Monthly Archives: November 2025

25th November 2025- Championship, Watford 1 Preston North End 1

Watford Observer: Preston striker Jebbison set for Vicarage Road return against ‘frightening’ Watford

Watford injury update: Baah and Selvik face weeks on the sidelines

Match Wrap: Watford 1-1 Preston North End – Watford FCDownload

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY RECAP: Watford 1-1 Preston North End

Five talking points after Watford’s draw with Preston

Match Report: Watford forced to settle for 1-1 draw with Preston

‘It is not enough’ – Gracia disappointed with Preston draw

Gracia hails ‘very good’ Maamma and will be careful with Chakvetadze

‘Hold that’ – Jebbison appears to aim dig at Watford with social media post

Preston verdict: Maamma shines on another nearly night for Watford

BBC: Watford extended their unbeaten run to five matches but could not find a way past a stubborn Preston side as the pair fought out an entertaining draw at Vicarage Road.

Sky: Daniel Jebbison scored against his former club as Preston shared a 1-1 draw with Watford at Vicarage Road. Mamadou Doumbia cancelled out his opener shortly before half-time to continue Watford’s trend of coming back from behind this season.

Fran’s Watford Blog: It had been an entertaining game, but it was rather frustrating not to come away with all three points. The Hornets had created a hatful of chances, but some resolute defending by the opposition and some wasteful finishing meant that we were restricted to a single goal. Maamma was absolutely superb, constantly involved, skipping past tackles and getting into the right areas. He is incredibly talented but also works very hard which is great to see. The return of Chakvetadze was a joy. He was only briefly involved but when he is match fit, it will be like having a new signing.

22nd November 2025- Championship, Derby County 2 Watford 3

Our first away win in nine months.

Watford Observer previews: Watford boss Gracia unsure if Selvik will be fit to face Derby

Gracia: ‘We have to show our best face’

Former Watford skipper Eustace looking forward to ‘a good challenge’

Gracia seeking a more consistent Watford

Match Wrap: Derby County 2-3 Watford – Watford FCDownload

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY RECAP: Watford seal superb comeback to win at Derby

Match Report: Kayembe double secures great comeback win for Watford

Gracia hails Watford’s ‘great attitude’ after Derby triumph

Gracia stresses importance of having confidence ‘we are in the right way’

Kayembe credits Aranalde for part in Watford winning goal

Gracia ‘calm and full of confidence’ about Baxter taking over in Watford goal

BBC: Watford came from two goals down at Pride Park to register their first away victory of the Championship season and bring Derby’s five-match winning streak to an end.

Sky: Derby lost striker Carlton Morris to injury early in the first half but were in control through Dion Sanderson’s first goal in more than two years and Sondre Langas’ first for the club. Luca Kjerrumgaard reduced the arrears before Edo Kayembe levelled from the spot and then clinched a dramatic win by heading in a corner.

Fran’s Watford Blog: What joy there was at the final whistle as we celebrated the Hornets’ first victory away from home in 280 days. The players came over to greet us and were all beaming. Baah wasn’t going to miss out as he was carried over, although his jigging in front of the away end means either that his injury was not something to worry about or that he will be out for some time having exacerbated it. Javi was the last to reach the away end after all of the handshakes and he was greeted with a rousing chorus of his song.

From the Rookery End: Watford have finally cracked the away-day curse – and they’ve done it the hard way. In this episode of From The Rookery End, Jon and Jordi relive the 3–2 comeback at Derby after 280 winless days on the road, and dig into what it tells us about this team’s growing character. They talk Luca’s predator instincts in the box, Mama’s raw talent and rising expectations, another Baah’s worrying injury, and whether a switch to two up top would help. There’s praise for unflashy hero Edo Kayembe, chat about the increasingly settled back four, and reflections from the fans’ forum and the club’s direction. Plus, a gloriously fuzzy voice note from the Brigadier after one of his favourite ever Watford days.

7th November 2025- Championship, Watford 1 Bristol City 1

Watford Observer: Away form makes home matches even more important, says Gracia

Match Wrap: Watford 1-1 Bristol City – Watford FCDownload

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY RECAP: Watford 1-1 Bristol City

Five talking points as Watford held to Bristol City draw

Match Report: Watford held to frustrating 1-1 draw with Bristol City

WATCH: Immediate reaction to Watford 1-1 Bristol City

Gracia on Bristol City draw: ‘Not the result we wanted or expected’

Gracia reveals why he switched to a back three for Bristol City draw

GALLERY: Best images of Rookery End poppy display ahead of Bristol City game

Bristol City analysis: Watford must find a way to win when they dominate possession

BBC: Watford and Bristol City played out an entertaining Friday night draw at Vicarage Road in the Championship.

Sky: Marc Bola netted his first Hornets goal to put Watford ahead after just six minutes but Twine ensured injury-hit City avoided losing for a third time in six days.

BHappy: There’s nothing dull about a night time game at the Vic for one thing, much less one that starts with a fine tribute and display to commemorate Remembrance Day and often has a febrile air, a decent crowd for an evening game and frequent joyful, furious tributes to someone who drinks sangria as our raw, young, thrillingly promising side rattled at Bristol City.

Fran’s Watford Blog: It had been a thoroughly entertaining game of game of football which ended with some frustration that the Hornets were unable to take all three points. The goal had been a thing of beauty with Louza’s assist and Bola’s finish both excellent. Sadly, despite creating several the chances, we couldn’t beat Vítek for a second time and conceded a poor goal from a set piece.

