Monthly Archives: March 2025

29th March 2025- Championship, Watford 0 Plymouth Argyle 0

Report: Watford 0-0 Plymouth Argyle – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Watford missed the chance to move closer to the Championship play-off places as they failed to capitalise on total second-half domination in a scoreless draw against bottom-of-the-table Plymouth Argyle.

Sky: An insipid first half did at least give way to a second period full of chances and urgency.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Watford 0 Plymouth 0

Watford 0 Plymouth 0 minute-by-minute report

Cleverley admits his team ‘wasted’ first half against Plymouth

Afternoon when the effects of a lack of options were striking

Cleverley ready to try and help Bayo through a rough patch

BHappy: The first half soon bludgeoned any optimism out of us. It had only been two weeks since a similarly listless outing at Oxford so this should have been no surprise; Argyle employed the high press that we have such trouble coming to terms with, particularly given the ongoing absences of Keben (playing out), Abankwah (charging out) and Doumbia (something resembling a target man to hit). Meanwhile several including Giorgi and Louza, critically, looked rusty taking a time to get going. Both of our DRC representatives, Kayembe and Ngakia, began on the bench for perhaps related reasons, alongside the returning trio of Bachmann, Dwomoh and, eye-catchingly, Baah.

Fran’s Watford Blog: Back in the West Herts there was a mixed reaction, although most had enjoyed the game, or at least the second half where there had been no lack of attacking intent. The return of Baah had been a joy to watch. We have missed those powerful runs, although the opposition defenders certainly haven’t. I was impressed with Caleb Wiley who put in a decent showing at left back. I also enjoyed the cameo from Massiah-Edwards which was rather impressive. He has been a star in the under 18 run to the FA Youth Cup semi-final, so it was lovely to see him unfazed by the step up to the first team. Hopefully he will be a star of the future.

From the Rookery End: It was a sunny day at Vicarage Road but the 0-0 draw against Plymouth Argyle was a little bit dull. Howeve, Jon, Jason, Mike and Kieran gathered outside the Hornet Shop to discuss the performance, particuarly that of the younger stars in the Watford ranks.

15th March 2025- Championship, Oxford United 1 Watford 0

Report: Oxford United 1-0 Watford – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Oxford United claimed a first win in 10 Championship matches with a narrow victory over 10-man Watford.

Sky: It was Dembele’s first goal for the club and came just three minutes after Watford had James Abankwah sent off for a second bookable offence when he fouled Przemy Placheta.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Oxford 1 Watford 0

Oxford 1 Watford 0 minute-by-minute report

Cleverley explains leaving Bayo out and substitution delays

If you don’t land a knockout blow, you’re always liable to a sucker punch

BHappy: James Abankwah’s failing was to be tempted into a foul at all, given that the cost of not doing so would inevitably have been Placheta disappearing up his own backside and losing possession but that’s that lack of experience thing again. Instead, Abankwah grabbed at him on the way past, a clear foul but on first glance an extraordinarily harsh second yellow, aggravated by Placheta doing the endearing “waving a yellow card” thing, again without censure. Review of the replay forces a revision of opinion… not harsh, but completely absurd. It’s a cheap foul on the halfway line with plenty of cover (not to mention the fact that nothing involving Placheta constitutes a goalscoring opportunity unless it’s at the other end of the pitch). Everyone makes mistakes… Tom repeatedly owns his, players on both sides throughout the game made plenty, and of course we’d chosen to come at all. Robert Madley proudly joined the club with this absolute stinker.

Frans Watford Blog: Almost immediately the home side took the lead as Harris was fouled on the edge of the box, the referee allowed play to continue and the ball fell to Dembélé who broke into the box, got into scoring position and fired past Selvik. This prompted Cleverley to make a triple substitution bringing Vata, Morris and Andrews on in place of Chakvetadze, Sissoko and Ngakia, but it was too late for them to have any influence on the game. The home side also made a couple of late changes as Dembélé and the evil Placheta made way for Matos and Phillips. There were seven minutes of added time at the end of the game, but the Hornets never looked like rescuing a point.

