up a victory

Fran’s Watford Blog: It was joyous at the end of the game. After the pleasantries with the opposition players and the officials, the players gathered in front of us. Sissoko was beaming as he conducted the crowd singing his name. Then, as Cleverley’s name was sung, Kayembe decided to lift him off his feet. He gestured to them to calm down, but I think he was frightened of being dropped. The players continued to applaud the crowd who were lustily singing their support.

From the Rookery End: After 1-0 win away at Middlesbrough. Jon, Jordi and Adam gathered to react to the win and how the Hornets might have started to revive their season at the Riverside. With one eye on next weeks derby match against Luton, they discuss how a new foundations seems to be forming in Tom Cleverly’s Watford squad with a new centre back pairing and the continued redemption of Imran Louza. Tom will have some hard decisions to make, but has Doumbia shown him enough to cause him headaches for who should be starting up front.

11th February 2025- Championship, Watford 0 Leeds United 4

Report: Watford 0-4 Leeds United – Watford FCDownload

Sky: Dan James scored twice as Leeds won 4-0 at Watford to move five points clear at the top of the Championship.

BBC:A third before half-time from Manor Solomon added further pain and an intricate move finished off with brilliant close control from Joel Piroe just after the hour left Leeds free to coast home unchallenged.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Watford 0 Leeds 4

Five talking points as Watford crash to heavy Leeds loss

Watford 0 Leeds 4 minute-by-minute report

‘Five points in 10 games? I get a bit embarrassed when I hear my name sung’

BHappy: We do fine.  Until we don’t.  Certainly we get away with things a couple of times in the first few minutes, but even that is a step up from Not getting away with things, which has often been the way of it early on.  There’s a panache about the way we move the ball around too…  you’re always going to get that with Louza and Dele-Bashiru in midfield of course, but the whole pass-it-to-death thing feels increasingly credible with the recent additions of personnel, and if 18 year-old Mamadou Doumbia, on his first home start, doesn’t quite have the same impact as he did on Saturday the ball does stick to him, he’s anticipating and getting a foot in and far from intimidated by the physical challenge.

Fran’s Watford Blog: t was a dispiriting game. Leeds are the best team that I have seen in this division both this season and last, so it was no surprise that they beat us so comprehensively. There was no shame in that for the Hornets who never stopped working, but were simply outclassed. The positive of the game for me was to see the lively cameos by Nabizada and Vata who were certainly not intimidated by the quality of the opposition. But that was a small consolation on a miserable evening.

8th February 2025- Championship, Sunderland 2 Watford 2

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cn8yzdlnwnwt#Line-ups

WFC.Net goal commentary: 1  2

Report: Sunderland 2-2 Watford – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Dennis Cirkin scored an 89th-minute equaliser as Sunderland preserved their unbeaten home record with a draw against Watford.

Sky: The Black Cats took an early lead thanks to Luke O’Nien but looked set to suffer their first home defeat of the season after Tom Dele-Bashiru’s penalty and a stunning effort from Imran Louza in the first minute of the second half.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Sunderland 2 Watford 2

Sunderland 2 Watford 2 minute-by-minute report

Cleverley not letting late equaliser cloud his pleasure at performance

Successful small steps appear to be the way to take giant strides

Louza and Dele-Bashiru ‘controlled the game for large parts’

Taking a short-term view is the key to longer-term improvement

To substitute or not to substitute – that was the question we asked Cleverley

Fran’s Watford Blog: This was a very impressive performance from the Hornets. I don’t think anyone in the away end expected anything other than a defeat, so to come so close to ending Sunderland’s unbeaten run of home games was admirable. It was a wonderful team performance with some moments of real quality. First Doumbia winning the penalty. The header just before had caused Patterson problems, but the youngster continued to fight for the ball to win the spot kick. Then Dele-Bashiru stepped up and was totally unfazed by the opposition goalkeeper and fans who were trying to unnerve him. It was a confident strike which sent us into the break with some hope. Then Louza’s goal, which was a thing of beauty. There is something incredibly special about being behind a goal when one like that is scored. Every fan who had got up at the crack of dawn to travel to the game thoroughly deserved to see that. The fact that Louza tried another audacious shot immediately after the restart following the equaliser made me very happy indeed.

From the Rookery End: DCW and Mike convened the morning after Watford’s 2-2 draw away at Sunderland to assess the performance and reflect on some much needed reasons to be cheerful – a very steady debut for Egil Selvik, an encouraging first start for Doumbia, a promising central defensive partnership of Pollock and Abankwah, and an absolute worldie from Imran Louza. If only we could defend set pieces…

1st February 2025- Championship, Watford 0 Norwich City 1

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c5ydv2g2le4t#Line-ups
Report: Watford 0-1 Norwich City – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Fit-again striker Josh Sargent once again proved his value to Norwich City as his third goal in two games secured back-to-back victories and consigned 10-man Watford to a fourth consecutive Championship home defeat.

Sky: The first-half strike by the American was enough against a home side that saw Vakoun Bayo dismissed in the first half.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Watford 0 Norwich 1

Five talking points from Hornets’ defeat to Canaries

Watford 0 Norwich 1 minute-by-minute report

‘We didn’t have a referee that understood the game well enough today’

Ref told Cleverley ‘he’s elbowed him in the throat’ on Bayo dismissal

Referee wrecked the game, but the songs summed up the feelings

Fran’s Watford Blog: I left the West Herts earlier than I normally would, in order to be at the Vic in time to say goodbye to King Ken. His appearance on the pitch was warmly greeted and it was lovely to be able to show our appreciation to a player who has been a wonderful servant to the club. I will miss those Sema runs behind the defence.

From the Rookery End: Jon, Jas, Mike and Kieran gathered at the Mad Squirrel to discuss an entertaining but ultimately disappointing early kick off against Norwich. There is praise for Pollock and Abankwe, who looked tremendous as a CB pairing, plaudits for Imran Louza, a bleak Bayo assessment and serious questions for Gino et al.