From the Rookery End: Join Jon, Jason, DCW and the Brigadier as they walk down Occupation Road and towards the Railway Arms. They pick apart a match that started in style but fizzled into frustration.

4th November 2025- Championship, Ipswich Town 1 Watford 1

Watford Observer: Ipswich Town preview: Watford can put themselves on the Championship map

Gracia wants Watford to convert home ‘strength’ into away form

Match Wrap: Ipswich Town 1-1 Watford – Watford FCDownload

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY RECAP: Ipswich Town 1-1 Watford

Match Report: Watford earn creditable 1-1 draw at Ipswich

Gracia believes point is ‘reward’ for spirited effort at Ipswich

‘They are more mature’ – Gracia on Watford youngsters and Maamma debut

Gracia not bothered by quick turnaround as he plots seven-point week

Analysis: Watford combined resilience and luck to secure Ipswich draw

BBC: Watford captain Imran Louza scored for the fourth time in as many games as his side frustrated Ipswich Town to secure a draw at Portman Road.

Sky: The visitors’ leading scorer Imran Louza found the net after 16 minutes, with Jaden Philogene equalising for the home side.

Fran’s Watford Blog: This had been a difficult game for the Hornets. Despite scoring with our first attack of the game, there had been little time to take the momentum as the home side equalised soon after. Ipswich certainly had the better of the chances and Selvik kept us in the game with a couple of excellent saves. Pollock and Abankwah were solid in the centre of defence so, despite being under the cosh for a lot of the game, we didn’t look like we were hanging on. I had done an interview for Radio Suffolk before the game and had (unsurprisingly) picked out Louza as the man to watch as well as mentioning Maamma. I was pleased to be proved right. Louza scored for the fourth game in a row and again put in a man of the match performance. Maamma really impressed. As soon as he came on the tempo changed and he was completely unfazed by a Championship defence looking lively going forward but also getting back to do some defensive work. I am really looking forward to seeing a lot more of him in the coming games.

From the Rookery End: Mike and Kieran react to Watford’s 1-1 draw on the road at Ipswich in a game that saw Imran Louza score his fourth in four games, Tom Ince come in for the injured Rocco Vata, more rotation at centre-back, and our first signing of our Moroccan world cup winner Othmane Maamma

1st November 2025- Championship, Watford 3 Middlesbrough 0

Watford Observer: Team news: Gracia on niggles, Maamma, Chakvetadze and centre-back options

‘Take care of the details’ – Gracia on how Watford can become consistent force

Gracia knows young players need time but warns competition is on

Rob Edwards reflects on ‘frustrating’ Watford spell but believes exit was right

Gracia: Vicarage Road has to be our ‘extra power’

Match Wrap: Watford 3-0 Middlesbrough – Watford FCDownload

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY LIVE: Watford 3-0 Middlesbrough

Match Report: Watford beat Middlesbrough 3-0 with clinical display

Vata injury the ‘only bad thing’ to come from Middlesbrough win

Gracia on Middlesbrough win: ‘We showed a hunger, an attitude’

Louza: ‘Gracia has brought the spirit we’ve missed for years’

Scoring first and strong vibes: Five talking points from Watford 3-0 Middlesbrough

Edwards reveals Middlesbrough worked to stop exactly what led to Watford goals

BBC: Rob Edwards left Vicarage Road frustrated again after Middlesbrough’s promotion hopes were dented by his old club Watford. Edwards was back at Vicarage Road for the first time since his sacking in 2022 after just 11 matches. And the Boro boss left disappointed again as the Teessiders missed a great chance to move level on points with Coventry City at the top of the Championship.

Sky: Pacy winger Kwadwo Baah ran 60 yards with the ball, beat Matt Targett down the outside and his cut-back was fired home by Watford captain Louza, whose pass had instigated the breakaway, for his fifth goal in seven games.

BHappy: There’s nowhere to hide with a formation that’s less 4-4-2 than 4-2-4. The excitement at the prospect was tempered by the memory of the flimsy defending that contributed to at least two of the goals last weekend and the knowledge that we were again up against one of the division’s strongest sides the like of whom we’ve largely gotten away without playing thus far thanks to a quirk of the fixture list.

Fran’s Watford Blog: The main criticism last week against Coventry was that the Hornets were not clinical enough in front of goal, and the defence was porous. Neither was the case in this game. The Hornets took their chances brilliantly and gave Middlesbrough no space to play. The defence looked well organised and when the visitors did create chances, Selvik was superb. Baah was back to his best, belting down the right wing and putting in some great balls, particularly for Louza’s goal. Ngakia also found space down the right and his cross for Kjerrumgaard’s goal was sublime. Luca had his best game for some time and capped it with a brace, even if he didn’t know much about the second goal. Pollock was very solid and the defence looked like a unit, finally keeping a clean sheet. In fact, Gracia has got us looking like a team again rather than the group of individuals that we saw under Pezzolano. That and the attacking approach has been very pleasing. The only negative was the injury to Vata. He has been a joy to watch in recent weeks, so I hope he is not out for long.

From the Rookery End: On this weekend’s FTRE, Jon, Jason, Kieran and Jordi shelter from the rain as they stand outside Vicarage Road to celebrate a dominant 3–0 win over Middlesbrough — and Rob Edwards’ return. The team unpack a near-perfect display under Javi, from Selvik’s superb save to Bola’s standout performance against his old club, Louza’s growing influence, and a front line that finally clicked.