From the Rookery End: With so much to disucss, from two games of football (Watford 1-0 Swansea — Oxford 1-0 Watford) to the lack of striker, the tired looking Georgi Chakvetadze, the returning of investment money and is the season over? there was only one way to decide on what to discuss … THE WHEEL.

12th March 2025- Championship, Watford 1 Swansea City 0

WFC.Net goal commentary: 1

Report: Watford 1-0 Swansea City – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Watford boosted their Championship play-off hopes as Moussa Sissoko’s goal ended Swansea City’s unbeaten run under Alan Sheehan.

Sky: Goncalo Franco gave the ball away to Ince in a dangerous position and with the defence stranded he found Sissoko to slot home his third goal of the season.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Watford 1 Swansea 0

Five talking points as Hornets edge out Swans

Watford 1 Swansea 0 minute-by-minute report

‘We can’t keep putting these games to chance’ admits Cleverley

Reduced impact of substitutes is a cause for concern

Points, play-off potential, progress – but not plain sailing

8th March 2025- Championship, Watford 1 Millwall 2

WFC.Net goal commentary: 1

Report: Watford 1-2 Millwall – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Josh Coburn was again Millwall’s match-winner, as they came from behind to beat Watford at Vicarage Road and boost their hopes of a Championship play-off place.

Sky: The Lions trailed at half-time after Mattie Pollock had given the home side a 30th-minute lead with his first league goal of the season.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Watford 1 Millwall 2

Watford 1 Millwall 2 minute-by-minute report

Second half was a big learning curve admits Cleverley

Consistency of recent weeks shattered by two contrasting halves in one game

BHappy:  We weren’t on it at all from the start of the second half. Not… overrun, not obviously complacent. But not on it. Critical perhaps was the departure of Doumbia with what looked like a hamstring strain; on came Bayo for his familiar skittling around, his 100th appearance… but it was evident after far fewer than 100 games that holding the ball up was never his thing. Millwall now had a much easier proposition on their hands being able to push up on us high up the pitch without us having as effective an out-ball.

Fran’s Watford Blog: Prior to kick-off there was a minute’s applause for Dennis Bond and Barry Hartle who passed away recently. This was impeccably observed, and it was lovely to see the Millwall fans joining in. They are likeable after all.

From the Rookery End: It was a cliche, as Watford v Millwall was a game of two halves. First half was great, the second was simply awful. Jon, Jason, Jordi and Mike met to discuss it , outside the hornet shop.

1st March 2025- Championship, Stoke City 0 Watford 0

Report: Stoke City 0-0 Watford – Watford FCDownload

BBC: In a grim game of few chances, the Potters fans suffered a third goalless draw in the five Championship home games since Mark Robins took charge. For fellow former Manchester United man Tom Cleverley, it was only the Hornets’ second goalless draw of the season.

Sky: Watford enjoyed a 70-30 percent possession split approaching half-time without doing anything positive with it.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Stoke 0 Watford 0

Stoke 0 Watford 0 minute-by-minute report

Tactically sound but without sufficient end product

A pair of hat-tricks as Watford Women smash seven on the road

Abankwah’s continued emergence the highlight of dull sunny day in Stoke

Fran’s Watford Blog: The second half had been much better than the first with the Hornets playing much more positively but mostly failing to test Johansson. The star performance among the Watford players was from Abankwah who put in some decisive and perfectly timed tackles. He has been a great addition to our squad. As has Selvik, who had virtually nothing to do but pulled off a terrific save at the end of the game to keep the clean sheet. The fact that we were disappointed with a point and a clean sheet away from home shows how much our expectations have been raised in recent weeks.

From the Rookery End: It was by no means a classic, but there were plenty of positives for Mike, Jordi and Colin to discuss after Watford’s Stoke stalemate. The trio talk Tom’s tactics, Louza’s continued resurgence, defensive delight after a third clean sheet in a row, while also considering the ongoing goalscoring conundrum.